Just hours after the Florida House gave final approval Thursday, a bill that would expand legal protections for farmers was sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
According to the News Service of Florida, the House voted 110-7 to support expanding the state’s “Right to Farm” law, a top priority of Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby. The Senate passed the bill (SB 88) in March.
DeSantis’ office said Thursday evening that the governor had formally received the bill from the Legislature and would need to act on it by April 29.
The Right to Farm law was initially approved in 1979 and helps shield farmers from what are known as nuisance lawsuits. The bill would expand those protections, in part by prohibiting nuisance lawsuits filed by people who do not own property within one-half mile of the alleged violations.