Commissioner of Agriculture

Simpson describes securing investments for citrus protection and research against citrus greening, and money for citrus advertising. The listed measures include barring financial institutions from discriminating against producers over ESG policies, paying for FDA inspections, excused absences for 4-H and FFA, stronger Greenbelt Laws and agritourism changes in 2021 and 2022.

Simpson lists the first agency in Florida to have 100% of its sworn law enforcement officers 287(g) certified. This is the only statement filed under this issue. It does not describe what the certification covers, so this summary does not either, and it names no specific bill or vote.

Simpson lists keeping government out of the way of hardworking business owners who create jobs and provide goods and services. This is the only statement filed under this issue, and it names no specific bill, vote, program or measure of results beyond that general goal.

Simpson lists ensuring every child has access to “world class education opportunities” with the largest expansion of school choice in the nation’s history. Simpson also lists requiring Florida school districts to approve 4-H and FFA-related activities as excused absences. No bill numbers are given.

Simpson lists preserving natural resources that draw more than 1,000 people a day to Florida. Under wildfires, Simpson lists investing over $100 million in wildfire mitigation and setting a new annual record by treating over 2,000 acres of state forests with prescribed fire.

Simpson lists protecting rights “to worship, to bear arms and to put in an honest day’s work.” Simpson also lists eliminating the backlog of concealed weapon licenses and prohibiting the collection of Florida’s firearm owner and ammunition purchase, described as a first in the nation.

Simpson lists prohibiting government from putting any medication, including fluoride, into public water systems. This is the only statement filed under this issue, and it names no specific bill, vote or date for when the prohibition took effect, so none is given here.

Simpson lists identifying 250 illegal immigrants through interdiction stations and other missions, and securing new interdiction stations to protect Florida’s northern border. Simpson also lists the first agency in Florida to have 100% of its sworn law enforcement officers 287(g) certified.

Simpson describes working to strengthen Greenbelt Laws to shield agricultural property from property tax increases due to encroaching development. Simpson also describes work in 2021 and 2022 on agritourism changes, including tax benefits for qualifying operations and a hybrid assessment for agritourism structures.