Latest news with #SenateFinanceandTaxCommittee
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida Senate tees up $1.83 billion tax cut proposal amid economic uncertainty
Despite vastly divergent approaches with the House on tax cuts amid global economic uncertainty, a Senate leader said April 15 he remains optimistic an agreement can be reached before the end of the legislative session. The Senate Finance and Tax Committee on April 15 voted 3-1 to advance a wide-ranging proposal (SPB 7034) that would reduce state and local government tax revenue by $1.83 billion next fiscal year. 'The important part is us being in conferencing (formal negotiations with the House) and sharing ideas and really just having those discussions and going over each of the individual points,' Finance and Tax Chairman Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs, said after the meeting. 'I think that also by the time we get there we're going to have probably a little bit more clarity as it relates to the federal picture.' Lawmakers are working on a new state budget and a tax package amid broader economic uncertainty, at least in part fueled by President Donald Trump's decisions to impose tariffs. The legislative session is scheduled to end May 2. The Senate proposal calls for permanently eliminating sales taxes on clothes and shoes that cost $75 or less. It also would provide a one-time credit on annual vehicle registration fees and offer a series of sales-tax 'holidays,' including a new one on hunting equipment. The House has proposed a $5.43 billion package that is built on cutting the state sales-tax rate from 6% to 5.25%. The House also would shave a commercial-lease tax from 2% to 1.25%. Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed to reduce or eliminate property taxes. The Senate bill would require a study on the options and potential impacts of cutting property taxes. But in voting against the Senate bill, Sen. Mack Bernard, D-West Palm Beach, joined a group of Florida State University students in expressing concerns about the hunting-related tax holiday, which would run from mid-September until the end of the year. During the period, shoppers could buy such things as guns and ammunition without paying sales taxes. The students raised issues about the hunting holiday being about politics, while Bernard said it was, in part, 'too long.' The House proposal does not include sales-tax holidays. In addition to the hunting-related holiday, the Senate bill includes holidays that would last for a little more than two weeks in May on disaster-preparedness supplies; for all of June and July on recreational items and activities; for 10 days in August on back-to-school supplies; and a little more than a week on tools around Labor Day. House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, has been critical of tax holidays. When he announced his proposal for an overall cut in the sales-tax rate, for example, he said it 'will not be a temporary measure; a stunt or a tax holiday.' The House package also calls for the sales-tax rate on electricity to be reduced from 4.35% to 3.6%, the tax rate on sales of new mobile homes to go from 3% to 2.25% and the rate on coin-operated amusement machines, such as pinball machines, to fall from 4% to 3.25%. The House Ways & Means Committee on April 16 will consider an additional bill (PCB WMC 25-02) that would make $37.9 million in cuts next year. That proposal would match part of the Senate tax package by extending until Jan. 1, 2023, a freeze on cell-phone and cable-TV tax rates that are set to expire at the end of this year and expand a sales-tax exemption on gold, silver and platinum transactions. The state already provides tax exemptions on such transactions topping $500. The Senate proposal would also provide exemptions when sales are $500 or lower. The House Ways & Means proposal also includes reducing a tax rate on pari-mutuel cardroom operators from 10% to 8% and redirecting $5 million from a trust fund to promote the horse industry. Instead of the money going to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, $1 million would go to Tampa Bay Downs and $4 million to Gulfstream Park Racing Association. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
CBS News
15-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Florida Senate expands its tax cut proposal
