The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment, and General
Government
BILL: SB 864
INTRODUCER: Senator Ausley
SUBJECT: Cost-share Program for Agriculture, Shellfish Aquaculture, and Timber Operations
DATE: February 21, 2022 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Fink Becker AG Favorable
2. Blizzard Betta AEG Recommend: Favorable
3. AP
I. Summary:
SB 864 creates a cost-share program for agriculture, shellfish aquaculture, and timber operations
within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (department). Furthermore, it
requires the department (in consultation with the Florida Sea Grant program, the University of
Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the University of Florida Shellfish
Aquaculture Research and Extension Program, the Wakulla Environmental Institute, and the
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Agriculture and Food Sciences) to:
 Conduct a study to determine the value of environmental services, such as water recharge,
stormwater filtration, wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, nutrient remediation, coastal
resilience and flood protection, and air quality benefits provided by the agriculture, shellfish
aquaculture, and timber industries;
 Promote the cost-share program, with priority going to low-income communities, historically
under resourced communities of color, and rural communities impacted by Hurricane
Michael in 2018;
 Update all relevant brochures, websites, and marketing materials to provide information on
participation in the cost share program; and
 Adopt rules to implement the provisions in the bill.
The bill creates a cost-share program that is subject to appropriation. Currently, the bill does not
include an appropriation for the program.
The fiscal impact of the bill is estimated to be $450,000 in nonrecurring general revenue for the
department to conduct the required environmental services valuation study for agriculture,
shellfish aquaculture, and timber operations.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.
BILL: SB 864 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
Collectively, the agriculture, natural resources, and food industries are significant contributors to
the economy of the state of Florida, so maintaining healthy and sustainable agricultural and
timber industries is vital. Florida has 17.16 million acres (26,807 square miles) of forestland,
representing 50 percent of the state’s total land area, with nearly two-thirds of forestlands
privately owned. In 2016, the forest industry sectors directly employed 36,055 persons (full-time
and part-time jobs) and collected $12.55 billion in industry revenues.1
In 2017, Florida had 47,000 commercial farms, using a total of 9.45 million acres. Florida ranked
first in the United States in value of production of cucumbers, grapefruit, oranges, squash,
sugarcane, fresh market snap beans, and fresh market tomatoes. The state ranked second in value
of production of bell peppers, strawberries, watermelons, fresh market cabbage, and fresh market
sweet corn. Florida also ranked fourth nationally in the value of production of peanuts. Florida
ranks 18th among all states in number of farms and 29th in land in farms. Farm cash receipts
from marketing agricultural products in 2017 amounted to $7.467 billion, a decrease of $290
million from 2016. Nationally, Florida ranks fourth in the value of vegetable and melon cash
receipts at $1.194 billion, 11th in crop cash receipts with a value of $6.08 billion, and 18th in
total cash receipts.2
Shellfish can help restore ocean health. They are efficient water filterers and natural buffers for
coastal communities. An adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water daily, removing excess
nutrients and other pollutants in coastal waters, often caused by runoff. The University of Florida
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and the Florida Sea Grant program are already
working to quantify the environmental benefits of shellfish aquaculture, so that shellfish growers
can be compensated for the benefit they provide.3
The federal farm bill currently provides some similar programs for farmers and landowners,
which encourage and incentivize environmental stewardship. Programs like the Environmental
Quality Incentive Program provide technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers
and ranchers who voluntarily install or implement structural and management practices on
eligible agricultural land to protect soil, water, air quality, and/or wildlife habitat.4
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill creates s. 570.891, F.S., to create the act cited as the “Protecting Florida’s Natural
Resources Act.”
1
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, “Economic Contributions of the Forest Industry and
Forest-based Recreation in Florida in 2016,” available at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FE1051#FOOTNOTE_1 (last
visited Jan. 26, 2022).
2
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, “Florida Agriculture Overview and Statistics,” available at
https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Florida-Agriculture-Overview-and-Statistics (last visited Jan. 26, 2022).
3
Lourdes Mederos, “UF/IFAS Boosting Florida's shellfish aquaculture industry, water quality initiatives”, South Dade
Newsleader (Nov. 3, 2021), http://www.southdadenewsleader.com/news/uf-ifas-boosting-floridas-shellfish-aquaculture-
industry-water-quality-initiatives/article_a35ee2d2-4ba5-11ec-80a6-676e251c69ab.html (last visited Jan. 26, 2022).
4
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, “Cost Share Programs for Florida’s Agricultural
Producers and Landowners,” available at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/SS485 (last visited Jan. 26, 2022).
BILL: SB 864 Page 3
The bill establishes the following legislative findings:
 Maintaining healthy and sustainable agriculture, shellfish aquaculture, and timber industries
is vital to this state’s economy, environment, and natural resources, including making
significant environmental contributions to water quality and quantity, air purification, carbon
sequestration, coastal resilience, and habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife species;
 The continued expansion of urban and coastal areas has increased pressure on the agriculture
and timber industries, and in recent years there has been a significant decrease in agricultural
and timber acreage;
 Water quality and quantity problems in this state’s coastal waters have harmed the
aquaculture industry, specifically shellfish farming. Filter feeder shellfish, such as oysters,
hard clams, and sunray venus clams, are beneficial to this state’s imperiled seagrass; and
 To ensure healthy and sustainable agriculture, shellfish aquaculture, and timber industries, a
cost-share program is necessary to provide incentives to the owners within these industries to
continue activities that are beneficial to water quality and quantity, air purification, carbon
sequestration, nutrient remediation, coastal resilience, and habitat for threatened and
endangered wildlife species.
The bill also establishes a cost share program within the department which shall reimburse the
owners of agriculture, shellfish aquaculture, and timber operations for up to 75 percent of the
value of the environmental resources and services provided by such industries.
Additionally, the bill requires the department to:
 Conduct a study, in consultation with the Florida Sea Grant program and the University of
Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to determine the value of environmental
services, such as water recharge, stormwater filtration, wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration,
nutrient remediation, coastal resilience and flood protection, and air quality benefits,
provided by the agriculture, shellfish aquaculture, and timber industries;
 Promote the cost-share program, in cooperation with University of Florida Shellfish
Aquaculture Research and Extension Program, the Wakulla Environmental Institute, and the
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Agriculture and Food Sciences,
and prioritize distribution of assistance to low-income communities, historically under
resourced communities of color, and rural communities impacted by Hurricane Michael in
2018;
 Update all relevant brochures, websites, and marketing materials to provide information on
participation in the cost share program; and
 Adopt rules to implement the provisions in the bill.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
BILL: SB 864 Page 4
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
Indeterminate.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill creates a cost-share program subject to legislative appropriation. Currently, the
bill does not include an appropriation for the cost-share program. The department
estimates that $450,000 in nonrecurring general revenue will be necessary to conduct the
environmental services valuation study required by the bill.
However, if funds are appropriated for the cost-share program, the department estimates
additional resources will be necessary for the administration of the program. The cost for
three additional positions is estimated to total $245,025 in recurring general revenue
funding.5
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
5
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Senate Bill 864 Bill Analysis (Dec. 7, 2021) (on file with Appropriations
Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government).
 BILL: SB 864 Page 5
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 570.891 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.