SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-166

No. CS/HB 253

Veterans Dental Care Grant Program
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SPONSOR
Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Edmonds; Gantt
FILED BY
Jervonte Edmonds — District 88, Democrat [search donations]
Ashley Gantt — District 109, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
PROVIDED SUMMARY

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

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Caps dental grant eligibility at 400% of federal poverty level.

The bill adds an income limit to the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program.

Only veterans earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level qualify.

This restricts access for higher-income veterans who previously had no cap.

The change takes effect on July 1, 2026.']}]}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]}}]

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Income Limit for Dental Care Grants moderates. 295.157(3)

AIAdds a new eligibility requirement that limits who can receive dental care grants.

“incomes of up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level” bill text, line 15 →
TIMELINE
6/26/2026
Chapter No. 2026-166
6/25/2026
Approved by Governor
6/12/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/6/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/6/2026
In Messages
3/6/2026
CS passed; YEAS 34 NAYS 0 -SJ 675
3/6/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 675
3/6/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 675
3/6/2026
Substituted for CS/CS/SB 96 -SJ 675
3/6/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/6/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 674
2/26/2026
Received
2/26/2026
Referred to Rules
2/25/2026
In Messages
2/25/2026
CS passed; YEAS 116, NAYS 0
2/25/2026
Read 3rd time
2/25/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/25/2026
Read 2nd time
2/19/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
2/17/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/17/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
2/17/2026
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
2/17/2026
Favorable by State Affairs Committee
2/13/2026
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
1/28/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
1/28/2026
Reported out of Health Care Budget Subcommittee
1/28/2026
Favorable by Health Care Budget Subcommittee
1/26/2026
Added to Health Care Budget Subcommittee agenda
1/16/2026
Now in Health Care Budget Subcommittee
1/16/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
1/16/2026
Referred to Health Care Budget Subcommittee
1/15/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/14/2026
CS Filed
1/14/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/14/2026
Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/14/2026
Favorable with CS by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/12/2026
PCS added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
10/28/2025
Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
10/28/2025
Referred to State Affairs Committee
10/28/2025
Referred to Health Care Budget Subcommittee
10/28/2025
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
10/23/2025
Filed
37 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 295.157
+14 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES