HB 185 Florida House · 2026 Regular Session

Home Hardening Products

HB 185 would exempt impact-resistant doors, garage doors, and windows from Florida's sales and use tax. These products must meet specific safety standards, such as ASTM International E1886/E1996 or Florida Building Code Testing Standards, to qualify. The exemption applies to homeowners purchasing these safety products for home hardening, directly reducing their costs for hurricane-resistant upgrades. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2026, if passed.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Oct 15, 2025 Last action Mar 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 185 Filed → H 185 c1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to change the sales tax exemption from a direct exemption to a refund system. The original version exempted specific home hardening products from sales tax at the point of purchase, while the new version requires eligible property owners to apply for a refund after purchase. This change shifts the administrative burden from the point of sale to a post-purchase reimbursement process.

Scope change

The bill now applies only to eligible residential property with a homestead exemption valued at $700,000 or less, narrowing the scope from the original version which did not specify property value limits.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the tax relief mechanism from an automatic sales tax exemption to a refund system where owners must apply for reimbursement after purchase.

Removed the previous exemption language that allowed impact-resistant doors, garage doors, and windows to be exempt at the point of sale.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility requirement that property must have a homestead exemption and a just value of $700,000 or less.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'eligible residential property,' 'owner,' 'purchase period,' and 'site-built dwelling' to clarify who qualifies for the refund.

TIMELINE

Specified a purchase period from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, during which purchases can be made and refunds claimed.

Floor votes · House Feb 26, 2026

How they voted

23–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 27

Feb 26, 2026

D Democratic8

7 Yea 1

87% Yea

R Republican19

16 Yea 3

84% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Commerce Committee

lower

Feb 26, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (23-0-4)

house

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable by Commerce Committee

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Added to Commerce Committee agenda

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Now in Commerce Committee

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

Referred to Commerce Committee

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Ways & Means Committee

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Ways & Means Committee

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

PCS added to Ways & Means Committee agenda

lower

Oct 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Ways & Means Committee

lower

Oct 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Commerce Committee

lower

Oct 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

lower

Oct 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means Committee

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors