Update as of February 6 at 3:00 PM | Tallahassee, FL
Captains For Clean Water strongly opposes Section 47 of HB 433 and Section 48 of SB 290, provisions that expand Florida’s agricultural disparagement law in ways that threaten free speech, public accountability, and the ability of citizens, scientists, guides, and journalists to speak honestly about environmental and public-health concerns.
These provisions would make it legally and financially risky to criticize agricultural products or practices—even when statements are true—by expanding liability and adding one-way attorney fees. We believe this creates a chilling effect on speech protected by the First Amendment and disproportionately benefits powerful special interests at the expense of the public.
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For background and deeper reading:
Everything you need to know about Florida SB 290 / HB 433
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Following this week’s House committee hearing on HB 433 (Feb 4), Captains For Clean Water (”Captains”) encountered a troubling incident while seeking answers from the bill sponsor, Rep. Danny Alvarez, about his proposed changes to the agricultural disparagement provision.
During his closing remarks, Rep. Alvarez publicly invited dialogue from Captains and our supporters. But after the hearing, he avoided the group and restricted Captains from bringing cameras into the meeting room to document the conversation.
Mid-meeting, the reps’ legislative aide was caught recording our group without our consent. This was brought to our attention by another Representative in the room. No explanation has been provided regarding the purpose or use of the recording.
As these bills approach final votes, this raises serious questions about transparency, public participation, and how dissent is treated, at a moment when Floridians are being asked to trust that major changes affecting free speech will be handled behind closed doors.