The Senate has released a ratcheted-up package of proposed tax cuts, as it prepares for negotiations with the House, which has pitched a $5.43 billion measure that includes reducing the state's sales tax rate. The Senate Finance and Tax Committee is scheduled Tuesday to take up the bill, which would reduce revenue by $1.83 billion next fiscal year. Last week, the Senate said it would propose permanently eliminating sales taxes on clothes and shoes that cost $75 or less and holding a series of sales tax "holidays," including a new one on hunting equipment. The bill released Monday also included a one-time credit on annual vehicle registration fees and a three-year extension to an existing freeze on local cell phone and cable TV taxes. The Senate plan does not include the House's big-ticket proposal to reduce the state sales-tax rate from 6% to 5.25%. Republican Senate President Ben Albritton has said it would be prudent for any tax package this year to make mostly one-time cuts to avoid having to possibly raise taxes two or three years down the road. He also has called for taking more time to study potential longer-term cuts, and the Senate proposal would direct the Legislature's Office of Economic & Demographic Research to conduct a study on reducing or eliminating property taxes — a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis. The House tax package, which the House passed last week, also would reduce a commercial-lease tax from 2% to 1.25%, cut the sales tax rate on electricity from 4.35% to 3.6%, reduce the tax rate on sales of new mobile homes from 3% to 2.25% and trim the rate on coin-operated amusement machines, such as pinball machines, from 4% to 3.25%. DeSantis, who has been battling with House leaders on a series of issues, last week called the House proposal "crumbs for most working class people." He has proposed a one-time property tax credit and then asking voters in 2026 to increase the homestead exemption or eliminate residential property taxes. The governor also said a sales tax cut would benefit tourists. "I don't know why you would want to relieve the burden on when Brazilians come to Disney," DeSantis said Thursday. "I want the government funded by our non-residents as much as possible." He also recommended the elimination over two years of the commercial lease tax — a longtime priority of business groups — along with holding sales tax holidays on school supplies, recreational items and activities, hurricane supplies and ammunition and firearms. The Senate proposal also would continue the longstanding practice of holding tax holidays, when shoppers can avoid paying sales taxes on designated purchases. The Senate would hold a tax holiday on disaster-preparedness supplies in May; a tax holiday on recreational items and activities in June and July; a tax holiday on school supplies in August; a tax holiday on tools around Labor Day; and a "hunting season" tax holiday that includes ammo and guns from mid-September until the end of the year. The two-month holiday on recreational items and activities would save people an estimated $237.6 million. It would apply to such things as boating, camping and pool items and tickets to movies, sporting events, state parks and museums. The Senate's proposed permanent elimination of sales taxes on clothes costing $75 or less is projected to reduce state and local revenues by $857.8 million next year, while the vehicle-registration fee credits would total $608.2 million.
Politico
06-03-2025
- Business
- Politico
Florida's menu of property tax cut options
Presented by Good morning and welcome to Thursday. Gov. RON DESANTIS wants property taxes gone — or reduced, at the very least. State lawmakers started looking at the big picture of what it would take during a state Senate Finance and Tax Committee meeting Wednesday. Some came out of the meeting skeptical and wanting a lot more information, as local governments use property taxes to pay for schools, police officers, firefighters, waste management and many other services. Any cut in funding could impact those services or cause local governments to raise taxes elsewhere. At the same time, lawmakers know the cost of living is crushing residents, so they're looking at other ways to limit Floridians' property tax bills, though they're expected to consider their options and come up with a plan rather than advance multiple measures at the same time. State Sen. BRYAN AVILA (R-Hialeah Gardens), who chairs the Finance and Tax Committee, said during Wednesday's meeting that members would be 'taking time to look at each proposal' that's been introduced. Here's a look at some of the ideas lawmakers are discussing: Increasing the homestead exemption. Legislation from state Sen. BLAISE INGOGLIA (R-Spring Hill) would ask voters to consider raising the homestead exemption. Right now, homeowners can apply to have the first $25,000 of their primary residence's assessed value exempt from property taxes, then the second $25,000 exempted from non-school taxes. Ingoglia wants to raise the cut off to $75,000 and have it indexed every year with inflation, which he estimates would cut taxes by $2.6 billion. He told Playbook the current exemption was 'really not offering any relief,' whereas with his bill, 'as people's homes go up in value, so does their homestead exemption.' He would, however, support going even further. 