By Will Jordan Legislation and agriculture are not always friends. Policy can be developed with good intentions but miss the sound advice of agriculture when dealing with environmental, animal, or sustainability topics. Southeast AgNet recently visited with Florida Representative Lauren Melo during the Florida Cattlemen’s Association Convention in Marco Island about what it means to support agriculture as a legislator …
Lawmakers Try to Set Stage for Hemp Industry
Moving quickly after the passage of a federal law, the Florida Legislature on Friday gave final approval to a bill aimed at creating an industrial-hemp industry in the state. Senators voted 39-0 to pass the bill (SB 1020), after the House approved it in a 112-1 vote Wednesday. The bill is ready to go to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The state …
Florida Legislature Expected to Wrap Session up Saturday
Florida lawmakers are expected to vote sometime Saturday afternoon on what ended up being a $91.1 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. According to the News Service of Florida, the budget was distributed at 1:32 p.m. Wednesday, triggering the start of a constitutionally required 72-hour “cooling off” period before the House and Senate can vote on …
Florida Cattlemen Hoping for More Legislative Funding
After scanning the proposed budgets released by both the Florida Senate and House, many in agriculture continue to work to seek better funding by the Florida Legislature. Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, explains what programs they are wanting more to see more dollars for.
Rep. Brannan a Spokesman for Florida Agriculture
Florida Representative Robert Charles ”Chuck” Brannan III (R-District 10) of Lake City, FL, has served Florida House District 10 since 2018. He told Southeast AgNet Tallahassee Intern, Milli Jones, that he comes from a farm background and is in Tallahassee to be a spokesman for agriculture.
Florida Legislature Budget Negotiations Underway
Florida House and Senate leaders kicked off formal negotiations on a new state budget Tuesday night, but they face hundreds of millions of dollars in unexpected costs and less tax revenue than originally thought. According to a story from the News Service of Florida, leaders held an initial conference committee meeting after announcing earlier in the day they had reached …
Environmental Proposal Delayed Amid Business Outcry
A proposed constitutional amendment that would redefine legal standing for Floridians when environmental problems occur was put on hold Tuesday as opposition mounts from powerful business groups. With critics arguing the measure is too vague and would create legal gridlock, Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, a member of the state Constitution Revision Commission, said she requested more time to work on her proposal …
House Committees Scheduled for Three Days
House committees and subcommittees could hold more than 30 meetings during the second week of October, including a meeting of the newly formed Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness, according to a schedule posted online Tuesday. The House meetings will be held Oct. 10 to Oct. 12, as lawmakers begin getting ready for the 2018 legislative session, which starts …
Florida Legislative Committees Cancel Due to Hurricane Irma
In anticipation of Hurricane Irma making landfall in Florida, legislative leaders have canceled committee meetings scheduled for next week. According to a story from the News Service of Florida, Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran called off what would have been the first committee meetings to prepare for the 2018 legislative session, citing concerns about potential damage …
No Override for Cuts to UF/IFAS Budget
When the Florida Legislature wrapped up its special session last Friday, some things survived the governor’s veto pen, but others didn’t. And that included cuts to the University of Florida/IFAS budget. According to Sydney Stone, legislative assistant for the University of Florida/IFAS Governmental Affairs, while the legislature did override some $60 million in cuts to higher education, it could not …