Governor DeSantis Champions ‘Freedom Week’

Over the weekend, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced “Freedom Week” and other tax relief laws put in place to financially help Floridians while also encouraging them to leave their homes. the Governor signed this Legislative Session’s tax relief package, and the highlighted “Freedom Week” will be a tax holiday that is scheduled to take place at the peak of Summer.

“Freedom Week” will exempt outdoor gear and activities from sales taxes during Independence Day week. This will be from July 1^st to July 7^th, and it will cover events related to live music events, sporting events, admissions to state parks, gym dues, and movie theater tickets sold during those dates. Moreover, taxes will be waived for purchases of sleeping bags, tents and sunscreen.

In making the announcement, DeSantis expressed that the week will celebrate Floridian’s freedoms from lockdowns, and he also expressed that it should encourage people to travel outdoors.

He shared that “we’re proud of being a free state, we’re proud of being open, and we want taxpayers to be able to benefit if they’re participating in all these things.” The Florida Governor also commented that “it’s a very important part of life to have access to different parts of culture,” so “you can’t just be sitting in your closet for a year.”

“You have to be out, and you have to be living,” he said.

“Freedom Week” was proposed by Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R) and Florida Rep. Bobby Payne (R), the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Shortly after being signed into law, Sprowls issued a statement, championing the decision and also praising that Florida is taking measures to fully reopen.

“Here in Florida, our people believe in freedom, and luckily we have a Governor, and we have a Legislature and a Cabinet who believe in freedom as well,” Sprowls declared.