# Florida SB 290: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Florida SB 290, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is a 2026 Senate bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-03-24 (Chapter No. 2026-3); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-SB290-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Florida SB 290
- State: Florida
- Session: 2026
- Title: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-10-24
- Last action: 2026-03-24, Chapter No. 2026-3
- Sponsors: no sponsor on record
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Appropriation, Agriculture, Fiscal Policy, Rules, House Calendar
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 5 (177 yes, 13 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 31

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Loan repayment help for Florida veterinarians: benefit, high. Beginning July 1, 2026, Florida’s agriculture department may repay up to $25,000 in loan principal yearly for eligible veterinarians. Payments can last up to five years, with up to three new recipients selected annually, subject to legislative funding. Applicants must work with food animals or hors…
- Fresh food help for hungry Floridians: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, Farmers Feeding Florida coordinates fresh food aid for residents lacking affordable or accessible food. Feeding Florida contracts with Florida’s agriculture department to coordinate food purchases and transportation outside the Emergency Food Assistance Program. Purchased fo…
- Posted homes gain protection from solicitation: benefit, low. You can post a clearly visible sign identifying your home as private property and prohibiting commercial solicitation. The sign must measure at least 8.5 by 11 inches, with letters at least 1 inch high. Businesses cannot solicit sales or commercial fundraising at a dwelling displaying the required…
- Driving test fee help for forest workers: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Florida’s agriculture department may pay commercial driver license renewal test fees for qualifying Forest Service employees. This adds renewal tests to its authority to pay initial test fees. Employees qualify when their jobs require operating equipment that needs a commerc…
- Forest trainees can get more support: benefit, low. The Florida Forest Service can staff, equip, and run the Withlacoochee and Welaka training centers. The centers can train forest managers and local fire crews in wildfire response. The service can give selected people or groups free meals, rooms, or scholarships at those centers or other training l…
- Farms gain protection for agritourism: benefit, low. Local governments cannot limit agritourism on land classified as agricultural or require rural event venue permits or licenses. They can still address substantial impacts outside the property and emergencies under state emergency law.
- Commercial driver exam cheating brings penalties: benefit, low. Commercial driver license applicants commit a second-degree misdemeanor by receiving unauthorized help on highway-sign or traffic-law test sections. Knowingly or willfully giving unauthorized help during a required commercial driver license exam is also a second-degree misdemeanor.
- Florida bans signal jamming devices: benefit, low. Florida bans possessing, making, holding or offering for sale, selling, importing, distributing, or using signal jamming devices. Violations are first-degree misdemeanors. Federal or military law enforcement is exempt when lawfully using a device in a criminal investigation. People authorized by th…
- Misleading weapon permit displays are banned: benefit, low. People cannot wear or display items marked “concealed weapon permit” or “concealed weapon permitholder” with intent to mislead others. The rule covers false claims of agency membership, where applicable, or authorization to display the item. Ordinary possession without that intent is not covered. T…
- Food inspections gain protection from obstruction: benefit, low. The law prohibits blocking or refusing authorized food inspections, entry, or sample collection. It also repeals Florida Statute 500.81. The supplied text does not explain that repealed section, so its practical effects are unclear.
- Local bans on fuel-powered equipment blocked: benefit, low. Florida counties and cities cannot restrict covered farm or landscape equipment powered by gasoline, diesel, or gasoline-oil blends. They cannot treat it differently from electric or similar equipment in retail, manufacturing, or distribution settings. Local governments can still encourage alternat…
- State Fair Authority gains regulatory exemption: benefit, low. The Florida State Fair Authority is exempt from Part I of Florida's fair law. This exemption removes that part's requirements for the Authority, not for fair associations generally.
- Florida wine gains research and promotion: benefit, low. The Florida Wine Trust Fund can promote wine made from products grown in Florida. It can also provide grants for wine research, alongside research on grape growing. The law specifies no grant amounts or promotional funding levels.
- Native seed industry gains program support: benefit, low. Subject to appropriations, the Florida Wildflower Foundation must establish a native seed program with the state agriculture department. The program researches ways to expand native seed availability and uses. It promotes the industry in Florida and nationally. No funding amount is specified.
- Tighter emergency loan rules for producers: cost, high. Beginning July 1, 2026, agricultural and aquaculture producers face tighter eligibility rules for Florida’s emergency recovery loans. Individual applicants must be U.S. citizens and legal Florida residents on or before the declared emergency date. Business applicants must be wholly owned and operat…
