Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is backing several bills that would provide relief to taxpayers, businesses, and consumers.
Patronis calls it the ‘Florida Fights for Freedom.’ Some of his top issues include fighting back against the IRS, supporting policyholders, and barring state agencies from contracting with censorship companies like NewsGuard.
Fighting Back Against the IRS
This proposal deals with protecting Florida taxpayers from targeting by IRS. It would allow users on third-party payment processors (like PayPal and Venmo) to avoid wrongfully paying taxes on certain transactions the IRS is targeting. And it would create a “Tax Advocate” within the CFO’s office to give Florida taxpayers a seat at the table when IRS issues arise. When taxpayers are treated unfairly this legislation will identify agents who are harassing Floridians.
Small Business Sales Tax Cut
This tax bill gives counties the authority to provide tax breaks for small local businesses by allowing local governments to forgo the collection of their business rent taxes.
Home Hardening Sales Tax Exemption
The CFO is supporting the expansion of the Florida Home Hardening Initiative passed in the 2022 Legislative Session. This legislation establishes a two-year sales tax exemption on the retail sales of items like impact-resistant windows, doors, and garage doors. This legislation will expand the program, which ends in June 2024, to June 2026. Overall, the Florida Home Hardening program has saved homeowners an estimated $495 million since July 2022. Together with the My Safe Florida Home program, the CFO has used every tool in the toolbox to help insurance consumers lower their premiums and combat rising insurance rates in our state.
Barring Taxpayer Support of Media Censorship Companies
CFO Patronis said this proposal is more of a consumer protection bill. It would bar state agencies from contracting with censorship companies like NewsGuard, which is a self-described media monitoring technology company. The CFO says Florida must ensure taxpayer dollars are not weaponized to blacklist certain Florida businesses.
Another consumer protection will bolster Insurance Consumer Services by the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), Division of Insurance Consumer Services.
The DFS agency budget request is approximately $5.5 million to strengthen the Division through increased staffing, field offices, mediation services, and training to better serve Florida insurance policyholders and short-circuits claims issues before they escalate, especially following disasters. It would also ensure carriers have personnel to troubleshoot and expedite claims.
My Safe Florida Home Expansion
The CFO is requesting $200 million in funding for the My Safe Florida Home Program. The program provides grants to policyholders to protect their homes from wind damage by keeping roofs, doors and windows intact during a hurricane. The less vulnerable the property is to damage, the lower the premium will be.
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