SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 236

Rental Assistance for Veterans
Send via email
SPONSOR
Smith
FILED BY
Carlos Guillermo Smith — District 17, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Community Affairs

Filed under Housing.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Rental Assistance for Veterans; Creating the Veterans’ Rental Assistance Grant Program; authorizing the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to provide certain grants to eligible applicants for a specified purpose, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Creates a $2,000 grant program for veteran security deposits.

The bill creates a new state program to help low-income veterans pay for rental housing. It targets a specific financial barrier that prevents many from securing leases.

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation will administer the program and issue one-time grants. Each eligible applicant can receive up to $2,000 to cover a security deposit.

To qualify, applicants must be honorably discharged veterans, Florida residents, and have a household income at or below 140 percent of the area median income.

The program begins on July 1, 2026. The corporation will adopt specific rules to handle applications and verify applicant eligibility.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Creates a new grant program majors. 420.54(2)

AIEstablishes a state program to help veterans pay for rental housing.

“The Veterans' Rental Assistance Grant Program is created to provide security deposit assistance for low-income, honorably discharged veterans.” bill text, line 29 →
§ 2 Authorizes one-time grants up to $2,000 majors. 420.54(3)

AIAllows the state to give eligible veterans a single payment of up to $2,000.

“authorized to provide one-time grants under the program from funds of the corporation in amounts up to $2,000” bill text, line 32 →
§ 3 Limits grants to security deposits moderates. 420.54(3)

AIRestricts the use of the grant money to paying a security deposit.

“for the purpose of assisting in the payment of security deposits for rental housing” bill text, line 34 →
§ 4 Sets veteran and income eligibility moderates. 420.54(4)(c)

AIRequires applicants to be honorably discharged veterans, Florida residents, and at or below 140% of area median income.

“Have an annual household income that is at or below 140 percent of the area median income” bill text, line 51 →
§ 5 Authorizes rulemaking moderates. 420.54(5)

AIGives the Florida Housing Finance Corporation the power to create rules to run the program.

“The Florida Housing Finance Corporation may adopt rules to implement this section” bill text, line 58 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Community Affairs
1/13/2026
Introduced
11/3/2025
Referred to Community Affairs; Appropriations Committee on...
10/17/2025
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 420.54
+355 / −0