Episode 112 - Senate Bill (SB) 290: Public Conservation Asset Liquidation

The provided sources offer a critical analysis of Florida Senate Bill 290 (SB 290), a legislative package championed by Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson that is marketed as a "farm bill" but contains controversial provisions allowing the state to sell off public conservation lands. The first source, an analysis of the bill itself, argues that SB 290 represents an irreversible shift in land conservation policy, primarily serving development and large agricultural interests by facilitating the privatization of public assets and preempting local government authority. The second source, an investigative report titled "Pay to Play," exposes Simpson’s extensive financial ties to the very development firms, land barons, and financial institutions, particularly Centennial Bank, that stand to benefit significantly from the land sales authorized by SB 290, suggesting a profound conflict of interest and a system where legislation is tailored to benefit major political donors. Both documents conclude that the bill, despite its public framing, is detrimental to the public trust and the long-term preservation of Florida's natural resources.