'We should be as aggressive as we can with the largest property tax cut that we can pass through constitutional amendment,' he said. Going beyond homesteads. A bill in the state House, from Rep. RYAN CHAMBERLIN (R-Belleview), would have a constitutional amendment go before voters asking whether they want to raise property tax exemptions on homes to $100,000. It would apply not just to primary residences, but to all property. Limiting assessments. A couple proposals have been introduced to ensure people don't get taxed more just because their home is worth more after they harden it against storms. Creating carve outs for vulnerable groups. Legislation from state Sen. ANA MARIA RODRIGUEZ (R-Doral) would cap off the assessed value of a homestead property to the amount it was the year a resident turned 65, provided they meet income thresholds. Limiting how much local governments can collect. Another bill from Chamberlin that he's working on with state Sen. JAY COLLINS (R-Tampa) would only allow localities to increase their property tax collections by 2 percent year-over-year. Anything extra that's collected would need to be rebated to residents or used to pay off debt. Increase early-payment tax discounts. Under current Florida law, homeowners get a discount if they pay their taxes earlier than their due date of March 31. The property tax discounts are tiered by month, with people getting a 4 percent reduction if they pay their taxes in November and others getting a 1 percent discount when they pay in February. State Sen. KATHLEEN PASSIDOMO (R-Naples), urged her colleagues during Wednesday's committee hearing to 'start being more creative' with ideas for tackling the issue, floating higher discounts when taxes are paid early as a possibility of what might be considered. Start with a study. Lawmakers could also decide to punt the decision until they learn more. State Sen. JONATHAN MARTIN (R-Fort Myers) and Chamberlin filed legislation to have state officials estimate what could replace the property tax under a full repeal. — Gary Fineout contributed. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... EYES EMOJI — Another sign of a gubernatorial run ahead? State Sen. DANNY BURGESS (R-Zephyrhills) introduced two bills on Hope Florida — the initiative led by Florida first lady CASEY DESANTIS. One would move the program under the jurisdiction of the governor's office and the other would exempt personal identifying information of people who participate in Hope Florida from public records. MANDATE PROTECTIONS — 'DeSantis on Wednesday called on Florida lawmakers to make a series of pandemic-era medical protections meant to block federal Covid-19 vaccine mandates permanent, as state health officials scramble to address a potential measles outbreak in Miami-Dade County,' reports POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian. 'The protections are due to expire in June, and legislation sought by the Florida Department of Health in this year's session seeks to make them permanent. DeSantis said during a news conference in Tampa that although the pandemic has died down since the Legislature first approved the protections in 2021, he cannot predict future crises.' CORPORATE SHOWDOWN — 'Fresh off a newly minted lawsuit against Target, the state's massive pension fund is preparing to be more aggressive about suing companies and corporations over everything from actions deemed detrimental to shareholders to corporate governance,' reports POLITICO's Gary Fineout. 'DeSantis and the two other trustees who oversee the roughly $200 billion Florida Retirement System on Wednesday agreed to set aside $20 million for a litigation fund to hire law firms to represent the state in securities-related lawsuits against businesses. 'The move came after another vote to officially ratify last month's Target lawsuit, which alleges the retailer misled investors and created a backlash over an LGBTQ marketing campaign.' DOGE IN FLORIDA SCHOOLS — 'State lawmakers have Florida's public universities in their sights as they — and DeSantis — look to scale back spending with their own DOGE-style efforts,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury. 'The state House, on the Legislature's opening day, began probing university expenses by scrutinizing costs racked up by former University of Florida President and Sen. Ben Sasse, alongside other schools that were questioned in state audits.' FLORIDA CRYSTALS LAWSUIT — The Clarkson Law Firm on Wednesday filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court in California against Florida Crystals, one of the state's top sugar producers, over burning sugar cane as part of its harvest practices. The lawsuit claims Florida Crystals and the Fanjul Corp. violate consumer laws by stating their products are earth-friendly despite pollution from burning. In response, Florida Crystals told POLITICO it is the only sugar grower in the United States whose products are certified 'regenerative' organic, meaning they conserve soil, biodiversity and water. — Bruce Ritchie — 'Democrats see Republican leaders in Legislature borrowing a