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David Hill, chairman of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA), sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis in mid-June in support of Senate Bill 1082.
Senate Bill 1082
According to the Florida Senate: “Senate Bill 1082 preempts a local government from inhibiting the construction or installation of housing for legally verified agricultural workers on land classified as agricultural if the housing meets certain criteria related to location and construction.
“The bill provides that a local ordinance regulating such housing must comply with state and federal regulations for migrant farmworker housing, including rules adopted by the Department of Health and federal regulations under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act or the H-2A visa program. As the bill establishes maximum requirements for such housing, a local government may validly adopt less restrictive land use regulations. The bill provides for circumstances requiring the removal or disuse of such housing and record-keeping requirements for property owners of housing sites.”
Hill also testified about the legislation’s importance during a Senate Agriculture Committee meeting in January.
“Senate Bill 1082 will streamline the process to construct or install safe housing for legal, seasonal agricultural workers on agricultural properties,” Hill wrote. “It will help Florida growers continue to meet the demand of a growing population and to supply the fresh agricultural products that feed American families.”
The governor received the bill from the Florida Legislature on June 19 and has 15 days to take action on it.
“FFVA is grateful for your consideration, and we urge you to sign Senate Bill 1082 into law and help support Florida’s fruit and vegetable growers,” Hill concluded.
Those interested can click here to read the letter.