SB 1000 – Relating to Nutrient Application Rates

On Thursday, February 10, SB 1000 by Senator Ben Albritton (R-Bartow) was heard by the Senate Rules Committee with 17 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Vice President of  Governmental Affairs, Adam Basford, stood in support of this legislation.

The bill allows certified crop advisors to recommend preferred fertilizer rates to tailor nutrient application rates. The bill provides that producers using rate tailoring are required to enroll in and implement applicable best management practices (BMPs) adopted by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

SB 1000 will now go to the Senate floor for consideration.

AIF supports legislation which protects an agricultural producers’ enrollment in the Best Management Practices program while providing the ability to specifically tailor nutrient rates based upon variables such as crop variety, site-specific conditions, meteorological events, or pest and disease pressures.

HB 9 – Relating to Consumer Data Privacy

On Thursday, February 10, HB 9 by Representative Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota) was heard by the House Commerce Committee and reported favorable with 23 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Adam Basford, spoke in opposition to this legislation.

The bill gives consumers certain rights related to personal information collected by a business and allows the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA) to enforce these rights by bringing an action against, and collecting civil penalties from, violators. Consumers whose personal information has been sold or shared after opting-out or has been retained after a request to delete or correct may also bring a cause of action. Additionally, attorney fees are

HB 9 will now go to the House Judiciary Committee.

AIF opposes legislation that imposes onerous mandates with significant financial burdens on private businesses. Additiomes_box_oppose AIF opposes the private right of action that will open a Pandora’s box of costly lawsuits for the business which creates the jobs that drive Florida’s economy. AIF supports the privacy of consumers, but this must be done at the federal level to avoid a patchwork of regulations across every state.

SB 7014 – Relating to COVID-19-Related Claims Against Health Care Providers

On Thursday, February 10, SB 7014 by the Senate Judiciary Committee was read a third time on the House floor and passed with 87 yeas and 31 nays.

The bill extends the length of time that health care providers receive liability protections from COVID-19-related claims. According to legislation passed during the 2021 Legislative Session, liability protections from COVID-19-related claims apply to claims accruing within 1 year after the effective date of the act, which was March 29, 2022. The bill extends the application period of the liability protections, making them applicable to claims accruing before June 1, 2023. The net result of the bill is to extend the liability protections for about 14 months, from March 29, 2022, to June 1, 2023.

SB 7014, having passed both the House and the Senate, will now go to the Governor.

AIF supports legislation that protects the Florida health care community, who has been on the frontline during the pandemic, from frivolous and costly litigation by plaintiffs suing to settle.