The bill amends Section 570.822 of the Florida Statutes, renaming the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program to the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Emergency Loan Program. It expands the allowable uses of loan funds to include labor costs and the resetting and replanting of agricultural and aquaculture commodities. The maximum loan amount is increased to $1.5 million, with provisions for supplemental loans of up to $1 million for applicants affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. The bill also revises eligibility criteria, allows for the renewal of loan applications, and permits the deferral or waiver of loan payments under certain circumstances.

Furthermore, the bill creates Section 570.823, establishing the Silviculture Emergency Recovery Program to assist timber landowners affected by declared emergencies, providing grants for timber stand restoration, site preparation, and road clearing. It also introduces Section 570.831, which outlines the responsibilities of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) in coordinating with the Department of Agriculture to support research and field testing of best management practices for combating citrus pests and diseases. The bill mandates the department to assist the CRDF Foundation in securing necessary funding for administrative costs and establishes a comprehensive commercial-scale field trial program for evaluating treatments for citrus diseases. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1159 Filed: 570.822