In Florida, we ask a lot of our veterans.
We ask them to serve in uniform. We ask them to transition back into civilian life. And long after
their military service ends, we ask them to continue giving back by mentoring young people,
supporting families in need and strengthening the communities they once defended.
I’m honored to have filed House Bill 609, which is about making sure state law supports that
ongoing mission, rather than standing in its way.
Across Florida, organizations like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and
American Veterans play a vital role in supporting veterans and their communities. Local posts
are hubs of service, fellowship and civic engagement. They fund scholarships, support youth
programs, assist veterans navigating life after service and invest in civic education that
strengthens our democracy.
A long-standing part of how many posts fund that work is charitable bingo, which is a
community tradition that has existed in Florida for decades. The problem is that the law has not
kept pace with modern technology or current court rulings. As a result, veterans and charitable
organizations have been left without clear statutory guidance on what instant-bingo equipment
they can legally use, exposing groups that are just trying to do good to more confusion and even
potential criminal liability.
That is not acceptable.
House Bill 609 is a straightforward, commonsense fix. It clarifies state law and aligns it with
existing federal and state case law. It provides certainty for veterans who are simply trying to
raise funds responsibly, transparently and not for profit — but for purpose.
Those funds matter. They help keep local posts open as safe gathering places where veterans
support one another through transition, recovery and reintegration. They allow posts to host job
fairs, provide emergency assistance to veterans and families facing financial hardship, and
maintain facilities that serve as community hubs for events, volunteer efforts and more.
In many rural and small-town communities, these programs would not exist without the
fundraising power of local posts. The revenue generated through charitable bingo helps sustain local posts that serve as anchors of civic life. These posts strengthen the social fabric of their communities, while giving veterans meaningful ways to stay engaged and continue serving.
When veterans return home, they don’t stop serving our country. For many, service becomes
volunteering, mentoring, organizing and giving back. Charitable bingo gives veterans a way to
continue that mission, to stay engaged and to keep serving the communities they care about.
This legislation simply modernizes outdated language, respects established court decisions and
ensures that veteran service organizations can continue their work without unnecessary legal
uncertainty.
In my view, supporting veterans means more than offering thanks. It means listening when the
law creates obstacles for veterans and doing what we can to fix them.
Florida’s 1.4 million veterans have always had our backs. House Bill 609 is a small way we can
have theirs. I hope to see my colleagues in the Florida Legislature join me in supporting our
state’s veterans so they can continue giving back to the communities they call home.
Michael Owen (R-Apollo Beach) is the state representative for House District 70 and the
sponsor of House Bill 609.