HJR 7001 - Relating to Supermajority Vote for State Taxes and Fees

On Tuesday, February 27th, HJR 7001, by Representative Tom Leek (R-Daytona Beach) was heard by the Senate Committee on Appropriations and passed. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this bill.

HJR 7001 was amended during its previous committee stop in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance and Tax to reflect the provision of the Senate version of the bill. HJR 7001 proposes an amendment to the State Constitution requiring any law that imposes a new tax, increases the rate or amount of a tax, or expands a tax base, and that results in a net increase in state revenues, to be approved by three-fifths of the membership of each house of the Legislature.

The amendment proposed in the joint resolution will take effect on January 8, 2019, if approved by sixty percent of the voters during the 2018 general election or earlier special election specifically authorized by law for that purpose.

HJR 7001 will go on to the Senate floor for consideration.

AIF supports this legislation requiring three-fifths vote from each house of the legislature to pass tax increases in the state. This action would that would make it more difficult to raise taxes, leaving more money in the pockets of Florida’s families and business.

 

SB 620- Relating to Disaster Preparedness Tax Exemption

On Friday, March 2nd, SB 620, by Senator Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) was heard by the Senate Committee on Appropriations was amended and passed by a vote of 18 yeas to 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this bill and the amendment offered by Senator Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland).

During committee the amendment adopted, 177326, was a strike all amendment that implemented the Senate tax package language into the bill. The bill provides for a wide range of tax reductions designed to directly impact both families and businesses. The total impact for the fiscal year of 2018 and 2019 is $148 million in reductions.

The bill contains several provisions related to sales tax that include priorities important to AIF and its members. Specifically, it includes:

• Tax rate reduction for tax on commercial rentals (business rent tax) from 5.8% to 5.7%.
• New, extended, or expanded sales tax exemptions for: 
  • Certain generators for nursing homes and assisted living facilities;
  • Certain purchases of agriculture related fencing materials and building materials for repair of storm damage from Hurricane Irma
• Two seven-day “disaster preparedness” holiday for sales of specified items related to disaster preparedness.
  
  

SB 620 will go on to the Senate floor for consideration.

AIF supports tax cuts for Florida’s families and businesses that aid in relief after the events of a disastrous hurricane season. AIF supports incremental reductions of the business rent tax to make Florida more attractive to business.