Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, Senator Keith Truenow, and Representative Kaylee Tuck announced new legislation designed to bolster the state’s agricultural sector and protect its farmers, ranchers, and growers. The bill addresses a wide range of issues, from preserving agricultural lands to enhancing consumer protections.
“This legislation is a strong step forward to defend Florida’s agricultural industry and the hardworking farmers, ranchers, and growers who fuel our economy,” said Commissioner Simpson. “By standing up to overreach and ensuring our agricultural community thrives, we are preserving our state’s heritage and safeguarding its future.”
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Preserving Agricultural Lands: The bill aims to protect farmland by returning the decision-making power for solar farms on agricultural land to local governments. It also clarifies the tax structure to incentivize dual-use of solar farms with active agriculture.
Protecting the Agricultural Industry: The bill prohibits financial institutions from discriminating against agricultural producers based on environmental policies or emission targets, preventing lenders from using ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors to deny loans.
Reducing Burdens on Farmers: The bill proposes a potential exemption of tangible personal property taxes on agricultural property and exempts certain agricultural materials used in best management practices from state taxes.
Supporting the Second Amendment: The bill streamlines the concealed weapons licensing process.
Increasing Emergency Preparedness: The bill supports fuel availability during emergencies through a retail fuel registration program and establishes a grant program for counties to purchase generator power switches for fuel stations.
Protecting Consumers: The bill creates an “Honest Services Registry” for charitable organizations, prohibits unregistered charities from soliciting contributions, prevents the mislabeling of plant-based products as “milk” or “meat,” mandates clear pricing on all retail items, closes a loophole for the sale of psychedelic mushrooms, and creates a felony for stealing checks from mailboxes.
Supporting Agricultural Education: The bill protects 4-H and FFA programs in schools by ensuring they can have agricultural facilities on school property, regardless of local zoning laws.
Senator Truenow emphasized the importance of supporting Florida’s farmers and ranchers. “Our farmers and ranchers are the backbone of Florida’s economy, and it’s time we put a stop to harmful practices that threaten their success,” he said.
Representative Tuck echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our agricultural community is a cornerstone of Florida’s identity and prosperity, and today’s legislation is a testament to that.”
The bill has been filed for consideration during the upcoming legislative session, which begins March 4th.
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