SESSION WATCH
Became law SENATE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-92

No. CS/SB 474

Military Affairs
Send via email
SPONSOR
Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Wright
FILED BY
Tom A. Wright — District 8, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
PROVIDED SUMMARY

Military Affairs; Revising the authorization to be granted a leave of absence for military service to include the Coast Guard; clarifying a provision relating to leaves of absence for all officers and employees of the state and the counties, municipalities, and political subdivisions of the state for reserve or guard training; specifying that an authorization for a leave of absence for all employees of the state and the counties, municipalities, and political subdivisions of the state to perform active military service for a specified timeframe is based on a single order; revising the list of military positions required to participate in the Senior Management Service Class of the Florida Retirement System, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
State employees gain paid leave for military training and active duty.

State and local government employees now receive paid leave for military training, removing the previous 240-hour annual cap on paid training time.

Public officials and employees are guaranteed full pay for the first 30 days of active federal military service lasting 90 days or more.

The bill removes the requirement for the Adjutant General to administer youth and adult workforce development programs.

The Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Program is restructured to be administered by the Florida National Guard Foundation with new eligibility rules.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Coast Guard Leave majors. 115.01

AIExtends state leave of absence rights to Coast Guard members

“or in the regular Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Space Force of the United States” bill text, line 61 →
§ 2 Active Duty Definition moderates. 115.08

AIClarifies that active military service includes Coast Guard and Public Health Service duty

“with any branch of the Armed Forces or Reservists of the Armed Forces, the Florida National Guard, the Coast Guard of the United States” bill text, line 111 →
§ 3 Single Order Requirement moderates. 115.09

AIRequires 90+ days of active duty to be on a single order for full pay

“active federal military service that is equal to or greater than 90 consecutive days on a single order” bill text, line 130 →
§ 4 Assistance Program Administration majors. 250.116

AITransfers final approval of assistance requests from the Department of Military Affairs to the Florida National Guard Foundation

“approved by the Florida National Guard Foundation's board of directors” bill text, line 38 →
§ 5 Youth Programs Repealed moderates. 250.10

AIRepeals statutory requirements for the About Face and Forward March youth programs

“(m) Subject to annual appropriations, administer youth About Face programs and adult Forward March programs” bill text, line 177 →
§ 6 Assistance Program Eligibility majors. 250.116

AIRestricts Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Program to traditional drilling guardsmen on state or Title 32 duty

“servicemembers who are members of the Florida National Guard who are traditional drilling guardsmen on state active duty or on Title 32 United States Code duty” bill text, line 215 →
TIMELINE
5/26/2026
Chapter No. 2026-92
5/22/2026
Approved by Governor
5/11/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/17/2026
Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
3/12/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 105, NAYS 0
3/12/2026
Amendment 419116 Concur
3/12/2026
Added to Senate Message List
3/12/2026
In Messages
3/12/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 39 NAYS 0 -SJ 836
3/12/2026
Concurred in House amendment(s) as amended (656697) -SJ 836
3/12/2026
Amendment(s) to House amendment(s) adopted (419116) -SJ 835
3/9/2026
In returning messages
3/9/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 110, NAYS 0
3/9/2026
Read 3rd time
3/9/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/9/2026
Amendment 656697 adopted
3/9/2026
Read 2nd time
3/5/2026
1st Reading (Engrossed 1)
3/5/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/9/2026)
3/5/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/26/2026
In Messages
2/26/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 463
2/26/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 447
2/26/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 447
2/26/2026
Amendment(s) adopted (514888) -SJ 447
2/26/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 447
2/25/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/26/26
2/25/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/24/2026
Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 22 NAYS 0
2/19/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/24/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
2/13/2026
Now in Rules
2/12/2026
Favorable by Appropriations; YEAS 18 NAYS 0
2/9/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 02/12/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
1/29/2026
CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability read 1st time
1/28/2026
Now in Appropriations
1/27/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/26/2026
CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability; YEAS 9 NAYS 0
1/21/2026
On Committee agenda-- Governmental Oversight and Accountability,...
1/13/2026
Introduced
12/1/2025
Referred to Governmental Oversight and Accountability;...
11/12/2025
Filed
35 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 115.01
+2 / −10
s. 115.07
+142 / −0
s. 115.08
+2 / −18
s. 115.09
+6 / −1
s. 115.14
+4 / −0
s. 121.055
+15 / −24
STAFF ANALYSES
3 MORE →