Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson took. to social media on Tuesday to advocate for Amendment 2, a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine the right to fish and hunt in the state.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson took to social media on Tuesday in support of Amendment 2, a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine the right to fish and hunt as a fundamental public right in the state.

In a tweet, Simpson described the amendment initiative as vital to preserving Florida’s outdoor heritage and individual freedoms. If ratified in November, the resolution would add a 28th section to the Declaration of Rights in the Florida Constitution, stating that hunting and fishing are the preferred methods for “responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife” and “shall be preserved forever as a public right.”

“Our right to fish and hunt is on the ballot this November,” said Simpson. “Join me in protecting our freedom to enjoy everything this great state has to offer.”

Amendment 2 has gained positive traction among Floridians, as a Florida Chamber of Commerce poll published in May found that 74 percent of respondents support the measure, comfortably exceeding the 60 percent supermajority required for its passage. Just fourteen percent of respondents opposed the amendment, while 11 percent remained undecided.

The campaign for Amendment 2, Vote Yes on Amendment 2, has attracted financial contributions to the tune of $810,335. Friends of Wilton Simpson, the political action committee associated with Simpson, donated $100,000 to the effort in April. Other major contributions include $250,000 from T. Roosevelt Action Inc., an advocacy group for hunters and anglers, and $250,000 from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. Additional support came from agricultural sectors, with Arcadia Stockyard and Hilliard Brothers of Florida each donating $50,000.

If passed, Florida would become the 24th state to enshrine such rights in its constitution. The first constitutional amendment for hunting and fishing rights was adopted by Vermont in 1777. Since 1996, when Alabama passed a similar amendment, 22 other states have done the same. Utah approved the most recent amendment in 2020, with 75 percent of voters in favor. However, Arizona voters rejected a similar amendment in 2010.

Recreational fishing generates $13.8 billion annually and supports 120,000 jobs, while hunting-related activities contributed $1.3 billion to the state’s economy in 2022, supporting 14,300 jobs, per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.