A provision of a large farm bill moving through the Florida Legislature that would expand the state's "food libel" law is drawing criticism from an unusual coalition of environmental groups, First Amendment advocates, and Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) activists, who say the law will be used to target critics of industrial agriculture practices and squelch free speech.
Dozens of Floridians drove to the statehouse in Tallahassee from as far away as the Panhandle and Florida Keys to voice their opposition to the bill at a budget subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, prompting lawmakers to promise that work was going on behind the scenes to address their concerns. Nevertheless, the Florida House Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee unanimously approved the bill.
