State Reps. Morales and Benjamin’s Disabled Veterans Bill (HB 45) Passes First Committee Unanimously

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN NEWS) – Florida State Representatives Daisy Morales (D-Orlando) and Christopher Benjamin’s  (D-Miami Gardens) legislation on Educational Opportunities for Disabled Veterans (HB 1347), that passed the House with strong bipartisan support but died in the Senate during the 2021 Legislative Session, was re-filed by Rep. Morales under House Bill 45.

HB 45, championed by Representatives Morales and Benjamin, cleared its first legislative hurdle Wednesday, gaining unanimous approval from the House’s Local Administration & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee.

The measure would provide disabled veterans the opportunity to receive certain federal educational assistance benefits. This bill would allow those veterans who are deemed eligible the opportunity to receive awards for remaining cost of tuition and fees at state universities and the Florida College System institutions

Representative Daisy Morales had this to say, “It’s great to work as partners to help disabled veterans who have scarified so much for our country with educational opportunities to eliminate challenges they face when they have given so much for our country and allow them to support their families.”

Representative Christopher Benjamin had this to say, “Today we fought for Florida veterans who have been disabled as a result of being deployed to have their full tuition paid. As a veteran this bill is personal for me and fills me up with happiness to see it pass unanimously in its first committee”

HB 45 will move to the House’s Post-Secondary Education & Lifelong Learning Subcommittee.

Florida State Senator Janet Cruz filed Senate companion bill SB 554. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security.