After Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed a proposal in June aimed at addressing housing for migrant farmworkers, Republican Senator Jay Collins has reintroduced the measure for the 2025 legislative session.
The proposed bill, SB 84, seeks to prevent local governments from obstructing the construction of farmworker housing on agricultural land, provided it meets state criteria.
The bill mirrors legislation Collins sponsored during the 2024 session, which received unanimous support in both the Florida House and Senate. Despite bipartisan approval, DeSantis vetoed the measure, citing concerns over enforcement related to undocumented workers.
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“The bill’s terms apply to legal migrant farm workers, but the bill does not include the means to enforce this limitation and could pave the way for housing of illegal alien workers,” DeSantis explained in his veto message.
Supporters of the legislation, particularly within the agriculture industry, argue the bill is essential to address Florida’s worsening labor shortage. Farmers have reported scaling back operations, including reducing planting, due to a lack of workers—a shortage exacerbated by the state’s strict crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
The proposed measure aims to support the use of non-immigrant foreign workers under legal visa programs, which many in the industry see as vital to sustaining Florida’s agricultural output.
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Sen. Collins’ reintroduced bill will reignite discussions on how to balance housing needs for legal migrant workers with concerns over immigration enforcement. While DeSantis’ veto halted the effort earlier this year, the measure’s previous bipartisan support may signal strong legislative backing in the coming session.
Whether adjustments will be made to address the governor’s enforcement concerns remains to be seen. The issue highlights ongoing tensions between Florida’s agricultural needs and its approach to immigration policy.
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