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HB0253 • 2026

Veterans Dental Care Grant Program

Veterans Dental Care Grant Program

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee ; Edmonds ; Gantt ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Bartleman ; Campbell ; Conerly ; Driskell ; Eskamani ; Harris ; Hunschofsky ; Joseph ; López, J. ; Mooney ; Nixon ; Spencer ; Tendrich
Last action
2026-06-26
Official status
Chapter No. 2026-166
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

Definitions for 'Federal poverty level' and 'Oral health care' were removed because they are general knowledge terms not defined in the provided official text.

Veterans Dental Care Grant Program

This law updates the purpose of a Florida program to provide oral health care for veterans living in the state who earn up to four times the federal poverty level.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends section 295.157 of the Florida Statutes regarding the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program.
  • Revises the official purpose statement within the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
  • States that the program's goal is to provide oral health care to veterans who live in Florida.
  • Sets an income limit for participants at 400 percent of the federal poverty level.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Veterans who reside in the state of Florida with incomes up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
  • The Department of Veterans' Affairs, which manages the program.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The text does not list specific dental procedures covered under oral health care.
  • The source material does not state how much money is available for these grants.
  • This law only changes the purpose statement and does not describe new application steps.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-26 The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives

    • Chapter No. 2026-166

  2. 2026-06-25 The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives

    • Approved by Governor

  3. 2026-06-12 The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives

    • Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

  4. 2026-03-06 Senate

    • Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 674 • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading • Substituted for CS/CS/SB 96 -SJ 675 • Read 2nd time -SJ 675 • Read 3rd time -SJ 675 • CS passed; YEAS 34 NAYS 0 -SJ 675

  5. 2026-03-06 House

    • In Messages • Ordered enrolled

  6. 2026-02-26 Senate

    • Referred to Rules • Received

  7. 2026-02-25 House

    • Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • CS passed; YEAS 116, NAYS 0

  8. 2026-02-25 Senate

    • In Messages

  9. 2026-02-19 House

    • Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)

  10. 2026-02-17 House

    • Favorable by State Affairs Committee • Reported out of State Affairs Committee • Bill released to House Calendar • Added to Second Reading Calendar

  11. 2026-02-13 House

    • Added to State Affairs Committee agenda

  12. 2026-01-28 House

    • Favorable by Health Care Budget Subcommittee • Reported out of Health Care Budget Subcommittee • Now in State Affairs Committee

  13. 2026-01-26 House

    • Added to Health Care Budget Subcommittee agenda

  14. 2026-01-16 House

    • Referred to Health Care Budget Subcommittee • Referred to State Affairs Committee • Now in Health Care Budget Subcommittee

  15. 2026-01-15 House

    • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)

  16. 2026-01-14 House

    • Favorable with CS by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee • Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed

  17. 2026-01-13 House

    • 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  18. 2026-01-12 House

    • PCS added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda

  19. 2025-10-28 House

    • Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee • Referred to Health Care Budget Subcommittee • Referred to State Affairs Committee • Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee

  20. 2025-10-23 House

    • Filed

Official Summary Text

Veterans Dental Care Grant Program; Revises purpose of Veterans Dental Care Grant Program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED
CS/HB 253 2026 Legislature

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb253 -01-er
Page 1 of 1
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

1
An act relating to the Veterans Dental Care Grant 2
Program; amending s. 295.157, F.S.; revising the 3
purpose of the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program; 4
providing an effective date. 5
6
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 7
8
Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 295.157, Florida 9
Statutes, is amended to read: 10
295.157 Veterans Dental Care Grant Program.— 11
(3) The Veterans Dental Care Grant Program is established 12
within the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The purpose of the 13
program is to provide oral health care to veterans who reside in 14
this state and who have incomes of up to 400 percent of the 15
federal poverty level. 16
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 17