From The News Service of Florida:
Looking to help farmers, Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and Rep. Jake Raburn, R-Lithia, filed bills this week that would create new tax exemptions for the agriculture industry. The bills (SB 312 and HB 207) would provide exemptions for irrigation equipment, replacement parts for farm equipment and repairs to farm equipment. Also, it would allow landowners to keep what are known as “greenbelt”
exemptions if they take part in programs with water-management districts that involve flooding land. The greenbelt law is designed to hold down property taxes on agricultural lands. ”
This legislation will give much-deserved tax relief to Florida’s family farmers,” Simpson said in a prepared statement. “Florida farmers make our state one of the nation’s most important food producers, and reducing their tax burden will invigorate this crucial sector of the economy.” The bills will be considered during the 2014 legislative session.