(The Center Square) – A measure that includes about $251 million in tax cuts but excludes corporate tax breaks offered at the federal level cleared the Florida House on Thursday.
The GOP-led House decided not to opt into changes to corporate tax rates that are in the One Big Beautiful Bill signed by President Trump last year. It would have resulted in approximately $3.1 billion in additional tax breaks, including bonus depreciation and domestic research and experimental expenditure deductions.
State Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, said the state’s long-range financial outlook shows it can’t afford the loss of over $3 billion in recurring revenue.
“The next three years are not rosy for the state,” said Duggan, chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee.
Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said she supported the tax package despite some concerns.
“There’s always so much pressure for us to go along with some of these federal programs and initiatives but we have to choose our state, we have to choose the responsibility of the fiscal security of our state and to decouple on these tax proposals, it’s just good, commonsense policy and it takes leadership to hold that line,” said Eskamani.
The tax cuts included in the package come mostly through sales tax exemptions on outdoor and camping supplies, certain propane tanks and firearm accessories.
Duggan said the inclusion of exemptions on firearms was tied to a constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2024 establishing the right to hunt and fish in the Florida constitution.
Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland, said that provision was why she opposed the bill.
“While I understand that the constituents in the state of Florida believe there is a right to hunt and fish, I don’t think that is a good use of tax dollars to go towards supporting the purchase of unlimited firearm accessories, unlimited ammunition, unlimited guns ranging from AR-15’s to everything in between,” Hunschofsky said.
The bill creates a temporary exemption from insurance premium taxes for some flood insurance policies. Gambling facilities will also experience tax breaks like reduced taxes on cardrooms and slot machines. The measure also caps the increase on property tax assessments for certain mobile home parks.
Rep. Kimberly Berfield, R-Clearwater, asked whether the change would adjust property taxes in a way where traditional homeowners and mobile homeowners would wind up paying the same rate. Currently, mobile homeowners pay a commercial rate.
“Yes,” said Duggan. “If certain conditions are met, essentially if the mobile home park owner is passing through their taxes to the mobile home residents, then yes, they would functionally get the Save Our Homes benefit.”
The bill still needs to go through negotiations with the Senate before it is sent to the governor’s desk.