- Pest businesses face insurance and fines: cost, medium. Pest businesses that regularly offer and perform fumigations must provide insurance certificates when applying for or renewing licenses. One option requires bodily injury coverage of $1 million per person and $2 million per occurrence. It also requires property damage coverage of $1 million per occ…
- Aquaculture operators face tighter registration rules: cost, low. The agriculture department cannot renew a noncompliant aquaculture facility's registration unless its application documents corrective action. Certificate holders and specified company or entity principals whose registrations are revoked cannot reapply for three years.
- Higher penalties for unlicensed pest control: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, civil penalties for unlicensed pest control move from Class II to Class III. Florida’s agriculture department may also impose a Class III fine of at least twice the pest control business license cost. A previously issued license that has lapsed for less than one year does no…
- Candidates face food event hosting limits: cost, low. Feeding Florida cannot let an opposed candidate host a food distribution event from the qualifying period's last day through Election Day. The candidate must be opposed for election or reelection when the event occurs. Events responding to a declared state of emergency are exempt.
- Housing density limits on sensitive land: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, developers seeking administrative approval on qualifying sensitive land must attest under penalty of perjury to density limits. The limit is one home per 20 acres on undeveloped land designated rural, conservation, agricultural, or greenspace. It applies in municipalities ex…
- Fair associations face financial oversight rules: cost, low. Fair associations with more than 25,000 visitors the previous year must get an annual review by a state-licensed qualified accountant. Smaller associations and first-year fairs must submit annual financial statements signed by a county officer. Beginning July 1, 2026, associations must review their…
- Shellfish growers keep minimum rent obligations: mixed, low. Shellfish lease rent remains at least $15 per acre, or any fraction of an acre, each year. Inflation adjustments are discretionary rather than required. The state can adjust rent every five years using the five-year average change in the Consumer Price Index.
- Subcontractors gain payment protections and enforcement: mixed, low. Licensed contractors must pay subcontractors or suppliers within 45 days after receiving payment for their work or materials, or as the contract requires. Genuine disputes over the amount due are exempt, and knowing or willful violations can lead to contractor discipline. Florida can also suspend s…
- Fair organizers gain flexibility but face limits: mixed, low. County residents who are qualified electors can form fair associations without the former 25-person minimum. Proposed charters must name an elected county commissioner as an ex officio director and list an official email address. They must include sworn statements about public service, assets excee…
- Local waste systems face biosolids deadlines: mixed, low. New biosolids land-application permits and renewals issued after July 1, 2020, must allow only Class AA biosolids on soil. All permits must comply by July 1, 2028. Local governments that do not transport biosolids outside their county for land application have until July 1, 2031. The law allows spe…
- New medical plan rules for agricultural nonprofits: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, agricultural nonprofits need federal tax exemption under 501(c)(5) to meet this requirement for offering medical benefit plans. This replaces the 501(c)(3) requirement, so that status alone no longer meets the tax-exemption test. Organizations must still meet all other requi…
- Conservation land sales retain farming protections: mixed, low. State environmental and agriculture officials must check qualifying conservation land acquired on or after January 1, 2024, for farming suitability. The state can sell suitable land but must keep a rural-lands protection easement. State forests, parks, wildlife management areas, and land within Com…
- Citrus research groups merge with safeguards: mixed, low. The Citrus Research and Development Foundation must merge into the Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation. The merger plan must be completed by October 1, 2026, and follow Florida's nonprofit corporation law. Donated or earned trust funds must transfer and remain dedicated to their original pur…
- Fair permits add deadlines and insurance: mixed, low. Fair associations must submit officer-signed permit applications at least 90 calendar days before the fair. Applications must include the charter and amendments, required exhibits, and current and previous-year prize lists showing offered prizes and awards. At least 21 calendar days before the fair…
- New fitness businesses can receive exemptions: mixed, low. The agriculture department can exempt a business or activity from Florida's health studio laws. It must not have existed as of July 1, 2026. Exemptions are discretionary, not automatic. An exemption reduces covered business requirements and the consumer protections those requirements provide.
- Poultry dealers face a yearly threshold: mixed, low. Florida sellers qualify as dealers when they sell, offer, or hold for sale more than 20,000 dressed birds annually. This replaces the threshold of more than 384 birds in any one week. Annual sales now determine coverage, rather than a single busy week. The egg threshold remains at least 30 dozen so…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- (none)

