Wilton Simpson’s Office asks for nearly $415M ahead of 2026 Session

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson has submitted a sprawling capital improvements request of $414.75 million for Fiscal Year 2026-27, emphasizing land conservation, disaster resilience, water quality and infrastructure renewal.

The request, which comes ahead of the start of the 2026 Session, outlines priorities across multiple divisions from conserving working farms to rebuilding facilities threatened by wildfire and storm damage.

“This proposal reflects the department’s commitment to foster continued growth and ensure the long-term sustainability of Florida’s agriculture industry, as well as serve as a good steward of the state’s natural resources, help ensure the safety and wholesomeness of food and protect consumers from fraud and deceptive business practices,” reads a letter from Simpson’s Office to the Governor’s Office.

One of the central pillars of the proposal is the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP), with $150 million sought to preserve agricultural lands through conservation easements. The program pays landowners for development rights, allowing farmland to stay in agricultural use while preventing its conversion into subdivisions or commercial development.

Recent state budgets have already significantly increased support for this program: for 2025-26, the Legislature allocated $250 million.

Wildfire management is another headline item in the request. Simpson is asking for $64 million specifically for emergency wildfire management — with an additional $25 million proposed for reforestation, repairing forest roads and bridges, and upgrading facilities.

Water quality and nutrient reduction projects also feature prominently. The budget request includes about $20 million for water retention and nutrient mitigation — efforts that align with ongoing concerns over algal blooms, pollution and long-running challenges tied to Everglades restoration.

Florida’s budget in recent years has poured billions into such environmental priorities, including the Florida Forever and Northern Everglades-Estuaries Protection programs.

Other proposed investments include $30 million to modernize fuel transfer infrastructure to help maintain fuel and food supply chains in disasters; $7 million for a Fuel Supply Disaster Mitigation Grant program; about $87 million to repair, maintain or build key infrastructure across state labs, agricultural facilities and departmental buildings; and $10 million earmarked for improvements and security upgrades at the Florida State Fair.

The federal government recently approved more than $675 million in federal disaster relief to help Florida producers recover from hurricanes and wildfires. These federal funds helped cover market losses, infrastructure damage and crop losses. Simpson praised that infusion, but is keen to continue pushing for essential state-level investments.

The budget request must now make its way through The Process, as committee meetings ahead of the 2026 Session begin next month, with Session officially starting in January.

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