The law also paves the way for agricultural uses on land previously designated for conservation.
A new Farm Bill passed by the Florida legislature could slow the state’s progress toward reducing carbon emissions, reports Ayurella Horn-Muller in Grist.
The law bans local governments from outlawing gas- and diesel-powered tools such as leaf blowers and chainsaws, even though “at most” seven Florida municipalities have any such bans in place, and none have banned large gas-powered farm machinery such as tractors.
According to Horn-Muller, “The ‘Florida Farm Bill’ also includes a provision that allows the state to open land designated for conservation for commercial farm use. Under this policy, lands acquired for conservation purposes since 2024 can be reclassified if deemed suitable for agriculture by state agencies.”
The law excludes a prior proposal to expand a law known as “veggie-libel,” which allows farmers and companies to sue over potentially defamatory claims about agricultural products. The proposal would have expanded the products the law applies to, such as sugarcane.
Read the full story: With its new farm bill, Florida’s climate fight just hit a tractor-sized roadblock
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