Florida’s 2026 budget has seen delay after delay, but it’s finally headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk after passing through the state Senate and House.
Assuming DeSantis signs the $115.1 billion budget, it will go into effect on July 1, one month after the start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which started without the disaster preparedness tax holiday Floridians have become accustomed to.
Floridians typically benefit from a number of tax-free holidays that include the start of the hurricane and back-to-school seasons. In recent years, DeSantis has also approved special summer tax holidays that provide residents with savings on admissions to state parks and museums, fishing supplies and outdoor recreation equipment.
Florida’s 2026 budget seeks to restructure some of those savings by making permanent Florida’s back-to-school tax holiday and permanently exempting sales tax from key hurricane supplies such as batteries, tarpaulins and generators.
Here’s a breakdown of how Florida’s sales tax holidays will be impacted by its 2026 budget.
Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday will permanently run through all of August
Changes to Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday are one of the largest changes to impact most residents. Tax-free weekends for school supplies will be a thing of the past as the state expands it to run through all of August permanently.
Making the sales tax holiday a permanent fixture means it will no longer rely on the annual approval of the Legislature.
The savings are projected to cost Florida about $167.7 million and is the second largest tax cut in the budget behind the repeal of the state’s business rent tax, which amounts to $904.8 million of the $1.3 billion in tax cuts.
Florida’s previous back-to-school sales tax holiday ran for two weeks, typically the last week of summer break into the first week of school.
Back-to-school sales tax holidays offer parents some financial relief on school supplies that are typically stacked with coinciding retail sales.
Items like personal computers, wallets or bags, learning aids and general school supplies up to specified dollar amounts will be exempt from sales tax during the holiday.
Florida kills hurricane supply sales tax holiday, but permanently exempts some items
Florida’s 2026 budget also delivers a double-edged sword to consumers as it ends its annual disaster preparedness sales tax holiday, which typically ran from June 1-14.
The good news is that Florida will permanently waive sales tax on some hurricane supplies, such as certain batteries, some portable generators and tarps. The bad news is that sales tax will remain for other staples like flashlights, lanterns and pet supplies.
Florida will permanently exempt sales tax for the following hurricane supplies:
Florida budget permanently waives sales tax on other items
Hurricane and back-to-school seasons aren’t the only times Floridians can save a little bit of cash on purchases. The 2026 budget also moves to exempt some health and safety items and creates a new outdoor supplies tax holiday.
Health and safety tax exemptions: In addition to smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, Florida will also permanently exempt sales tax on sunscreen, insect repellent, life jackets and bicycle helmets.
State park admissions: Admission to Florida’s 171 state parks and trails will be tax-exempt.
Gold, silver and platinum bullion exemptions: Florida plans to permanently exempt tax from gold, silver and platinum bullion purchases under $500.
New hunting, fishing and camping tax holiday: The state will implement a new sales tax holiday that runs between Sept. 8 to Dec. 31 and provides savings on some camping, fishing and hunting supplies.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida budget axes tax-free hurricane supply weekends in favor of some permanent savings
Reporting by Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
