Florida agriculture bills could help

Big Sugar intimidate critics

Big Sugar could get a potent new weapon to go after its critics, courtesy of the Florida Legislature.

Senate Bill 290 and House Bill 433, similar measures collectively dubbed the “Florida Farm Bill,” would broaden Florida’s existing “food libel law,” a measure passed decades ago which allows producers of perishable agricultural products to sue for damages if someone knowingly spreads false information claiming the products aren't safe for consumption.

Now, SB 290/HB 433, if passed, would allow agricultural producers to sue for disparagement of non-perishable products — like sugar.

The bills would also expand the definition of “agricultural food product” to include farming practices. This means agricultural producers could sue if you disparage the methods used — like, say, the burning of sugarcane fields prior to harvest.

This provision, tucked into the voluminous farm bills, seems custom designed to help the industry sue, intimidate and silence its critics. And undoubtedly, if the bill is passed, that's exactly what will happen.

Much more at VoteWater.org, click the button below.

New wetlands rules: A done deal?

Last month our “Deep Dive” into proposed changes to wetlands protections under the federal Clean Water Act noted that the public comment period was to end Jan. 5 — this past Monday.

So now what?

Even the federal agencies involved concede that the changes, keyed to a crucial 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that limited the scope of federal jurisdiction, will leave millions of acres of wetlands without federal protections. But for some that's a feature, not a bug. And there have been misguided claims that Florida’s wetlands won’t suffer under the changes because state wetlands protections are considered robust, and the court ruling and new EPA rules merely give more authority back to the state, which is the expert when it comes to local waters.

But as anyone paying any attention at all recognizes, the state — the Legislature — is constantly working to scale back environmental regulation. We fully expect that to be the case if, or once, the new rules take effect.

And it looks like they will. For more on this crucial story, see our latest blog post at VoteWater.org.

Here it comes: 2026 Legislative session preview

Wait, is that the music from "Jaws" we hear? ...

The 2026 Florida Legislative session begins Tuesday, Jan. 13, and the 60-day session runs through March 13. Join our friends at Friends of the Everglades for a special livestream preview from noon-1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12; Friends' Executive Director Eve Samples and Policy Director Gil Smart (who also serves as VoteWater Executive Director) will give us a lowdown on the good, the bad and the ugly bills filed this session — and what we can expect going forward. Register by clicking the button below!

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