Florida agriculture circles are full of buzz after Florida Governor Charlie Crist vetoed two key agriculture bills over the weekend. Ag leaders across the state are strategizing on what to do next. Both bills were heavily supported by Florida farmers and ranchers and both passed with overwhelming support in both chambers of the Florida Legislature. Below is a brief rundown of a few details of both bills. Stay tuned to Southeast AgNet for further coverage.
HB 981, sponsored by Sen. JD Alexander (R-Lake Wales) and Rep. Denise Grimsley (R-Sebring), made it possible for land owners to retain a greenbelt classification on ag lands when offered for sale. It also provided interagency agreements which would allow the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to work with other agencies on the regulation of pesticides to waters of the state – an issue arising from a Sixth Circuit Court case decision to allow EPA to require NPDES permits for pesticide applications. It also contained important language for Florida’s citrus industry as it codified the Citrus Research and Development Foundation.
CS/CS/CS 981 passed the House 112-1 and the Senate 34-1.
HB 7103 would have prevented counties from requiring agriculture to meet redundant and duplicative regulations if the agricultural activity already is regulated by the state. It had a good neighbor provision requiring homebuyers to acknowledge they were moving next to a working agricultural property—an effort to minimize future conflict; the bill also defined agricultural sustainability.
CS/CS 7103 passed the House on a 115-0 vote and the Senate by 37-0.