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FloridaSB 2902026SenateWALLET

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Sponsored By: Rules, Keith L. Truenow (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AppropriationAgricultureFiscal PolicyRulesHouse Calendar

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

30 provisions identified: 13 benefits, 10 costs, 7 mixed.

More fresh food for hungry families

The Farmers Feeding Florida Program helps buy, move, and give out fresh food to food-insecure residents. Feeding Florida must sign an agreement with the Agriculture Department and send monthly reports starting July 1, 2026. Foods bought through the program must go only to charity and may not be sold in any market. The department administers the program with Feeding Florida.

Cities and counties can’t ban gas equipment

Counties and cities may not ban or restrict gasoline‑powered farm or landscape equipment. They also may not set different retail or manufacturer rules for gas equipment compared to electric tools. The rule covers machines with internal combustion engines using gasoline, diesel, or a gasoline‑oil blend.

Faster pay for subs and suppliers

Licensed contractors must pay subcontractors and suppliers within 45 days after they get paid, or as the contract says. This does not apply if there is a bona fide dispute on the amount due. Knowingly or willfully breaking this rule can lead to contractor discipline.

State controls broadcast burn permits

The Florida Forest Service is the only authority that can permit broadcast burning and agricultural or silvicultural pile burning. Other agencies and local governments cannot make or enforce rules on those burns. The Forest Service can still let local governments manage yard trash and land‑clearing burns in specific cases.

Ban on signal jammers statewide

It is illegal to possess, make, sell, import, distribute, or use a signal jamming device. The law defines these devices to include phone jammers and GPS blockers. Federal or military law enforcement and FCC‑authorized users are exempt. Violations are first‑degree misdemeanors. The ban takes effect July 1, 2026.

Local limits on agritourism barred on farms

If your land is classified as agricultural under state law, local governments cannot ban, restrict, or require special permits for agritourism. They also cannot require a rural event venue license. Local governments can still act to address substantial offsite impacts and during emergencies.

Medical plan limited to 501(c)(3) farm groups

Beginning July 1, 2026, only agricultural nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status qualify for the statute’s medical benefit plans. Groups that are only 501(c)(5) lose eligibility. Employers and workers in those groups may need to change coverage.

Higher insurance for fumigation firms

Pest control businesses that do fumigation must show insurance to get or renew a license. You need either $1,000,000 per person and $2,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury plus $1,000,000 property damage per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, or a single‑limit $2,000,000 aggregate.

New aquaculture rules and records

Aquaculture facilities must follow department best‑practice rules and keep required records. Facilities that raise Micropterus salmoides floridanus must keep stock purchase documents or genetic test records. The department may refuse to renew a noncompliant registration unless you show corrective action. If your certificate is revoked, you cannot reapply for three years.

New rules to form and run fairs

Starting July 1, 2026, at least 25 county voters must form a fair association, include required charter items, and swear at least $5,000 was provided. You must send a notice to the department, publish it weekly for four weeks, and get county and department approval before court filing. Changes to a charter require department approval, published notice, a judge’s order, and recording. A county may have only one fair association unless the Agriculture Commissioner waives the limit. If your fair drew over 25,000 people last year, a licensed accountant must review your books each year; all fairs must send a certified charter copy every five years.

Tighter rules for farm disaster loans

To get an Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Emergency Recovery Loan, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and a legal Florida resident on or before the emergency date. A business applicant must be wholly owned and operated in the U.S. and have an active Florida certificate of status under chapter 605.

Fair permits, fees, and safety rules

Before an annual fair, apply at least 3 months ahead and pay a $183–$366 fee. Keep liability insurance of at least $300,000 per occurrence and file your premium list 60 days before the fair. The department issues a permit within 10 days of a complete application and can deny one that would compete within 50 miles. Disrupting or refusing to leave fair grounds is a second‑degree misdemeanor, and the State Fair Authority operates under the Agriculture Commissioner. Only local governments and fair associations can get certification for agriculture education and promotion facilities; public money cannot subsidize private facilities except those owned by fair associations.

Stricter rules for state vendors

The Attorney General can sue firms that contract with entities tied to foreign countries of concern. The civil penalty is twice the contract value, and offenders can be barred from government contracts and licenses for up to five years and put on the suspended vendor list. Vendors placed on suspended or disqualified lists are immediately ineligible for state term contracts. Agencies must send documentation to the state before removal, and vendors get written notice and a right to an administrative hearing.

Stricter biosolids rules and deadlines

New or renewed land‑application permits issued after July 1, 2020 must use only Class AA biosolids. All permits must meet the Class AA standard by July 1, 2028. The department must write biosolids rules, but they do not take effect until the Legislature ratifies them.

New rules to sell public lands

When local governments surplus land on or after January 1, 2024, the state council must check if the land is suitable for real farming. If it is, the local government may not transfer future development rights for that land. DEP can surplus state conservation lands bought on or after January 1, 2024 if they are suitable for bona fide agriculture, but must keep a rural‑lands‑protection easement. All sale proceeds go to the Department of Agriculture’s Incidental Trust Fund for buying land rights. State parks, forests, wildlife areas, and lands inside the Everglades restoration boundary cannot be surplused under this authority.

No-solicitation signs enforceable at homes

Commercial soliciting is banned at a home that clearly displays an 8.5 x 11 inch sign with 1-inch letters stating: "THIS DWELLING IS DESIGNATED PRIVATE PROPERTY. NO COMMERCIAL SOLICITATION IS PERMITTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 501.062, FLORIDA STATUTES." The sign must be visible to people approaching the dwelling. A first violation is a noncriminal violation. A second or later violation is a second-degree misdemeanor.

