Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis touted initiatives that he said are part of an effort to help Floridians enjoy the outdoors on Tuesday.
During an appearance in Naples, DeSantis announced that admission fees will be waived at state parks over the Memorial Day weekend, from May 24 to May 27.
“It’s important that people have the ability to go out and enjoy our great natural environment, and that’s a sentiment that we share with respect to our state parks,” DeSantis said. DeSantis later discussed a tax “holiday” in July that will allow Floridians to avoid paying sales taxes on recreational items.
Lawmakers included the tax holiday in a broader tax measure (HB 7073) they passed in March.
It includes sales-tax exemptions on items such as canoes and kayaks that cost $500 or less; fishing rods and reels that cost $75 or less; tents that cost $200 or less; and outdoor grills that cost $250 or less.
“Our view is, this is part of enjoying the summer in Florida,” the governor said during a second media appearance in Tampa. The Legislature has not formally sent the tax bill to DeSantis for his approval.
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