The tax breaks are being considered as Florida’s space industry continues booming.
A bill approved by a Senate panel could give private contractors working on space projects tax breaks on the property they are leasing.
The Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security on Monday unanimously backed the bill (SB 1512) extending exemptions for those nongovernmental contractors.
“This legislation will actually help grow and strengthen Florida’s aerospace industry,” said Zephyrhills Republican Sen. Danny Burgess, the bill’s sponsor. “It’s a major part of Florida’s economy.”
Burgess added the measure is an extension of existing law that applies to other contractors, such as those in the semi-conductor industry.
“Real property and tangible personal property being used by a nongovernmental lessee within this state pursuant to a project authorized by the Space Florida Board of Directors is deemed to perform an essential governmental purpose and is exempt” from those taxes, the bill states.
The legislation comes as Space Florida, the state’s space project development agency, is reporting record-breaking aerospace activity — in 2025, Space Florida oversaw a record 109 launches from Sunshine State facilities. Earlier this month, Space Florida officials projected that figure would likely be eclipsed this year.
Bugess said the measure is designed to check competition from other states that are starting to vie for a slice of the growing aerospace industry.
“This bill is imperative to help make sure that Florida is still the leading edge of not just launching, but also all that is now coming along with the space industry and even the private partnerships that you see through SpaceX and Blue Origin and other companies and organizations,” Burgess said.
The Senate bill still has to go before the Senate Finance and Tax Committee and the Appropriations Committee. A similar bill (HB 1177), sponsored by Merritt Island Republican Rep. Tyler Sirois, is making its way through the House.
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