Stronger wildfire training and CDL help

The Florida Forest Service uses a training plan with at least 40 hours of structural training, 40 hours of emergency medical training, and 376 hours of wildfire training. The service adopts this plan for its wildfire training programs and state training centers. The Agriculture Department may pay the initial commercial driver license exam fee and renewal fees for staff whose jobs require a CDL.

Exemptions for new health studios

If your business did not exist on July 1, 2026, you can file an affidavit to ask for an exemption from sections 501.012–501.019. The department may grant the exemption if you meet the qualifications.

Fair associations get broad tax exemption

Money and property of a fair association are public property held in trust when used for the association’s purposes. They are exempt from all taxes and special assessments, except the state sales tax under chapter 212. The exemption does not cover money kept to pay the association’s just debts and liabilities. This change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Ban on misleading authority insignia

You may not wear or display words or symbols that falsely show official authority, like “concealed weapon permit,” with intent to mislead. Doing so is a first‑degree misdemeanor.

Native seed research and marketing

If funded, the state creates the Florida Native Seed Research and Marketing Program. It studies native seeds and promotes Florida’s native seed industry in the state and nationally. Work starts only when money is appropriated.

Wine trust fund and research grants

The Florida Wine Trust Fund is created at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Money in the fund promotes wine made from state‑grown products and supports wine and viticulture research grants. The department runs the fund.

One home per 20 acres limit

On an ecologically significant parcel in a low-density municipality, you cannot exceed one home per 20 acres. To get administrative approval, the developer must attest under penalty of perjury to that limit. Homes built for family members need a separate sworn statement. The local commission may waive this only by a unanimous vote.

No cheating on CDL tests

Getting unauthorized help on the parts of the CDL exam that test sign‑reading or traffic‑law knowledge is a second‑degree misdemeanor. Knowingly giving that help, or authorizing an unauthorized person to drive in the process, is also a second‑degree misdemeanor.

Higher fines for pest control violations

The department now treats pest control rule violations and unlicensed pest control as Class II offenses for fines. This raises the possible civil penalties for licensed operators and for people working without a license. Exact dollar limits come from section 570.971.

Tougher penalties for repeat false ads

False advertising under section 500.04 is a second-degree misdemeanor. After a prior final conviction, a new offense becomes a first-degree misdemeanor. These penalties apply beginning July 1, 2026.

Limits on candidate‑hosted food events

Feeding Florida may not let an opposed candidate host a food distribution event from the last day of qualifying until election day. This ban does not apply to events held in response to a declared state emergency.

Repeals of certain state laws

The law repeals sections 377.71, 377.711, 377.712, and 500.81, Florida Statutes. The exact effects depend on what those sections previously required or allowed.

Defines low‑density towns for planning

A low‑density municipality is one that existed by January 1, 2025, is under 2,500 acres, and has 5,000 or fewer legal residents. An “ecologically significant parcel” is an undeveloped parcel in those towns designated rural, conservation, agricultural, or greenspace in the local plan. These definitions apply under the Community Planning Act.

Citrus research merger and reports

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation must merge into the Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation by October 1, 2026. Funds, records, and property move to the Field Trial Foundation and stay used for their original purposes. Any group that spends State Treasury money on citrus production research must send reports twice a year with plans, finances, findings, grower use, and commercialization status.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Rules

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Keith L. Truenow

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 177 • No: 13

House vote • 3/3/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 94 • No: 10

Senate vote • 2/19/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/10/2026

Rules Vote

Yes: 24 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/14/2026

Fiscal Policy Vote

Yes: 17 • No: 3

Senate vote • 12/2/2025

Agriculture Vote

Yes: 4 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. • Chapter No. 2026-3

    3/24/2026

  2. • Approved by Governor

    3/23/2026

  3. • Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

    3/18/2026

  4. • Ordered enrolled

    3/3/2026Senate

  5. • Substituted for CS/CS/HB 433 • Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • CS passed; YEAS 94, NAYS 10

    3/3/2026House

  6. • Bill referred to House Calendar • Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026) • 1st Reading (Engrossed 1)

    2/26/2026House

  7. • In Messages

    2/19/2026House

  8. • Read 2nd time -SJ 344 • Amendment(s) adopted (753210, 906600) -SJ 345 • Read 3rd time -SJ 345 • CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 345 • Immediately certified -SJ 356

    2/19/2026Senate

  9. • CS/CS/CS by Rules read 1st time

    2/18/2026Senate

  10. • Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/19/26

    2/17/2026Senate

  11. • Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute) • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

    2/12/2026Senate

  12. • CS/CS/CS by- Rules; YEAS 24 NAYS 0

    2/10/2026Senate

  13. • On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/10/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

    2/5/2026Senate

  14. • On Committee agenda-- Rules, 01/27/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building --Temporarily Postponed • CS/CS by Fiscal Policy read 1st time

    1/22/2026Senate

  15. • Now in Rules

    1/16/2026Senate

  16. • Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

    1/15/2026Senate

  17. • CS/CS by Fiscal Policy; YEAS 17 NAYS 3

    1/14/2026Senate

  18. • Introduced • CS by Agriculture read 1st time

    1/13/2026Senate

  19. • On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 01/14/26, 9:00 am, 110 Senate Building

    1/9/2026Senate

  20. • Now in Fiscal Policy

    12/5/2025Senate

  21. • Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

    12/4/2025Senate

  22. • CS by Agriculture; YEAS 4 NAYS 0

    12/2/2025Senate

  23. • On Committee agenda-- Agriculture, 12/02/25, 3:30 pm, 301 Senate Building

    11/24/2025Senate

  24. • Referred to Agriculture; Fiscal Policy; Rules

    11/17/2025Senate

  25. • Filed

    10/24/2025Senate

Bill Text

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