Filed on October 24, 2025, for the 2026 session, the bill (sponsored by Sen. Keith Truenow) prohibits counties and municipalities from enacting or enforcing any law that restricts or prohibits the use of gasoline-powered farm or landscape equipment, and bars local governments from setting different standards for such equipment versus electric alternatives. The measure allows local entities to “encourage” but not require alternatives such as battery-powered tools. If enacted, it would take effect July 1, 2026.
The proposal also directs Florida’s Acquisition and Restoration Council to determine whether some local lands are suitable for bona fide agricultural purposes. In coordination with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), the bill permits certain state-owned conservation lands to be surpluses for agriculture, provided DEP retains a rural-lands-protection easement and deposits proceeds into FDACS’s Incidental Trust Fund for less-than-fee acquisitions. Designated state forests, parks, and wildlife management areas would remain off-limits for the surplus.
SB 290 also establishes a Food Animal Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and a Farmers Feeding Florida Program, updates the Florida Forest Service’s authorities, and introduces a new prohibition on signal-jamming devices except for federal or military use.
Across the U.S., state approaches to regulating or protecting gas-powered equipment are diverging sharply—often along political lines.
Zozens of cities across 20+ states have enacted similar restrictions, as tracked by the U.S. PIRG interactive policy map.
Conversely, a growing number of states have moved to block local governments from banning or regulating gas-powered tools:
As of mid-2023, at least 24 states have enacted some form of energy preemption law, blocking local governments from restricting fuel types or energy use in appliances or small engines, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
This national split has been described by Pluribus News as emblematic of a “red–blue divide” on energy and environmental regulation. Restrictive states prioritize emissions reduction and noise control; preemption states emphasize market consistency and protection of small business and agricultural operations.
Florida’s SB 290 would align with the preemption model adopted in Georgia and Texas, cementing the state’s position on the side of statewide uniformity over local control.
Preemption could limit local air-quality and noise-control initiatives that cities have used to manage pollution and worker exposure from gas-powered tools. In contrast, California and D.C. cite measurable air-quality improvements and worker safety benefits as justification for restrictions.
SB 290 also revises Florida’s biosolids framework, mandating that only Class AA biosolids—the state’s highest quality—may be applied at new or renewed land-application sites, aligning with DEP’s existing standards. It further modernizes consumer and criminal protections through its ban on unauthorized signal-jamming devices, an issue increasingly relevant for wireless-dependent agricultural and logistics operations.
SB 290 awaits committee assignment for the 2026 Regular Session. Key stakeholders include agricultural trade groups, landscaping associations, local governments, and environmental organizations.
