TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A new bill filed in the Florida House proposes raising the state sales tax from 6% to 9%, potentially affecting every retail purchase in the state.
The measure, HB 791, also known as the Freedom 3 – The School and Safety Revenue Replacement Act, would dedicate one-third of the additional revenue to the Florida Education Finance Program.
Under the proposed increase, a $100 purchase would rise from $106 to $109 in total after tax, while an $800 purchase would see an added $72 in sales tax.
The bill is designed to replace revenue lost from a proposed constitutional amendment that would remove counties’ and school districts’ authority to levy property taxes. It would also increase a property sales surtax by 5%.
If approved, the new sales tax rate would take effect after the constitutional amendment or a similar joint resolution passes. The Florida legislative session begins January 13.
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