The Florida ag community heaved a collective sigh of relief when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the $117.4 billion State Budget and left $140 million in funding for the Florida citrus industry intact. The celebration of that victory was overwhelming, and rightfully so! But there were other measures in the Budget also worth noting that will have a significant impact on Florida ag.
Here’s a look at a few of the ones that flew under the radar.
- Health Coverage: This new law, which the Florida Farm Bureau has dubbed “a historic milestone,” will make healthcare coverage more accessible for families in agriculture. It allows nonprofit agricultural organizations to provide healthcare coverage specifically for farmers, ranchers, and their families.
- Florida Farm Bill: Also signed into law, the Florida Farm Bill prohibits financial institutions from discriminating against agricultural producers, bans drones over farms, protects the 4-H and FFA programs in schools, expands the use of Best Management Practices, strengthens protections for Florida-grown products, and facilitates housing for legal agricultural workers, among others.
- Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: This allows tax cuts for farmers to go on a statewide ballot in 2026. If passed, the measure would remove the tangible personal property tax on farmers and ranchers and exempt farm equipment used for agriculture and agritourism from ad valorem taxes.
Also included in the State Budget:
- Marketing of Florida Agricultural Products: $19 million
- Disaster Recovery Loan Program: $40 million
- Agricultural Restoration Projects: $20 million
- UF/IFAS AI Research Center: $2.2 million
- IFAS Workload Support: $3.5 million
- Fertilizer Rate Study: $4 million
I’m thankful that our Florida legislators are looking out for the interests of those in agriculture. Not everyone understands the important role they play, but those who do get it help to spread awareness and appreciation. Thank you for reading Central Florida Ag News.