Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson today championed the proposed 2026 Florida Farm Bill, SB 290, as a multifaceted legislative package designed to protect the state’s agricultural industry, enhance public safety, and curb perceived government overreach.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) and Representative Danny Alvarez (R-Riverview), was highlighted by Commissioner Simpson as “about protecting freedom, family, and Florida’s farmers,” stating it “defends the people who feed our state and our nation while also protecting the public from dangerous and disruptive technologies, organized fraud, and government overreach.”
READ: Following Illnesses Simpson Urges Residents To Choose Pasteurized Milk From Florida Farms
The legislation, which is already filed for the upcoming session, addresses a broad range of issues under the purview of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), including several key proposals:
- Protecting Gasoline-Powered Farm Equipment: A measure to prohibit counties and municipalities from restricting or banning the use of gasoline or diesel-powered farm and landscape equipment, defending what sponsors call the “freedom” of farmers and residents to choose their tools.
- Combating Signal Jamming: Making it a crime to possess, sell, distribute, or use signal jamming devices. Commissioner Simpson noted this technology, often smuggled from foreign adversaries, can block 911 calls and disrupt law enforcement communications, posing a danger to first responders and the public.
- Cracking Down on CDL Fraud: The bill seeks to ensure safety on Florida roads by making it a crime to cheat on, or help someone cheat on, the Commercial Driver License (CDL) English proficiency exam, aiming to safeguard the public from unqualified truck drivers.
- “No-Knock Homestead Act”: A consumer protection measure that prohibits door-to-door commercial solicitation at homes displaying “No Solicitation” signs, establishing criminal penalties for violators.
- Contractor Accountability: Proposing a “suspended vendor” list and criminal penalties for state contractors who fail to pay their subcontractors or suppliers, aiming to protect small businesses and taxpayer dollars.
- Supporting Food Animal Veterinarians: Strengthening Florida’s agricultural workforce and food security by establishing a loan repayment program that offers up to $25,000 per year for veterinarians who treat food animals and commit to working in Florida.
Senator Truenow emphasized that the agriculture industry is “the foundation of our economy and our way of life,” adding that the bill “strengthen[s] public safety, defend[s] property rights, and keep[s] government out of the way of hardworking Floridians.”
Representative Alvarez echoed the sentiment, expressing pride in partnering with Commissioner Simpson, stating, “When you focus on Florida, freedom, and our farmers, you’re on the right path and that’s exactly what this Farm Bill delivers.”
The bill’s filing marks the beginning of the legislative process, where the proposals will be debated in committees ahead of the 2026 legislative session.
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