Across Florida, veteran organizations quietly do the work that keeps communities stronger, often without recognition and always without complaint. From maintaining local posts to supporting neighbors in need, that work depends on practical, common-sense laws.
I know this firsthand. I served first in the Army National Guard and then spent more than two decades in the U.S. Air Force maintaining aircraft weapons systems. After retiring, I found my next mission through American Veterans (AMVETS), an organization dedicated to supporting veterans as they navigate life after service and continue giving back to their communities.
As Florida’s 2026 legislative session begins, that mission is why I strongly support House Bill 609 and Senate Bill 1282, sponsored by Rep. Michael Owen (R-Apollo Beach) and Sen. Jonathan Martin (R-Ft. Myers).
AMVETS posts are more than meeting halls. They are places where veterans connect, support one another, and organize service projects that strengthen entire communities.
Thousands gathered to honor Veterans with Tallahassee’s annual Veterans Day parade through downtown on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025.
From food drives and emergency assistance to mental health outreach and veteran rehabilitation programs, our work reaches far beyond our membership.
A critical part of how we sustain that work is through charitable bingo, a longstanding tradition at AMVETS posts throughout the state. These are nonprofit, volunteer-run efforts, with every dollar raised is reinvested into keeping posts open and funding veteran and community services.
The problem is that the law has not kept pace with technology or with court rulings that clarify what is legal and what is not. For years, veteran organizations like AMVETS have been left without clear statutory guidance, receiving conflicting legal opinions and operating under uncertainty, despite acting in good faith.
Without clear rules, veterans who are simply trying to fund community programs can be exposed to confusion or even potential criminal liability. House Bill 609 and Senate Bill 1282 fix that problem and bring certainty to veteran organizations by resolving statutory ambiguity, codifying established case law, and clearly outlining how instant-bingo dispensers may lawfully operate. This allows veteran organizations like ours to return our focus to service, not legal risk.
The funds generated through charitable bingo are essential to keeping many posts open. They help cover basic operating costs like insurance, utilities, and facility maintenance. Without those revenues, many posts would have to shut their doors.
Just as importantly, those funds power real, on-the-ground service.
American Veterans (AMVETS) gather for AMVETS, Department of Florida Convention and Banquet in June 2025.
Through AMVETS, bingo proceeds help support community health initiatives, aid under-resourced local programs, and fund veteran-focused therapeutic services, including programs that address mental health and post-service transition challenges. These are not abstract ideas, they are tangible efforts that improve lives across Florida every day.
Charitable bingo also provides something less visible but just as important: connection. For many veterans, especially older or retired service members, these activities offer a sense of belonging and purpose. They are accessible, social, and therapeutic, while also supporting the mission of their Post and their community.
House Bill 609 and Senate Bill 1282 simply modernize outdated statutory language so that the law reflects reality, respects court decisions, and supports veteran service organizations operating responsibly.
These bills ensure that organizations like AMVETS can keep our doors open, our missions strong, and our commitment to service moving forward.
Richard McKern
Richard McKern is the executive director of American Veterans (AMVETS), Department of Florida.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Two bills bring Florida veterans clarity on bingo laws | Opinion