Bipartisan $1.8 billion tax package passes House

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – The Florida House passed a tax package bill on Thursday that will provide over $1.8 billion in tax relief to residents and businesses.

Rep. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, sponsored the legislation, which passed 114-0. A similar tax package is working its way through the Senate.

The legislation creates permanent exemptions for specified baby and toddler products and clothes, adult incontinence products, oral hygiene products, machinery and equipment to produce renewable natural gas, certain agricultural fencing, and small private investigative agency services.

It also provides a one-year tax exemption for certain ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators, refrigerator/freezer combinations, water heaters, and clothes washers and dryers.

Additionally, the legislation includes a one-year exemption for gas ranges and cooktops, and an estimated 13-month reduction in the business rent tax from 5.5% to 4.5%.

It also includes tax holidays such as two 14-day “back-to-school” tax holidays, a 14-day “disaster preparedness” holiday, a three-month “Freedom Summer” tax holiday and a seven-day “Tool Time” tax holiday in September for tools and equipment needed in skilled trades.

“When you include the tax relief contained in other bills passed by the legislature, including the affordable housing bill we passed earlier this session, and the toll relief bill we passed in special session in December, the total tax relief provided to Floridians is over $3.2 billion,” McClain said.

The legislation creates a tax credit for homebuilders that purchase and install residential graywater systems, and for companies that purchase machinery and equipment for use in the production of human breast milk fortifiers.

The bill also delays the imposition of natural gas fuel taxes by two years, among other measures.

Rep. Dianne Hart, D-Tampa, was one of many democrats who voiced support for the bill in debate.

“This year, we hit a home run. You know for five years, I’ve wanted the schools to have a better sales holiday. I could not be more pleased with having two back-to-school holidays. I’m excited about it. […] Everything that we’ve done is a phenomenal opportunity to help people back at home,” Hart said.

In closing, McClain complimented House Speaker Paul Renner’s, R-Palm Coast, leadership.

“Speaker, thank you for putting forward a great agenda for us to be able to operate in and, certainly, I think we’re gonna be able to fulfill the mission that you laid out for us,” McClain said.

“This is a great tax package. It is very consumer friendly. I’m a believer that when you cut tax, you create economic opportunity for other people,” McClain said.