Andrew Powell
The House State Affairs Committee unanimously advanced a measure that seeks to impose stronger penalties for those who fake military service and honors.
Fort Walton Beach Republican Rep. Patt Maney presented the bill (HB 399). He said the purpose of the legislation is to uphold ethical standards by preventing certain individuals, including candidates and public employees, from misrepresenting themselves as having served in the armed forces.
“This bill is short and simple, it’s really a stolen valor bill,” Maney said. “It protects veterans and the public from those, particularly public officers and candidates, public employees, state officials, who claim that they had military service qualifications, awards, decorations, uniforms that they didn’t earn.”
The bill would create a section in the ethics code that sets up a collection mechanism for any penalties assessed by the Florida Commission on Ethics. In the bill analysis, the measure would authorize the Commission to withhold 25% of an employee’s salary, as well as creating a process for referring unpaid penalties to a civil collection agency.
Kerrie Stillman, Executive Director of the Florida Commission on Ethics, showed her support of the bill.
St. Petersburg Republican Linda Chaney thanked Maney for bringing the bill forward.
“We had this situation in our city of stolen valor more than once,” Chaney said. “So, I appreciate this bill very much.”
A companion bill from Tampa Republican Sen. Jay Collins and Pensacola Republican Sen. Don Gaetz (SB 348) has been passed by the Senate. Similarly, a bill (SB 402) sponsored by Port Orange Republican Sen. Tom Wright could carry a third-degree penalty and a $25,000 fine for non-military members to use or wear uniforms, medals and insignia.
7 comments
Larry Gillis, Libertarian (Cape Coral)
April 8, 2025 at 12:16 pm
AND WHERE DOES IT END?
What other “truth determinations” are gonna be added to the list, as time goes by? That’s where the problem here is, Bro.
(I suited up when my country called, so no snarky remarks from any pasty-faced keyboard warriors)
Peachy
April 8, 2025 at 12:36 pm
Thank you for your service from one vet to another. I support this bill.
Larry Gillis, Director-at-Large, Libertarian Party of Florida
April 8, 2025 at 1:06 pm
I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS BILL.
I rely on the free marketplace of ideas to root out and punish the liars, not the Government. Get the Gov’s snout into this and there’s no telling where it will end.
How about the Guv starts by investigating YOU? Put up two major forms of identification, and we’ll let you continue here …
(Bro).
Peachy
April 8, 2025 at 1:20 pm
My name is Rick Whitaker, bro. Unfortunately I do not carry any form of identification. 😜
Larry Gillis, Director-at-Large, Libertarian Party of Florida
April 8, 2025 at 3:16 pm
My point being that you can speak up, as a matter of right …
Bill
April 8, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Hard to imagine that this is such a serious issue that legislation is required but there you go. I guess a lot of government employees and politicians lie about their service record or lack there of.
Larry Gillis, Director-at-Large, Libertarian Party of Florida
April 8, 2025 at 3:19 pm
I agree. The law probably covers this in some other way, if appropriate …