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FL H1159
Bill
Status
Introduced
2/26/2025
Primary Sponsor
Shane Abbott
Click for details
AI Summary
- Renames the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program as the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Emergency Loan Program, broadening eligibility from natural disasters to any declared emergency, and increases the maximum loan amount from $500,000 to $1.5 million per application period with 10-year terms and a 3-year payment deferral
- Authorizes a supplemental loan of up to $1 million for applicants approved due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton (2024), which does not count toward the $1.5 million maximum loan cap
- Expands allowable uses of loan funds to include labor costs and resetting/replanting agriculture and aquaculture commodities, and adds a requirement that applicants retain crop and property insurance for the loan's duration
- Creates the Silviculture Emergency Recovery Program within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to provide grants to timber land owners on agricultural-classified lands for timber stand restoration, site preparation and replanting, and road/trail clearing following a declared emergency
- Establishes a citrus research and field trial program requiring the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) to coordinate with the department on commercial-scale field trials to test best management practices for combatting invasive citrus pests and diseases, with the department assisting in securing funding
- Effective date is July 1, 2025
Legislative Description
Agriculture
Last Action
Withdrawn prior to introduction, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/CS/SB 700 (Ch. 2025-22)
2/27/2025
Full Bill Text
No bill text available