In this episode: Pushed by a potential future candidate for governor, Florida lawmakers are working on a bill that would make it easier for the agriculture industry to sue people who criticize its production practices. It could help Florida’s politically influential Big Sugar companies attack environmental groups who say the sugar industry has polluted the Everglades. Plus: More bills on the move as Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature gears up for a new legislative session that begins in January.

Show notes

The bill’s discussed in today’s show:

Senate Bill 290 — Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (first committee vote)

House Bill 167 — Former Phosphate Mining Lands (first committee vote, second committee vote)

House Bill 191 — Verification of Reemployment Assistance Benefit Eligibility (first committee vote)

House Bill 289 — Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child (first committee vote, second committee vote)

House Bill 37 — Removal, Storage, and Cleanup of Electric Vehicles (first committee vote, second committee vote)

Senate Bill 88 (2021) — Farming Operations (Senate final vote, House final vote)

For further reading:

Lobbyists for a mining company wrote a bill to block lawsuits over radiation on former mines (Seeking Rents)

In Support of Free Speech on Food (article from Penn State Law Review)

Publix sought to block electric vehicle rules, records show (Seeking Rents)

Prodded by business lobbyists, lawmakers may cut more Floridians off from unemployment insurance (Seeking Rents)

Questions or comments? Send ‘em to [email protected]

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