DeSantis Signs 2026 Florida Farm Bill: Key Provisions & Impact
HIGHLANDS COUNTY, FL – Governor Ron DeSantis signed the 2026 Florida Farm Bill into law Monday, a measure Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson hailed as the “most comprehensive agriculture and consumer protection” bill in state history. The signing ceremony, held in Highlands County, formalized Senate Bill 290, the agency bill for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which passed the Senate unanimously and the House 94-10.
The bill encompasses a wide range of provisions, including the allocation of state-owned conservation land for agricultural use, preemption of local regulations on gas-powered landscaping equipment, and increased penalties for fraudulent activity related to commercial driver’s licenses. DeSantis emphasized the bill’s commitment to both agriculture and rural communities.
A key component of the legislation allows for the review of state-owned conservation land by a state council to assess its suitability for commercial agriculture. If deemed appropriate, the land could be sold for farming purposes, excluding state parks, state forests, and land within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Commissioner Simpson stated the program aims to lower land acquisition costs for young farmers by reducing competition from developers.
However, the land conservation provision drew criticism during the legislative process. Representative Lindsay Cross, a Democrat from St. Petersburg, expressed concerns about the lack of safeguards to protect the conservation value of certain lands. Simpson countered by highlighting a provision defining “ecologically significant parcels” and limiting development density in approximately 110 rural cities.
The bill also prohibits local governments from banning gas-powered landscaping and farm equipment, a move DeSantis framed as protecting individual choice. He specifically noted that some municipalities, including Miami Beach and Naples, had already implemented restrictions on such equipment, favoring battery-operated alternatives. “Some of these local governments wish to not let you use certain equipment if its gas operated. That’s not their decision. It’s your decision,” DeSantis said.
The legislation establishes the Farmers Feeding Florida program, permanently implementing a pilot program that enables the state to purchase Florida-grown products for distribution to food banks and families in need. Senate President Ben Albritton underscored the importance of addressing food insecurity, calling it a “biblical” and “tragic” issue.
Notably, the most contentious provision of the bill, concerning “food libel,” was removed during the committee process. This provision would have created a legal avenue for agricultural producers to sue individuals or entities criticizing their products or practices. The removal followed debate surrounding potential impacts on criticism of agricultural practices like prescribed burns used by sugar growers.
Additional provisions within the law include limitations on door-to-door sales, allowing residents to post “no solicitation” signs; the creation of a second-degree misdemeanor for those receiving unauthorized assistance on the commercial driver’s license exam; the establishment of a suspended vendor list for contractors failing to pay subcontractors or suppliers; and a ban on the sale or possession of signal jamming devices.