lot of their ideas,' reports Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics. — 'Florida's demand for immigration aid surges amid policy changes,' reports Juan Carlos Chavez of the Tampa Bay Times. — 'Florida groups call for clarity on immigration enforcement at schools,' by Central Florida Public Media's Danielle Prieur. — 'Florida's undocumented students could be banned from most public universities,' by Central Florida Public Media's Danielle Prieur. — 'Civil, voting rights groups condemn DeSantis' push to restrict ballot initiatives,' by Jackie Llanos of the Florida Phoenix. CAMPAIGN MODE FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Democrat JOSH WEIL, a progressive congressional candidate in the 6th District, is out today with his first TV ad of the season. Weil is running against President DONALD TRUMP-endorsed state Sen. RANDY FINE (R-Melbourne) for the deep-red district's seat, which opened up after Rep. MIKE WALTZ became national security adviser. The 30-second ad describes Weil as 'one bad-ass candidate.' The spot shows Weil, who's a teacher, with his students and sons. 'I'm not a career politician. I'm a math teacher, and I know the numbers aren't adding up for Florida families,' Weil says in the ad, in which he promises to help lower grocery costs and protect Social Security. It's a $250,000 spot running through March 12 on broadcast, cable and digital channels, per spokesperson JOE CAIAZZO. The general election is April 1. UTHMEIER CHALLENGER? — 'In a hypothetical primary matchup against Attorney General James Uthmeier, [Matt] Gaetz was favored 39 percent to 21 percent, according to a recent survey of likely Republican voters by Tony Fabrizio, one of the nation's top pollsters who works for Trump and several GOP clients,' reports Axios' Marc Caputo. Gaetz is considering running but 'a race against Uthmeier would be no slam dunk for Gaetz. Fabrizio's poll found 40 percent of GOP voters were undecided.' PROPOSAL ON TERM LIMITS — 'In November, as Miami residents vote on a new mayor and city commissioners, they could also weigh in on a proposal to create lifetime term limits for elected officials — a major shakeup to a system that currently allows elected officials to, under the right circumstances, spend decades in City Hall,' reports Tess Riski of the Miami Herald. PENINSULA AND BEYOND FSU ERASES DEI — 'Florida State University is taking a deep dive into its websites, scrubbing them of keywords, according to a list that includes the terms 'women,' 'diverse,' 'systemic' and 'cultural relevance,'' reports Tarah Jean of the Tallahassee Democrat. Whether this list came from the government or university is unclear. BROWARD RESPONDS TO DOGE PUSH — DeSantis wants to DOGE local governments like Broward County, which he claims has had a 82 percent increase in its budget, reports Lisa J. Huriash of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The county spokesman said it is 'not clear how the 82 percent figure was derived,' given general government services 'have increased by 39 percent' in the last five years, 'or less than 8 percent each year.' These services fund 'the provision of public safety, constitutional officers, and other traditional government services.' ICE PARTNERSHIP — 'Miami-Dade County jails could soon be handing out deportation orders to inmates under an agreement required under Florida law that won formal approval this week,' reports the Miami Herald's Douglas Hanks. — 'In Key West, testing shows cruise ships stir up as much sediment as a hurricane,' by NPR's Greg Allen. DATELINE D.C. TRUMP'S SENATE FIXER — When it comes to bringing Trump's agenda to the Senate, Sen. RICK SCOTT (R-Fla.) has become a key 'liaison in Congress,' reports Axios' Marc Caputo. 'In a sign of Scott's influence, he brought Elon Musk on Wednesday to the weekly closed-door lunches with Republican senators at the conference's steering committee, which Scott chairs.' NATURAL PARK FIRINGS — More than 750 U.S. natural park employees have lost their jobs in the wave of federal layoffs the Trump administration has ordered, reports Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick. Florida's Everglades National Park is among those affected, losing 15 workers. — 'Byron Donalds backs James Uthmeier's probe of Andrew and Tristan Tate,' by A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics. TRANSITION TIME — KRISTIN QUIRK has joined the Republican Party of Florida as a fundraising specialist, reports Florida Politics. She previously worked as the director of membership and partnership at the Florida Senior Living Association and served in positions in the state Senate and Florida House Majority office. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN — 'Thief in Florida swallows stolen Tiffany diamond earrings worth $770,000,' per the Tampa Bay Times. BIRTHDAYS: Juan Alfonso Fernandez-Barquin, clerk of the courts of Miami-Dade County ... state Rep. Taylor Yarkosky.
