FL S1628

Restructures management of Babcock Ranch Preserve from a not-for-profit corporation (Babcock Ranch, Inc.) to direct state control by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services upon termination of the management agreement, with a new advisory group providing guidance.

Modifies school food and nutrition service programs by creating Chapter 595, transferring provisions from Chapter 570, and reorganizing administration to improve federal funding coordination and program requirements for school districts and sponsors.

Establishes Operation Outdoor Freedom Program within the Florida Forest Service to provide hunting and outdoor recreation opportunities for disabled veterans and active duty servicemembers with service-connected injuries on state forests and designated public and private lands.

Revises regulations for open burning and prescribed burning by clarifying definitions, liability protections for property owners conducting certified burns, and authority delegated to counties and special districts for managing certain burn types.

Makes various technical changes including deleting the Pesticide Review Council, removing livestock hauler permitting requirements, establishing best management practices for agriculture related to wildlife conservation on a voluntary basis, and repealing provisions related to Arabian horse racing promotion.