DeSantis signs bill expanding legal protections for farmers
The measure expands the stateâs âRight to Farmâ law, which was initially approved in 1979 and helps shield farmers from what are known as nuisance lawsuits.
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Front: Governor Ron DeSantis. Middle (pictured left to right): Pahokee Mayor Keith Babb; Stephen Singleton, Singleton and Sons; Matt Griffin, Former Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher and 2020 Excellence in Agriculture Award recipient; Michael K. Brown, Brownâs Produce Farms, LLC; Shedrick and Denise McGriff, McGriff Farms; Senator Kathleen Passidomo; [ Governor s Office ]
By News Service of Florida
Published Apr. 29
Updated Apr. 29
TALLAHASSEE â Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed into law an expansion of legal protections for farmers as he held a private ceremony with lawmakers and growers at the Capitol.
1 month ago Share Lawmakers agreed on spending more than $6.6 billion of the stimulus money headed to Florida from the American Rescue Plan, which President Joe Biden signed last month. by: Jim Saunders The News Service of Florida
House and Senate leaders on April 26 finished nailing down details of a roughly $100 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, after agreeing that first responders statewide should get $1,000 bonuses for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawmakers also agreed to pump an additional $80 million in state and federal money into a program that provides services to help keep people with intellectual and developmental disabilities out of institutions. The infusion of money will lead to serving more people in the so-called iBudget program, though lawmakers did not immediately have an estimate of how many people would be removed from a waiting list.
Florida Legislature agrees on $101.5 B budget
BRENDAN FARRINGTON, Associated Press
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1of9Florida Rep. Blaise Ingoglia debates an amendment during a legislative session, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.Wilfredo Lee/APShow MoreShow Less
2of9Florida Rep. Omari Hardy debates a bill during a legislative session, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.Wilfredo Lee/APShow MoreShow Less
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4of9Florida Senators Travis Hutson, left, Lauren Book, center, and Manny Diaz Jr., talk during a senate committee meeting, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.Wilfredo Lee/APShow MoreShow Less
5of9Due to COVID-19 restrictions, seats in a Senate committee room are blocked off at intervals during a meeting, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.Wilfredo Lee/APShow MoreShow Less
The first step is to jump the minimum from the current $8.52 an hour to $10 this September.
But the approximately $100 billion spending plan lawmakers will vote on Friday will increase the minimum pay for a job with the State of Florida to $13 an hour July 1.
The proposal also includes $208 million to provide bonuses for first responders, law enforcement, emergency medical technicians, firefighters and correctional officers, a $50 million plan for pay raises for teachers, to be negotiated between teacher groups and school districts, and $1.2 million to increase salaries for state agency heads, at Gov. Ron DeSantis discretion.
Rep. Ramon Alexander, D-Tallahassee, cautions that nothing is final until the House and Senate approve the budget and DeSantis signs it, but called the plan to raise the pay for the lowest paid state workers a significant statement by lawmakers.