CBS News
06-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Florida lawmakers weigh property tax cuts; economic study to assess potential impact
Expect an economic impact study as a first step as discussions ramp up about the future of property taxes in Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis in recent weeks has called for cutting property taxes, while also criticizing spending by local governments. Meanwhile, lawmakers have proposed a series of measures that would ask voters in 2026 to expand the homestead property tax exemption. But lawmakers and DeSantis this week have indicated that a final proposal might not emerge this year. They could approve a proposal during the 2026 legislative session in time to put it on the November 2026 ballot. Senate Finance and Tax Chairman Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs, pointed to a need to get "feedback" from local governments and said the legislative proposals filed this year are being evaluated by staff members and state economists. "We're really taking our time to make sure that we get it right," Avila said Wednesday after his committee received an overview from staff members about property taxes. Concerns over local revenue and services Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican who serves on the committee, said she is "pretty uncomfortable with some of these broad, sweeping statements about eliminating property taxes" being made in the Capitol. "I think we should caution our members as to the outcomes," Passidomo said on the need to study the potential impacts. "The sooner we do that, the better for our members, so they don't go down a rabbit hole." Local governments rely heavily on property taxes to pay for services and are closely watching the debate. In its legislative platform this year, for example, the Florida League of Cities said it supports levying property taxes "to provide critical services such as infrastructure, police, fire and emergency services." "Further changes or exemptions to the property tax system and tangible personal property taxes would create inequities and unfairly shift the tax burden onto families, homeowners, renters, businesses and our most vulnerable population," the platform, posted on the organization's website, said. Azhar Khan, staff director of the Senate Finance and Tax Committee, on Wednesday estimated local revenue totals from property taxes at about $30 billion for non-school taxes and $20 billion for school taxes. Questions about replacing lost revenue Committee member Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican and, like Passidomo, a former Senate president, said it would be good to know what it would take to address the revenue losses created by the homestead-exemption proposals. Gaetz said, "Were we to eliminate property taxes, where do you get the $50 billion? One suggestion that was made a number of years ago was we should just increase the sales tax." DeSantis said Tuesday that while he wants a "bold" proposal, it will take about a year for what he is calling a "state DOGE task force" to review local government spending. "And then I think we're going to be at a great spot to say, 'OK, what can we get on the ballot? What can get past the Legislature to get on the ballot? And then, what can we marshal 60 percent of the electorate?'" DeSantis said, referring to a 60 percent threshold for passing constitutional amendments. Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, has proposed a bill (SB 852) that calls for the Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research to study the potential impact of eliminating property taxes on such things as education, infrastructure and emergency services. The bill, if passed, would require the study to be completed by Oct. 1. It also would direct the office to look at how property taxes could be replaced, including "an evaluation of whether a shift to consumption-based taxes would make Florida more attractive to businesses compared to other states." Homeowners can qualify for a homestead tax exemption from local government and school district taxes on the first $25,000 of the appraised values of their primary properties and from local government taxes on the value between $50,000 and $75,000. Among the measures filed this year is a proposal (SJR 1016) by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, that would ask voters to raise the homestead exemption to $75,000 on all levies. Another proposal (HJR 357), filed by Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, R-Belleview, seeks to create a $100,000 exemption on all properties.
