Florida House Approves Tax Cuts for Guns, Camping Gear, and American-Made Beer

The bill aims to save money for campers, gun owners, and drinkers of domestic brews.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Florida House of Representatives passed a tax cut bill (HB 7031) that would lift sales taxes for the next fiscal year on various items, including firearm accessories, camping and fishing gear, and American-made beer. The bill drew some criticism from Democrats, who questioned the inclusion of gun accessories. The Senate has also passed a similar tax proposal (SB 7046), and the two chambers will need to negotiate the differences before the legislative session ends on March 13.

Why it matters

The tax cut bill is part of a broader effort by the Florida legislature to provide relief to residents in areas like outdoor recreation, gun ownership, and consumer goods. However, the inclusion of gun accessories has raised concerns from some lawmakers about the potential impact on public safety and the state's fiscal security.

The details

The House bill (HB 7031) would lift sales taxes for the next fiscal year on various firearm accessories, including holsters, magazines, muzzle devices, sights, and suppressors. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, said the inclusion of gun accessories is tied to a 2024 measure that enshrined the right to hunt and fish into the state constitution. The bill would also revive a sales tax 'holiday' period for hunting, fishing, and camping gear, and lift taxes on American-made beer for the full fiscal year.

  • The House passed the tax cut bill on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
  • The Senate approved its own tax proposal (SB 7046) on Monday, March 2, 2026.
  • The legislative session is slated to end on March 13, 2026.

The players

Wyman Duggan

Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, is the chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee and the sponsor of the tax cut bill (HB 7031).

Christine Hunschofsky

Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland, voted against the bill and questioned the inclusion of gun accessories.

Fentrice Driskell

Rep. Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, is the House Minority Leader and also voted against the bill.

Anna Eskamani

Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, supported the part of the bill that doesn't apply new federal changes to the state's corporate income tax.

Senate Bill 7046

The Senate's tax proposal, which contains some similar provisions to the House bill but also has key differences that will need to be negotiated.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Obviously, those are activities that the citizens of our state engage in, and as a component of that in our sales tax holiday we wanted to include the accessories that go along with exercising that constitutional right.”

— Wyman Duggan, Rep., R-Jacksonville (sun-sentinel.com)

“We also have other rights that we have in this country, such as the right to petition. I would suggest that maybe making it more accessible for Floridians to go and vote, more accessible for Floridians to have initiatives on the ballot and have their voices heard, would be better uses of tax dollars supporting people's rights.”

— Christine Hunschofsky, Rep., D-Parkland (sun-sentinel.com)

“There's always so much pressure for us to go along with some of these federal programs and initiatives. But we have to choose our state. We have to choose the responsibility of the fiscal security of our state.”

— Anna Eskamani, Rep., D-Orlando (sun-sentinel.com)

What’s next

The House and Senate will need to negotiate the differences between their respective tax cut proposals before the legislative session ends on March 13, 2026.

The takeaway

The Florida legislature's tax cut bill highlights the ongoing debate over balancing fiscal responsibility, individual rights, and public safety concerns. As the state grapples with these issues, the final outcome of the negotiations between the House and Senate will be closely watched.