Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed the 2026 Florida Farm Bill, a piece of legislation that expands state support for agriculture while preempting some local regulations and adding a series of public-safety and consumer-protection provisions.
While billed as a farm measure, SB 290 is an omnibus package affecting agriculture, land use, consumer services and law enforcement. Among its most consequential provisions, the law bars counties and municipalities from adopting policies that restrict or prohibit gasoline-powered farm or landscape equipment, a move that limits local efforts to regulate tools such as gas-powered leaf blowers and similar machinery.
The measure also includes provisions aimed at preserving agricultural land and shaping rural development. Senate staff analyses say it requires additional review for certain proposed development on ecologically significant parcels in small municipalities, requires state or local review of whether some surplused lands are suitable for bona fide agricultural use, and restricts the transfer of future development rights for some of those lands.
For the agriculture industry itself, the new law creates the Florida Food Animal and Equine Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program to help recruit and retain veterinarians serving livestock and equine operations. It also establishes the Florida Native Seed Research and Marketing Program and makes the Farmers Feeding Florida Program permanent in state law, formalizing a program that helps distribute Florida-grown food to residents in need.
The bill cleared the Senate 38-0 on Feb. 19 and passed the House 94-10 on March 3. Most of the law takes effect July 1.
“The Free State of Florida just delivered another major win for the people who feed our state and our nation,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “With the legislative leaders’ hard work this session and Governor DeSantis’ signature, the 2026 Florida Farm Bill is now law – protecting our farmers from government overreach, strengthening public safety, and preserving our natural resources and rural lands. I’m proud to stand alongside strong conservative leaders who understand that when you fight for freedom, family, and farmers, you’re fighting for Florida’s future.”
The bill also tightens eligibility for agriculture and aquaculture emergency recovery loans after disasters, requiring individual applicants to be U.S. citizens and legal Florida residents and business applicants to be wholly owned and operated in the United States with active Florida status.
Beyond agriculture, the law creates criminal penalties for receiving or providing unauthorized assistance on commercial driver license exams, prohibits signal-jamming devices, and creates penalties for commercial solicitation at homes that display compliant “no commercial solicitation” signs. It also increases insurance requirements and fine limits for fumigation providers.
In announcing the signing, DeSantis said the measure builds on state efforts to protect agriculture, consumers and rural communities.
