FloridaFlorida law provides public workers leave for military service
Florida public workers receive military leave, including 30 days of full pay for qualifying federal service lasting at least 90 days under one order.
What it does
Public workers receive leave for qualifying active military service. The first 30 days are paid for federal service lasting at least 90 consecutive days under one order.
Local governments may provide more than 240 hours of paid leave for reserve or Guard training if they adopt a local rule and do not use state funds.
The Florida National Guard Foundation’s board reviews assistance requests and program rules, and ensures a yearly outside audit is completed and published.
Argument forPublic workers could attend required reserve or Guard training without losing pay or vacation leave, which may make it easier to meet their service duties.
Argument againstLocal governments could choose to pay for extra training leave, which may raise their costs; state funds cannot cover those supplemental payments.
More detail
Public officials and employees must receive leave for qualifying active military service. Employees receive full pay for the first 30 days of qualifying federal service. This applies to state, county, municipal, and other local public officials and employees who serve in the National Guard or a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces. The first 30 days are paid when federal service lasts at least 90 consecutive days under one order. The paid period covers the first 30 days of qualifying federal service under a single order.
A county, municipality, or other local government may provide more than 240 hours of paid leave for reserve or Guard training. This covers local government employees who are commissioned reserve officers, reserve enlisted personnel, or members of the National Guard. The local government must adopt an ordinance or resolution to provide the additional paid leave. State funds may not be used for these supplemental payments. The text sets a 240-hour limit for leave granted as a legal right in each annual period, with extra paid leave allowed under a local rule.
The Florida National Guard Foundation’s board reviews and approves assistance requests, uses stated criteria to evaluate them, and oversees yearly audits and a review of program rules. These duties concern the Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Program and requests for financial help. Assistance depends on available funds. The eligibility wording is unclear because the bill’s amendment formatting is missing. The board reviews the program’s bylaws each year. The outside audit also occurs yearly, and the program’s financial committee reviews transactions each quarter.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Chapter No. 2026-92Latest
- May 22Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- May 11Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 17Ordered engrossed, then enrolledMinor
- Mar 12CS passed as amended; YEAS 105, NAYS 0Major
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Returning Messages. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 12Amendment 419116 Concur
- Mar 12Added to Senate Message List
- Mar 12In Messages
- Mar 12CS passed as amended; YEAS 39 NAYS 0Major
- Mar 12Concurred in House amendment(s) as amended (656697)
- Mar 12Amendment(s) to House amendment(s) adopted (419116)
- Mar 9In returning messages
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9CS passed as amended; YEAS 110, NAYS 0Passed House
- Mar 9Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 9Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 9Amendment 656697 adopted
- Mar 9Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 51st Reading (Engrossed 1)Minor
- Mar 5Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/9/2026)
- Mar 5Bill referred to House Calendar
- Feb 26In Messages
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26Immediately certified
- Feb 26CS passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Feb 26Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 26Amendment(s) adopted (514888)
- Feb 26Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 25Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/26/26
- Feb 25Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Feb 24Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 22 NAYS 0Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/24/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
- Feb 13Now in Rules
- Feb 12Favorable by Appropriations; YEAS 18 NAYS 0Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 9On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 02/12/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
- Jan 29CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability read 1st time
- Jan 28Now in Appropriations
- Jan 27Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
- Jan 26CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability; YEAS 9 NAYS 0
- Vote recorded Favorable with Committee Substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 21On Committee agenda-- Governmental Oversight and Accountability, 01/26/26, 3:30 pm, 110 Senate Building
- Jan 13IntroducedMinor
- 2025
- Dec 1Referred to Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Appropriations; RulesMinor
- Nov 12FiledIntroduced
Government & EthicsVeterans