TALLAHASSEE, Florida — The House sponsor of a state agriculture department bill assured critics Tuesday that there will be public votes on future proposals to designate and sell surplus state land.
Details: The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill is headed to the House floor after the State Affairs Committee voted 22-3 to advance the measure. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection, along with FDACS, to review state lands acquired since Jan. 1, 2024, for possible sale to farmers with development rights removed.
Some environmental groups and Democrats on the committee raised concerns that the bill language bypasses the current process requiring approval by the governor and Cabinet.
“The process actually is already in existence right now,” said state Rep. Daniel Antonio “Danny” Alvarez (R-Hillsborough County). “The only thing we’re adding is the language where once it’s determined to be surplus, then we’re going to strip away the development rights forever.”
