Drew Dixon
The Senate unanimously approved a bill that criminalizes anyone in the state who falsely uses or exploits military insignias, medals or uniforms.
Port Orange Republican Sen. Tom Wright sponsored the “stolen valor” bill (SB 402). The intent of the measure is to consolidate all military branches into one single classification as a “military uniform.”
A Senate staff background report said the measure ensures that all branches of armed forces are listed in each provision of statutes. A person could already be charged with a third-degree felony if found guilty of committing “stolen valor.”
As the proposed measure worked its way through the Senate committee process before going to the floor, Wright had said the instances of “stolen valor” have been increasing in Florida in recent years.
Wright even recounted incidents in the area around Port Orange where he had business owners complain to him where people falsely dressed up as military veterans in order to conduct bogus charitable fundraisers. Wright said some store managers have chased the fake veterans off business grounds on several occasions.
Ultimately, Wright said serving in the military is a distinguished accomplishment. He said that should not be taken advantage of by anyone who has not served.
“We have to protect the sanctity of the uniform and make sure they are represented correctly,” Wright said.
While Senators did not hesitate to back the bill, the issue is not quite done with the legislative process yet.
Wright’s bill is similar to another Senate bill (SB 348) that would specifically target public officials from using stolen valor in their official capacity if elected or while running a campaign.
Sens. Jay Collins, a Tampa Republican, and Don Gaetz, a Pensacola Republican, cosponsored the bill, which institutes ethics violations for candidates or elected officials who engage in stolen valor. Violation of that measure, if approved, could include censure by the Florida Board of Ethics, a $25,000 fine and possible removal from office by the Governor. That measure has also received preliminary approval by several Senate committees.
In the House, Rep. Patt Maney, a Fort Walton Beach Republican, has sponsored a bill (HB 399) which is similar to that Senate measure. It hasn’t gone to the House floor yet.
17 comments
Larry Gillis, Director-at-Large, Libertarian Party of Florida
March 27, 2025 at 4:31 pm
” … Violation of that measure, if approved, could include censure by the Florida Board of Ethics, a $25,000 fine and possible removal from office by the Governor. …”
The language of your article seems to suggest the possibility of the Governor removing members of the Legislature. Over my dead body, Bro.
Peachy
March 27, 2025 at 4:46 pm
If you are in the legislature and you lie about your military service then you should be removed.
Larry Gillis, Director-at-Large, Libertarian Party of Florida
March 29, 2025 at 4:08 pm
By the voters maybe, or by the Legislature itself. Not by the Governor, for sure.
Ever heard of the “separation of powers”? (You could look it up).
Yours in Liberty, Bro.
Bill Pollard
March 27, 2025 at 8:54 pm
I agree. This particular governor seems to already think he is a little Mussolini. Why give him more power?
Peachy
March 27, 2025 at 9:09 pm
Another person that didn’t serve.
Larry Gillis, Director-at-Large, Libertarian Party of Florida
March 29, 2025 at 4:10 pm
You wear your Snark so well.
Bill
March 30, 2025 at 9:58 am
Good luck to you if you signed up to serve in the military but you can stick your holier than thou attitude where the sun doesn’t shine.
ScienceBLVR
March 27, 2025 at 5:01 pm
Lying about military service is nothing compared to lying to the American people about your incompetence in exposing upcoming military actions. Fire them all- even Rubio, what a sycophantic enabler.
Peachy
March 27, 2025 at 5:11 pm
Question? Who was fired after the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle? How many killed on that operation? That operation was a gigantic blunder but once again the press helped cover it up.
Peachy
March 27, 2025 at 5:16 pm
Oh and it is obvious you did not serve otherwise you would think differently.
TJC
March 28, 2025 at 9:49 am
It’s odd how GOP bootlickers like you are so obsessed with the tragedy of a suicide bomber killing 13 U.S. troops during the Afganistan withdrawal. You never mention the thousands killed during the war there, or the war in Iraq, or the war in Vietnam, all pointless wars (with the exception of the initial successful ousting of al-Qaeda from Afganistan) that led to tens of thousands of deaths.
And your assertion that anyone who served in the military would agree with you is stupid arrogance on your part and flat out wrong. But hey, that’s what we’ve come to expect from you. On a positive note, at least you didn’t express your fear of intelligent women of color this time around.
Peachy
March 28, 2025 at 5:32 pm
Are you gonna try and tell us that the operation went off without a hitch? Looked like the Fall of Saigon. Now where was the outrage by Democrats over the handling of that operation? What about Joe Biden constantly checking his watch at Dover AFB as if he was being bothered by this? I got news for you TJC, I would bet a huge majority of active military and veterans are against any sort of stolen valor. Now back to torching Tesla’s you retard.
Peachy
March 28, 2025 at 5:33 pm
What’s arrogant about being against stolen valor? You have now honor lib. What are we protesting against now?
It's Complicated
March 28, 2025 at 2:33 pm
In U.S. v Alvarez, SCOTUS declared the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, which prohibited the false CLAIM of having received a military award, a First Amendment Free Speech violation, thus Unconstitutional. Essentially, “The government cannot make it unlawful to lie about one’s personal achievements.”
The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 replaced it, and made it a federal crime “for a person to fraudulently claim having received a valor award specified in the Act, with the intention of obtaining money, property, or other tangible benefit by convincing another that they received the award.” The latter still stands, because it involves using the false claim for fraudulent gain.
Sounds like SB402/HB399 are similar to the federal Stolen Valor Act of 2013, with state-level criminal sanctions. There is no House companion bill to SB348 (the Ethics version), so unless a House committee hatches it as a committee bill, it likely does not have a future this Session.
It's Complicated
March 28, 2025 at 2:38 pm
I’m wrong. The House companion to SB348 is HB399 (the ethics version). It’s SB402 (the criminal version that is similar to the 2013 federal act) that has no House companion.
Larry Gillis, Director-at-Large, Libertarian Party of Florida
March 28, 2025 at 3:29 pm
Mere lying will not suffice.
Nice to know.
Ana Maria Soares
March 28, 2025 at 4:31 pm
This is problematic. Wearing clothing with insignia could extend to T-shirts with “Against Trump” or “Off with Musk”. Clothing could be a free speech right. It is not the same as, for example, impersonating a police officer.