Florida Senate - 2025 SB 474 By Senator Truenow 13-00647-25 2025474__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to modified sentences for veterans; 3 creating s. 775.37, F.S.; defining the term modified 4 sentence; authorizing a court to impose a modified 5 sentence for veterans under specified circumstances; 6 providing applicability; providing an effective date. 7 8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9 10 Section 1.Section 775.37, Florida Statutes, is created to 11 read: 12 775.37Modified sentences for veterans. 13 (1)As used in this section, the term modified sentence 14 means a sentence less than the otherwise required minimum 15 sentence and may include a waiver of restrictions on the 16 defendants eligibility for gain-time or release. 17 (2)Notwithstanding any other law, if a defendant has been 18 convicted of an offense that requires the imposition of a 19 specified term of imprisonment or minimum term of imprisonment, 20 the court may instead impose a modified sentence if the court 21 finds all of the following on the record: 22 (a)The defendant is a veteran with a mental health 23 condition that is related to that persons military service. 24 (b)The otherwise required sentence is not necessary for 25 the protection of the public. 26 (3)This section does not apply to a person convicted of an 27 offense enumerated in s. 943.0435(1)(h)1.a.(I). 28 Section 2.This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.