Pet Diet Food Tax Exemption Fetches Senate Backing
By News Service of Florida // January 14, 2014
PROPOSAL BY Sen. Jack Latvala
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — A proposal (SB 534) that would allow special diet foods for household pets to be purchased free from the state sales tax was backed by the Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday
“We are just extending the exemption that has already been given to large animals to small animals,” said Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, in voting to support the proposal.
The proposal by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, would apply the exemption to all medical products and special diet food items that are used to treat animals that have been diagnosed with health disorders by licensed veterinarians.
No prescription would be required on the diet food items. The measure must still clear three additional committees — Community Affairs, Finance and Tax and Appropriations — before going before the full Senate. The House companion (HB 257), filed by Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, has been assigned to the Finance and Tax Subcommittee and Appropriations Committee.
