SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-128

No. CS/CS/HB 199

Veterans Affairs
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SPONSOR
Judiciary Committee; Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Maney
FILED BY
Patt Maney — District 4, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Veterans Affairs; Revises admissions process for veterans treatment court programs; authorizes court, in consultation with multidisciplinary team, to determine eligibility for veterans treatment court programs; requires court to consider recommendation of state attorney when making eligibility determination; authorizes sentencing courts to divert defendants to veterans treatment court programs under certain circumstances; requires certain notice be provided to defendants; provides for disposition of probation or community control violations by program participants.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Courts, not prosecutors, now decide who enters veterans treatment court.

The bill shifts the power to approve veterans for treatment court from the state attorney to the judge, who must consult a multidisciplinary team.

It also lets judges divert convicted veterans charged with nonviolent felonies into these programs as a condition of probation or community control.

Defendants must be fully advised of the program's purpose and must agree to enter it before the court relinquishes jurisdiction.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Court-led eligibility approval majors. 394.47891(8)(a)

AIShifts the decision to approve a defendant for the program from the state attorney to the court, working with a multidisciplinary team.

“approved by the court, in consultation with the multidisciplinary team,”
§ 2 State attorney recommendation required moderates. 394.47891(8)(b)

AIRequires the court to consider the state attorney's recommendation when deciding if a defendant's participation serves the interest of justice.

“any recommendation of the state attorney.” bill text, line 58 →
§ 3 Post-adjudicatory diversion majors. 948.01(9)(a)

AIAllows sentencing courts to place defendants convicted of nonviolent felonies into veterans treatment court programs as a condition of probation or community control.

“the sentencing court may place the defendant into a postadjudicatory veterans treatment court program” bill text, line 71 →
§ 4 Program judge handles violations moderates. 948.01(9)(c)

AIRequires the veterans treatment court judge, rather than the original sentencing court, to hear and dispose of probation or community control violations by program participants.

“shall have the violation of probation or community control heard by the judge presiding over the postadjudicatory veterans treatment court program” bill text, line 95 →
TIMELINE
6/12/2026
Chapter No. 2026-128
6/11/2026
Approved by Governor
6/9/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
2/26/2026
Ordered enrolled
2/26/2026
In Messages
2/26/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 463
2/26/2026
CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 448
2/26/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 448
2/26/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 448
2/26/2026
Substituted for CS/SB 50 -SJ 448
2/26/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/26/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 447
2/10/2026
Received
2/9/2026
Referred to Rules
2/4/2026
In Messages
2/4/2026
CS passed; YEAS 110, NAYS 0
2/4/2026
Read 3rd time
2/4/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/4/2026
Read 2nd time
1/29/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/4/2026)
1/13/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
12/12/2025
Bill referred to House Calendar
12/11/2025
CS Filed
12/11/2025
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
12/11/2025
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
12/11/2025
Favorable with CS by Judiciary Committee
12/4/2025
Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
11/7/2025
Now in Judiciary Committee
11/7/2025
Referred to Judiciary Committee
11/5/2025
CS Filed
11/5/2025
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
11/5/2025
Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee
11/5/2025
Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice Subcommittee
10/29/2025
Added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
10/21/2025
Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
10/21/2025
Referred to Judiciary Committee
10/21/2025
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
10/21/2025
Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee
10/16/2025
Filed
36 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 394.47891
+21 / −51
s. 948.01
+286 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES