~ CFO also backs measures to establish a Home Hardening Sales Tax Exemption ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced legislation aimed at enhancing Florida’s resilience against hurricanes and severe weather. The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 1466 and House Bill 851, will create the 'My Safe Florida Home Trust Fund,' designed to allocate critical resources towards hardening our communities and ensuring the safety of Floridians during storm events. The My Safe Florida Home Program has been widely successful, allocating more than $576 million in home-hardening grants to more than 58,000 homeowners statewide.

The My Safe Florida Home Trust Fund will be funded by allocating 5% of sales tax dollars generated from hurricane-impacted counties. This strategic move will direct post-storm revenue back into the communities that need it most, reinforcing our commitment to disaster preparedness and response. Moreover, additional legislation, Senate Bill 1468 and House Bill 853 will establish a sales tax exemption for impact-resistant doors and windows throughout the month of February. This initiative encourages Floridians to invest in their homes and helps stabilize and potentially reduce insurance premiums by generating vital storm mitigation discounts.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Unfortunately, it’s not if but when another powerful storm will take aim at Florida. This legislation is a proactive step towards safeguarding our communities from hurricanes and keeping insurance costs in check. By creating the My Safe Florida Home Trust Fund, we not only funnel necessary funds into our local economies but also incentivize homeowners to fortify their residences, all while using unexpected revenue streams from the sales tax boosts we see following storms. This is pain and suffering money and should be given back to Floridians to help in protecting their homes from future hurricanes. Strengthening our homes is essential for protecting families and reducing the financial burden following storms. Thank you to Senator Nick DiCeglie and Representative Chip LaMarca for sponsoring this legislation and working to help Floridians protect their biggest investment – their homes.”

The My Safe Florida Home program has served homeowners in every county in the state. To date, the program has delivered over:

• 109,000 free home inspections
• 58,700 approved home-hardening grants
• $576 million in grant funding
• $240 million in home hardening grant reimbursements
• $1,000 in average annual premium savings (for participants who complete the program)

For more information on the program, visit MySafeFLHome.com.

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis  
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and X (@FLDFS).

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis 
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and X (@FLDFS).