TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A bill filed in the Florida House seeks to raise sales taxes across the state.
HB 791, titled “Freedom 3 – The School and Safety Revenue Replacement Act,” would raise the sales tax from 6 percent to 9 percent of each item sold at retail in Florida.
One-third of all proceeds collected under the new sales tax would go to fund the Florida Education Finance Program.
For example, under the current 6 percent sales tax, if you purchase something for $100, the after-tax price would be $106. The proposed increase would raise your total to $109.
While that might not seem like much of a difference, on larger purchases, the increased sales tax could add up. If you purchase something for $800, the proposed 9% sales tax would add $72 to your total.
Florida Politics:
A proposed constitutional amendment filed in the House would remove the authority of counties and school districts to levy property taxes.
Property taxes typically make up a large portion of funding for local services; however, the proposed hike in sales taxes seeks to replace that lost revenue.
The bill would also increase a property sales surtax of 5 percent.
The proposed bill would take effect after the approval of the proposed consitutional amendment or a smiliar joint resolution.
The legislative session begins Jan. 13.
To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Nextdoor and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started.
Copyright 2025 WCTV. All rights reserved.