This morning, Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 88, a legislative priority for the Association, into law. This bill contains several updates to Florida's Right to Farm Act.
For forestry, the bill's most significant impact is the protection it offers from nuisance lawsuits regarding air quality issues related to prescribed burning.
This new legislation gives Florida what might be the strongest Right to Farm law in the country. Effective July 1, 2021, it offers broad protection from nuisance lawsuits. It is expected to be a strong deterrent against frivolous legal actions.
Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature deserve many thanks for their strong support of this important legislation. We are also grateful to the sponsors and other leaders who supported this legislation. Senate President Wilton Simpson, bill sponsors Senator Jason Brodeur and Representative Jayer Williamson, and all our friends in the Florida House and Senate made a formidable team. Together, they guided SB 88 to a successful passage into law.
We cannot overlook the important work our members did as well. Thank you to everyone who sent emails, wrote op-eds, made phone calls, and otherwise made their voice heard. Grassroots support was a key element in this victory.
With one more day left in the legislative session, several other bills of interest remain in play and the budget still needs to be passed.
