Thanks to your pressure, the threat to free speech and water quality has been removed from the Senate version of Florida’s Farm bill. Now we need you to urge the House to do the same.
Today, with an amendment filed by Senator Jonathan Martin, the Senate Rules Committee unanimously removed Section 48 from SB 290, the agricultural “disparagement” provision we have been urging lawmakers to delete.
Section 48 would have expanded Florida’s existing food disparagement law to include agricultural practices and added one-way attorney’s fees, raising serious concerns about free speech, public accountability, and the ability to speak openly about practices impacting Florida’s water quality.
So, it’s removal from the bill marks a major development. But it didn’t happen by accident. It happened because nearly 10,000 people sent emails, almost 2,000 made phone calls, and countless others showed up, shared, and refused to let this slip through quietly.
That pressure mattered, and it showed just how important public engagement really is.
Why This Matters
For weeks, we have been calling for the complete removal of Section 48. Not tweaks, not negotiated language, just full deletion.
On Tuesday, that is exactly what happened in the Senate.
This is an important win for free speech and for those who care about protecting Florida’s waters. The ability to raise concerns about agricultural practices, pollution, and water management decisions is fundamental to public accountability.
We’re grateful for every single person who spoke up.
The Fight Is Not Over
While Section 48 has been removed from the Senate version of the bill, the House companion—HB 433—still contains similar language.
That bill is expected to move to the House State Affairs Committee, possibly as early as next Tuesday. If heard there, it could represent one of the final committee stops before a full House floor vote.
Legislative session runs through March 13, and we will be watching closely to ensure that nothing is reinserted or revived behind the scenes.
This week proved something important: when people show up, speak up, and stay engaged, it makes a difference.
And we’re not done yet.
Thanks to your pressure, the threat to free speech and water quality has been removed from the Senate version of Florida’s Farm bill. Now we need you to urge the House to do the same.
Today, with an amendment filed by Senator Jonathan Martin, the Senate Rules Committee unanimously removed Section 48 from SB 290, the agricultural “disparagement” provision we have been urging lawmakers to delete.
Section 48 would have expanded Florida’s existing food disparagement law to include agricultural practices and added one-way attorney’s fees, raising serious concerns about free speech, public accountability, and the ability to speak openly about practices impacting Florida’s water quality.
So, it’s removal from the bill marks a major development. But it didn’t happen by accident. It happened because nearly 10,000 people sent emails, almost 2,000 made phone calls, and countless others showed up, shared, and refused to let this slip through quietly.
That pressure mattered, and it showed just how important public engagement really is.
Why This Matters
For weeks, we have been calling for the complete removal of Section 48. Not tweaks, not negotiated language, just full deletion.
On Tuesday, that is exactly what happened in the Senate.
This is an important win for free speech and for those who care about protecting Florida’s waters. The ability to raise concerns about agricultural practices, pollution, and water management decisions is fundamental to public accountability.
We’re grateful for every single person who spoke up.
The Fight Is Not Over
While Section 48 has been removed from the Senate version of the bill, the House companion—HB 433—still contains similar language.
That bill is expected to move to the House State Affairs Committee, possibly as early as next Tuesday. If heard there, it could represent one of the final committee stops before a full House floor vote.
Legislative session runs through March 13, and we will be watching closely to ensure that nothing is reinserted or revived behind the scenes.
This week proved something important: when people show up, speak up, and stay engaged, it makes a difference.
And we’re not done yet.