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-03 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 94 | 10 |   |
| 2026-02-19 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | Senate | Rules Vote | pass | 24 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-14 | Senate | Fiscal Policy Vote | pass | 17 | 3 |   |
| 2025-12-02 | Senate | Agriculture Vote | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (38)

- 2026-03-24: Chapter No. 2026-3
- 2026-03-23: Approved by Governor
- 2026-03-18: Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
- 2026-03-03: Ordered enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: CS passed; YEAS 94, NAYS 10 (House)
- 2026-03-03: Read 3rd time (House)
- 2026-03-03: Added to Third Reading Calendar (House)
- 2026-03-03: Read 2nd time (House)
- 2026-03-03: Substituted for CS/CS/HB 433 (House)
- 2026-02-26: 1st Reading (Engrossed 1) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Bill referred to House Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-19: In Messages (House)
- 2026-02-19: Immediately certified -SJ 356 (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 345 (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Read 3rd time -SJ 345 (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Amendment(s) adopted (753210, 906600) -SJ 345 (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Read 2nd time -SJ 344 (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: CS/CS/CS by Rules read 1st time (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/19/26 (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: CS/CS/CS by- Rules; YEAS 24 NAYS 0 (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/10/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: CS/CS by Fiscal Policy read 1st time (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: On Committee agenda-- Rules, 01/27/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building --Temporarily Postponed (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Now in Rules (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute) (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: CS/CS by Fiscal Policy; YEAS 17 NAYS 3 (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: CS by Agriculture read 1st time (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Introduced (Senate)
- 2026-01-09: On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 01/14/26, 9:00 am, 110 Senate Building (Senate)
- 2025-12-05: Now in Fiscal Policy (Senate)
- 2025-12-04: Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute) (Senate)
- 2025-12-02: CS by Agriculture; YEAS 4 NAYS 0 (Senate)
- 2025-11-24: On Committee agenda-- Agriculture, 12/02/25, 3:30 pm, 301 Senate Building (Senate)
- 2025-11-17: Referred to Agriculture; Fiscal Policy; Rules (Senate)
- 2025-10-24: Filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- er, 2026-07-01: [HTML](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/er/HTML), [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/er/PDF)
- e1, 2026-02-19: [HTML](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/e1/HTML), [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/e1/PDF)
- c3, 2026-02-12: [HTML](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/c3/HTML), [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/c3/PDF)
- c2, 2026-01-15: [HTML](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/c2/HTML), [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/c2/PDF)
- c1, 2025-12-04: [HTML](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/c1/HTML), [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/c1/PDF)
- Filed, 2025-10-24: [HTML](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/Filed/HTML), [PDF](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/Filed/PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 688: Naturopathic Medicine (vetoed)
- HB 145: Claims Against the Government (vetoed)
- HB 325: Education and Workforce Development for Inmates (vetoed)
- SB 14: Relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade County (signed)
- HB 6515: Relief/Lourdes Latour and Edward Latour/Miami-Dade County (signed)
- HB 6507: Relief/L.E./Department of Children and Families (signed)

## Sources
- [er (HTML)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/er/HTML)
- [er (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/er/PDF)
- [e1 (HTML)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/e1/HTML)
- [e1 (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/e1/PDF)
- [c3 (HTML)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/c3/HTML)
- [c3 (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/c3/PDF)
- [c2 (HTML)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/c2/HTML)
- [c2 (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/c2/PDF)
- [c1 (HTML)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/c1/HTML)
- [c1 (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/c1/PDF)
- [Filed (HTML)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/Filed/HTML)
- [Filed (PDF)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/290/BillText/Filed/PDF)

## Related
- [SB 688: Naturopathic Medicine](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-SB688-2026)
- [HB 145: Claims Against the Government](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB145-2026)
- [HB 325: Education and Workforce Development for Inmates](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB325-2026)
- [SB 14: Relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade County](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-SB14-2026)
- [HB 6515: Relief/Lourdes Latour and Edward Latour/Miami-Dade County](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB6515-2026)
- [HB 6507: Relief/L.E./Department of Children and Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-HB6507-2026)
- [Florida bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/florida/bills)
- [Florida state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/florida)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/FL-SB290-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).