Unconstitutional clause in ag bill must be removed
This article was posted on 02 08, 2026
Today, Recall Florida is highlighting Captains for Clean Water's exposure of a clause in a bill that threatens free speech.
The grassroots nonprofit explains:
"The bill contains a provision pertaining to the agriculture industry that expands a 'private cause of action' for disparagement, meaning it expands the industry’s ability to sue for defamation.
Right now, Florida has an existing disparagement law limited to perishable agricultural food products, which has been on the books for about 30 years. ...
But SB 290/HB 433 would expand that law in a major way by extending it to ALL agricultural food products produced in Florida, like sugarcane—not just perishable products."
Just as disturbing as the disparagement clause is recent behavior by one of the bill's sponsors and his aide, which Captains for Clean Water caught on camera.
"The video testimony from Captains for Clean Water shed light on the lengths to which some Florida legislators may go to support Big Agriculture. It alleges that Rep. Danny Alvarez may have misled citizens by stating, 'We can’t delete that section, it’s in the law,' when, in fact, HB 433 is not yet law," says Chance Johnmeyer, president and founder of Recall Florida. "Additionally, the video mentions that an aide to Rep. Alvarez secretly recorded a conversation between Alvarez and Captains for Clean Water."
Recording someone without their consent is illegal in Florida (F.S. 934.03). It's typically a felony offense, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or a sentence of up to five years.
"Recall Florida commends Captains for Clean Water for raising public awareness and taking the lead in this matter," Johnmeyer says. "We stand in solidarity with them and urge you to reach out to your representatives with a clear message: Remove Section 47 from House Bill 433 and Section 48 from Senate Bill 290."
If you aren't sure who represents you in Tallahassee, enter your address into the free Find Your Legislators tool. If you'd also like to give Rep. Alvarez a piece of your mind, you can find his contact info here.
For more of Captains for Clean Water's coverage of the bill, see: