Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a tax cut package designed to encourage spending in the Sunshine State.
On Friday, DeSantis signed House Bill 7061, which creates three roughly weeklong tax holidays, including one coinciding with the Fourth of July, to be dubbed “Freedom Week.” The bill, which attracted bipartisan support, with only four legislators in both chambers of the Florida Legislature voting in opposition, mandated that during these tax holidays, sales taxes on certain goods will be suspended in an effort to promote shopping.
“In Florida, we are providing more than $168 million in taxpayer savings for families and businesses. … From sales tax holidays to permanent tax exemptions helping seniors live independently, I am committed to continuing to reduce the tax burden for all residents of our state,” DeSantis said of the new law.
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The new legislation, which also includes a permanent sales tax exemption for independent living items for Florida’s senior citizens, will “incentiviz[e] Floridians to take advantage of our free and open state,” according to Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls.
“Freedom goes with Florida like sunshine and beaches. … Floridians deserve a summer of BBQs, fishing, boating, concerts, and camping. We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy all our state has to offer,” he said.
Home Depot also applauded the measure, noting the “disaster preparedness” tax holiday slated from May 28 to June 6 will allow Floridians to prepare for hurricane season.
“It’s official! HB 7061 is signed which means FL can prepare for #HurricaneSeason BEFORE disaster strikes by offering tax-free shopping weekends and the first ever ‘Freedom Week’ which limits sales tax on outdoor equipment,” the retailer tweeted. “Thank you @GovRonDeSantis for signing this legislation.”
Bernie Marcus, the retired founder of Home Depot, has donated $500,000 to DeSantis’s political committee, but a spokeswoman for Home Depot said the event was not connected to the contribution, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
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DeSantis, who is widely considered to be a potential 2024 presidential contender, has taken aggressive steps to reopen Florida’s economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor shied away from strict lockdown provisions, and Florida remained one of the few states never to impose a statewide mask mandate.
Florida has experienced more than 2.3 million cases of COVID-19, with more than 36,000 deaths attributed to the disease, according to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker.
