SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 1520

Affordable Housing Property Tax Exemption
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SPONSOR
Calatayud
FILED BY
Alexis Calatayud — District 38, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/CS/HB 1389 — SB 1520 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Taxes & Budget.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Affordable Housing Property Tax Exemption; Revising a specified finding that a taxing authority must make in order to elect not to exempt certain property from certain ad valorem taxation; authorizing certain property owners in a multifamily project to apply for and continue to receive an exemption, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Eases tax exemption rules for new affordable housing projects.

The bill changes the data a local government must use to decide whether to deny a property tax break for affordable housing. It requires looking at three years of housing reports instead of just the most recent one.

This makes it harder for local governments to opt out of giving the tax break. They must now prove a surplus of affordable units over renter households for three consecutive years.

The bill also creates a new rule for developers. If a local government passes a new ordinance denying the tax break, developers who got final approval just before that vote can still get the break.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Exemption for Recently Approved Multifamily Projects majors. 196.1978(3)(o)

AIPermits owners of multifamily properties that received final site plan approval within one year before a local opt-out ordinance to still apply for and receive the tax exemption.

“the owner of a property in a multifamily project that received a final site plan approval within 1 year before the adoption of such ordinance or resolution may apply for and be” bill text, line 59 →
§ 2 Effective Date for Property Tax Roll moderates. 196.1978

AISpecifies that the amendments to the affordable housing property tax exemption statute first apply to the 2027 property tax roll.

“The amendments made by this act to s. 196.1978, Florida Statutes, first apply to the 2027 property tax roll.” bill text, line 68 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Appropriations, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB...
2/13/2026
Now in Appropriations
2/12/2026
Favorable by Finance and Tax; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
2/9/2026
On Committee agenda-- Finance and Tax, 02/12/26, 4:30 pm, 301...
1/22/2026
Introduced
1/16/2026
Referred to Finance and Tax; Appropriations; Rules
1/9/2026
Filed
1 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 196.1978
+102 / −8
STAFF ANALYSES