Governor Ron DeSantis vetoes bill forcing local governments to approve the construction of housing for legal migrant farm workers on agricultural land
Staff report
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed the following bill:
CS/SB 1082 – Housing for Legally Verified Agricultural Workers
The bill would have prohibited local governments from adopting or enforcing “any legislation to inhibit the construction or installation of housing for legally verified agricultural workers on land classified as agricultural land.” It also established standards for dwelling units for legally verified agricultural workers.
In his veto letter, Governor DeSantis objected that the bill does not include any means for enforcing the requirement that the workers be legally verified “and could pave the way for housing of illegal alien workers.” He added that local governments have the ability to establish standards for each agricultural community through their zoning ordinances.
To view the veto letter, click here.
I don’t think farmers should be required to house workers period. I worked all my life and my employer did not supply my housing. I think non citizens should NOT be able to work or live in the USA.
The intent of the law was to allow agricultural businesses to build housing for workers free of being blocked by certain restrictive zoning and code restrictions. The GOP dominated state legislature was trying to do something that helped agricultural businesses as well as those who worked there.
Like the law which does not allow local governments to pass laws giving water and heat breaks for workers, this shows you how little the governor cares about people who do physical work. The “illegal immigrant” complaint he dregs up is a different issue than providing housing for farm workers and if he is concerned about it, sign this and get an amendment passed next term – they’ll do anything he wants – or address the identification issue in some other way than making people sleep in buses.
Jazzman i think you need to re-read the article. He vetoed the bill because it would have taken the power away from local governments and given it to the state.
Robert, yes, that is his highlighted reason, but he has no problem overriding local governments when it suits his purpose and at a more autocratic level than any previous governor. I usually oppose overriding local governments unless there is a personal or constitutional right being violated. In this case, and assuming farm housing will not likely be being built among high density or even suburban human populations, I agree with legislators that zoning regs should not beat out producing decent – and mostly temporary – housing for farm workers.
The bill passed committee and floor votes unanimously in both houses of the Florida legislature.
Would you please explain better. Sorry i am not understanding this bill. Thanks!
Both houses of the state legislature – and their appropriate committees – voted unanimously for this bill which intended to help agricultural businesses construct housing for workers – who are usually temporary and very poor – without the usual restrictions placed on construction projects through zoning and building codes.
That the governor thinks this is a plot to help illegal immigrants will come as a surprise no doubt to all the state legislators – including a majority GOP – who voted for the bill.
Jazzman there is a link to the bill at the beginning of the article. 6 pages of complete trash. Florida already is a right to farm state. Desantis did the correct thing here. Sometimes politicians do. Even a blind squirrel can gather a nut every now and then. And by the way, i don’t work on Maggie’s farm no more!
Robert, apparently all the state legislators of both parties do not agree with you that this was a needless attempt at promoting civilized housing for farm workers.
But hey, I like your writing style.
Whine all you want. This is the U.S.A. and we are its conquerors.