The Florida Senate on Tuesday approved a broad agriculture and consumer services package, Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 700, after several hours of debate that centered on a provision affecting local water fluoridation policy.

Senator [Trunnell] (Senator the Thirteenth) opened the floor on the bill; supporters later summarized many provisions and framed the measure as an aid to farmers, students and consumers. Senator Trudeau, closing for the proponents, said the bill ‘‘provides FDACS the authority to cover the cost of FFA dues for Florida's public school students’’ and listed multiple changes intended to help agriculture and consumers. Trudeau also defended removing certain local controls over additives in public water systems, saying, ‘‘We're here to hydrate, not medicate.’’

Opponents focused on the bill’s fluoridation language and on the process of packaging many unrelated changes into one large bill. Senator Polsky argued the measure ‘‘is making a massive move here by telling our constituents that they cannot have fluoride in their water, even if they voted for it in their local municipality’’ and warned of public-health consequences. Senator Sharif, drawing on health-care experience, said fluoridation at 0.7 milligrams per liter is safe and cautioned against policies that reject science-based interventions, adding that removing fluoridation could worsen dental disease for children and strain state programs.

The bill contains dozens of provisions beyond the fluoridation-related language that drew the most floor attention. Supporters listed changes that would, among other items, authorize FDACS rulemaking to streamline best-management enrollment for small agricultural properties, establish a Florida Aquaculture Foundation, clarify penalties for retail theft using stored-value cards, and allow ag lands converted to solar to return to farming after operations cease. The sponsor described additional changes related to labeling, law-enforcement definitions of mail theft, and support for agricultural education facilities.

After debate, the Senate recorded a final vote of 27 yeas and 9 nays; the measure passed and will be sent to the House for consideration or to the governor depending on further procedural steps.

Why it matters: The bill packages multiple agriculture, consumer and education measures. The floor debate shows a clear split over state preemption on fluoridation and raises questions about combining significant policy changes in a single package.

Next steps: With passage in the Senate, the measure moves to the next stage of the legislative process. The transcript does not specify the bill’s next chamber action or final effective dates.