Hukill introduces legislation to require review of all state sales tax exemptions

PORT ORANGE -- State Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, whose district includes Southeast Volusia, has filed legislation in Tallahassee to make the state’s tax system more fair and equitable for all Floridians.

The “Sales Tax Fairness Restoration Act (STAFR)” will put all state sales tax exemptions, except those for necessities, on the path to an automatic and uniform review process by a special legislative body. To ensure that only worthwhile exemptions stay on the books, exemptions will sunset unless determined to be beneficial for the state by an open and accountable review.

The bill, House Bill 1163, creates an orderly and standardized review process whereby sales tax exemptions are reviewed by the Joint Legislative Sunset Committee, an existing joint committee of the Legislature. The committee would review exemptions and recommend to the Legislature which should be retained. Those exemptions not reenacted would be eliminated.

“Many of these exemptions were put in before people had color television,” Hukill said. “It’s time to take a look and see if they actually help Florida. Especially when our state is hurting, Floridians should be able to feel confident that everyone in our community is paying their fair share.”