GOVERNOR DESANTIS SIGNS 2021 TAX PACKAGE INTO LAW |
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On May 21, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law HB7061, Florida’s Tax Cut Package, at the Home Depot on Davis Highway in Pensacola. From sales tax holidays to permanent tax exemptions helping seniors live independently, the package includes more than $168 million in taxpayer savings for families and businesses in the upcoming fiscal year, including more than $34 million in recurring tax cuts. The 2021 package ensures that Florida remains one of the most tax-friendly environments in the nation. |
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Included in the tax package are several components, including three sales tax holidays. The first, for Disaster Preparedness, begins on May 28 and ends on June 6. This 10-day tax holiday allows Floridians to prepare for hurricane season while saving money on disaster preparedness items. Continue scrolling for the list of eligible items.
The second holiday is the newly created “Freedom Week” Tax Holiday that begins on July 1 and ends on July 7. The first-ever “Freedom Week” provides seven days of sales tax savings on outdoor recreation purchases, such as the first $100 of the sales price of sunglasses, the first $200 of the sales prices of tents, and the first $500 of the sales price of kayaks or canoes, as well as tickets for events, museums, the arts and more.
The final holiday reduces the burden on families purchasing back-to-school supplies. This sales tax holiday begins July 31 and spans 10 days ending on August 9. During this time, Floridians will pay no sales tax for certain clothing of $60 or less per item, school supplies of $15 or less per item and the first $1,000 of personal computers and related accessories.
In addition to the sales tax holidays, HB7061 provides a variety of additional tax cuts, including Florida’s first permanent sales tax exemption for independent living items like bed transfer handles, bed rails, grab bars, and shower seats for seniors in our state. The tax package also doubles the ad valorem tax exemption for certain affordable housing properties from 50% to 100%. Additionally, the bill includes implementation language for a proposed constitutional amendment providing property tax relief for residential property improvements made for flood mitigation. This property tax relief is subject to approval by the voters on the 2022 General Election ballot.
Tax credits for businesses in our community and across our great state are also an integral part of the tax package and include two new programs. To help support the wellbeing of children in our state, HB 7061 creates the Strong Families Tax Credit Program for businesses that make monetary donations to eligible charitable organizations that provide services focused on child welfare. The newly created Internship Tax Credit provides tax relief for Florida businesses that employ and retain student interns, encouraging companies to hire young Floridians attending college in our state.
The bill also provides a one-time increase of $17.5 million for the Brownfields Tax Credit Program to fund a backlog of approved credits. This program, administered through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, incentivizes businesses to clean up and redevelop hazardous sites to protect our environment and economy. |
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OFFICE CLOSURE FOR HOLIDAY |
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Our District Office in Pace will be closed in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday on Monday, May 31. We will resume normal business operations on Tuesday, June 1.
In honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. We owe them a debt that can never be repaid. |
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JUNE CONSTITUENT SERVICE DAYS |
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Tuesday - June 1
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Tiger Point Community Center
1370 Tiger Park Ln, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 |
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Thursday - June 17
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
UF IFAS Extension Okaloosa Co.
3098 Airport Rd, Crestview, FL 32539 |
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Thursday - June 10
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
SRC Economic Development Office
6491 Caroline St., #4, Milton, FL 32570 |
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Constituent Service Days are held in South Santa Rosa County on the first Tuesday of each month, in Central Santa Rosa on the second Thursday of the month and in North Okaloosa County on the third Thursday of each month.
Appointments are not required for our Constituent Service Days and meetings are held on a first-come-first-served basis.
For additional information about any of our Constituent Service Days, please email Ashley.Jeffrey@MyFloridaHouse.gov. |
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2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION INTERIM COMMITTEE WEEKS |
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The 2022 Regular Legislative Session is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, January 11, 2022. Below are the dates for the interim committee meetings:
- Monday, September 20 – Friday, September 24
- Monday, October 11 – Friday, October 15
- Monday, October 18 – Friday, October 22
- Monday, November 1 – Friday, November 5
- Monday, November 15 – Friday, November 19
- Monday, November 29 – Friday, December 3
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