» Tax-cut bill aims to aid farmers, others with Irma losses,

A tax package that provides relief for farmers and property owners who suffered losses from Hurricane Irma, while offering salestax breaks at the start of the school year and hurricane season, was approved by the House and Senate in a rare Sunday conclusion to the legislative session.

Gov. Rick Scott’s office didn’t indicate Sunday if he would sign the package, which totals about $170 million, saying he will read the bill when it arrives on his desk.

Less robust than what lawmakers had initially proposed, the package (HB 7087) offers tax breaks on agricultural fencing materials purchased for repairs after Hurricane Irma. It also includes tax breaks for citrus-packing houses that had their businesses interrupted by Hurricane Irma or by the deadly disease citrus greening and for fuel used to transport agricultural products after the storm.

It also includes a property-tax break for homeowners displaced by Irma and a break for nursing homes that purchase electric generators.

The House agreed to a Senate proposal to reduce a commercial lease tax from 5.8 percent to 5.7 percent. The House had earlier proposed dropping the tax rate to 5.5 percent.

Tax “holidays” included in the bill are the back-to-school tax holiday, lifting sales taxes on clothes costing $60 or less and school supplies costing $15 or less, over three days in early August; and starting June 1, a seven-day tax holiday on hurricane-related gear, such as tarpaulins, batteries and portable generators.

The bill also includes a 9 percent reduction on civil penalties for non-criminal traffic infractions, such as speeding within 30 mph over the posted limit, if motorists attend driver-improvement school.

The House voted 93-12 for the bill, with all of the opposition coming from Democrats. That came after the Senate voted 33-3 for the bill, with opposition from three Democratic leaders, including Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami. Rodriguez said much of the package is crafted to allow Republicans to campaign on reducing taxes, while the Legislature failed to address issues that have more impact on Floridians, such as climate change and the influx of citizens from Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria.