SJR 274 full text · Session Watch

Florida Senate - 2026 SJR 274 By Senator Bernard 24-00443B-26 2026274__

1 Senate Joint Resolution

2 A joint resolution proposing amendments to Sections 4

3 and 6 of Article VII and the creation of a new section

4 in Article XII of the State Constitution to provide

5 that the assessed value of homestead property may not

6 increase after 20 years of ownership and residency, to

7 provide an additional homestead tax exemption equal to

8 50 percent of the assessed value of property, other

9 than school district levies, for persons who have

10 owned and resided on the property as their permanent

11 residence for 30 years or more, and to provide an

12 effective date.

14 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

16 That the following amendments to Sections 4 and 6 of

17 Article VII and the creation of a new section of Article XII of

18 the State Constitution are agreed to and shall be submitted to

19 the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next

20 general election or at an earlier special election specifically

21 authorized by law for that purpose:

22 ARTICLE VII

23 FINANCE AND TAXATION

24 SECTION 4. Taxation; assessments.—By general law

25 regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just

26 valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided:

27 (a) Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge

28 to Florida’s aquifers, or land used exclusively for

29 noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general

30 law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.

31 (b) As provided by general law and subject to conditions,

32 limitations, and reasonable definitions specified therein, land

33 used for conservation purposes shall be classified by general

34 law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.

35 (c) Pursuant to general law tangible personal property held

36 for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for

37 taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be

38 classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation.

39 (d) All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under

40 Section 6 of this Article shall have their homestead assessed at

41 just value as of January 1 of the year following the effective

42 date of this amendment. This assessment shall change only as

43 provided in this subsection.

44 (1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be changed

45 annually on January 1st of each year; but those changes in

46 assessments shall not exceed the lower of the following , unless

47 paragraph (9) applies :

48 a. Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior year.

49 b. The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all

50 urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or

51 successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially

52 reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of

53 Labor Statistics.

54 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value.

55 (3) After any change of ownership, as provided by general

56 law, homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of

57 January 1 of the following year, unless the provisions of

58 paragraph (8) apply. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed

59 as provided in this subsection.

60 (4) New homestead property shall be assessed at just value

61 as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of the

62 homestead, unless the provisions of paragraph (8) apply. That

63 assessment shall only change as provided in this subsection.

64 (5) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to

65 homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by general

66 law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any change,

67 addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be

68 assessed as provided in this subsection.

69 (6) In the event of a termination of homestead status, the

70 property shall be assessed as provided by general law.

71 (7) The provisions of this amendment are severable. If any

72 of the provisions of this amendment shall be held

73 unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the

74 decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining

75 provisions of this amendment.

76 (8)

77 a. A person who establishes a new homestead as of January 1

78 and who has received a homestead exemption pursuant to Section 6

79 of this Article as of January 1 of any of the three years

80 immediately preceding the establishment of the new homestead is

81 entitled to have the new homestead assessed at less than just

82 value. The assessed value of the newly established homestead

83 shall be determined as follows:

84 1. If the just value of the new homestead is greater than

85 or equal to the just value of the prior homestead as of January

86 1 of the year in which the prior homestead was abandoned, the

87 assessed value of the new homestead shall be the just value of

88 the new homestead minus an amount equal to the lesser of

89 $500,000 or the difference between the just value and the

90 assessed value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the

91 year in which the prior homestead was abandoned. Thereafter, the

92 homestead shall be assessed as provided in this subsection.

93 2. If the just value of the new homestead is less than the

94 just value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the year in

95 which the prior homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of

96 the new homestead shall be equal to the just value of the new

97 homestead divided by the just value of the prior homestead and

98 multiplied by the assessed value of the prior homestead.

99 However, if the difference between the just value of the new

100 homestead and the assessed value of the new homestead calculated

101 pursuant to this sub-subparagraph is greater than $500,000, the

102 assessed value of the new homestead shall be increased so that

103 the difference between the just value and the assessed value

104 equals $500,000. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed as

105 provided in this subsection.

106 b. By general law and subject to conditions specified

107 therein, the legislature shall provide for application of this

108 paragraph to property owned by more than one person.

109 (9) A person who has owned and used real property as his or

110 her permanent residence for twenty years or more, and who

111 qualifies for the homestead exemption under Section 6 of this

112 article, is entitled to have such homestead property assessed at

113 less than just value. The assessed value shall be the amount

114 established as of January 1 of the twentieth year of continuous

115 ownership and residency and may not increase thereafter so long

116 as the property continues to receive the homestead exemption.

117 Periods of ownership and residency on multiple homestead

118 properties may be aggregated to meet the applicable time period

119 specified in this paragraph. The property appraiser shall keep

120 the records necessary to verify eligibility for the assessment

121 limitation under this paragraph, including ownership and

122 residency periods for any previous property for which a

123 homestead exemption was granted under Section 6 of this article.

124 (e) The legislature may, by general law, for assessment

125 purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow

126 counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that

127 historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of

128 character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply

129 only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The

130 requirements for eligible properties must be specified by

131 general law.

132 (f) A county may, in the manner prescribed by general law,

133 provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead

134 property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of

135 that property which results from the construction or

136 reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing

137 living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents

138 or parents of the owner of the property or of the owner’s spouse

139 if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the

140 living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a

141 reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following:

142 (1) The increase in assessed value resulting from

143 construction or reconstruction of the property.

144 (2) Twenty percent of the total assessed value of the

145 property as improved.

146 (g) For all levies other than school district levies,

147 assessments of residential real property, as defined by general

148 law, which contains nine units or fewer and which is not subject

149 to the assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a)

150 through (d) shall change only as provided in this subsection.

151 (1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be changed

152 annually on the date of assessment provided by law; but those

153 changes in assessments shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the

154 assessment for the prior year.

155 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value.

156 (3) After a change of ownership or control, as defined by

157 general law, including any change of ownership of a legal entity

158 that owns the property, such property shall be assessed at just

159 value as of the next assessment date. Thereafter, such property

160 shall be assessed as provided in this subsection.

161 (4) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to such

162 property shall be assessed as provided for by general law;

163 however, after the adjustment for any change, addition,

164 reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as

165 provided in this subsection.

166 (h) For all levies other than school district levies,

167 assessments of real property that is not subject to the

168 assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a) through (d)

169 and (g) shall change only as provided in this subsection.

170 (1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be changed

171 annually on the date of assessment provided by law; but those

172 changes in assessments shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the

173 assessment for the prior year.

174 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value.

175 (3) The legislature must provide that such property shall

176 be assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a

177 qualifying improvement, as defined by general law, is made to

178 such property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as

179 provided in this subsection.

180 (4) The legislature may provide that such property shall be

181 assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a

182 change of ownership or control, as defined by general law,

183 including any change of ownership of the legal entity that owns

184 the property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as

185 provided in this subsection.

186 (5) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to such

187 property shall be assessed as provided for by general law;

188 however, after the adjustment for any change, addition,

189 reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as

190 provided in this subsection.

191 (i) The legislature, by general law and subject to

192 conditions specified therein, may prohibit the consideration of

193 the following in the determination of the assessed value of real

194 property:

195 (1) Any change or improvement to real property used for

196 residential purposes made to improve the property’s resistance

197 to wind damage.

198 (2) The installation of a solar or renewable energy source

199 device.

200 (j)

201 (1) The assessment of the following working waterfront

202 properties shall be based upon the current use of the property:

203 a. Land used predominantly for commercial fishing purposes.

204 b. Land that is accessible to the public and used for

205 vessel launches into waters that are navigable.

206 c. Marinas and drystacks that are open to the public.

207 d. Water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities,

208 commercial fishing facilities, and marine vessel construction

209 and repair facilities and their support activities.

210 (2) The assessment benefit provided by this subsection is

211 subject to conditions and limitations and reasonable definitions

212 as specified by the legislature by general law.

213 SECTION 6. Homestead exemptions.—

214 (a)(1) Every person who has the legal or equitable title to

215 real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the

216 owner, or another legally or naturally dependent upon the owner,

217 shall be exempt from taxation thereon, except assessments for

218 special benefits, as follows:

219 a. Up to the assessed valuation of twenty-five thousand

220 dollars; and

221 b. For all levies other than school district levies, on the

222 assessed valuation greater than fifty thousand dollars and up to

223 seventy-five thousand dollars,

225 upon establishment of right thereto in the manner prescribed by

226 law. The real estate may be held by legal or equitable title, by

227 the entireties, jointly, in common, as a condominium, or

228 indirectly by stock ownership or membership representing the

229 owner’s or member’s proprietary interest in a corporation owning

230 a fee or a leasehold initially in excess of ninety-eight years.

231 The exemption shall not apply with respect to any assessment

232 roll until such roll is first determined to be in compliance

233 with the provisions of section 4 by a state agency designated by

234 general law. This exemption is repealed on the effective date of

235 any amendment to this Article which provides for the assessment

236 of homestead property at less than just value.

237 (2) The twenty-five thousand dollar amount of assessed

238 valuation exempt from taxation provided in subparagraph (a)(1)b.

239 shall be adjusted annually on January 1 of each year for

240 inflation using the percent change in the Consumer Price Index

241 for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100,

242 or successor reports for the preceding calendar year as

243 initially reported by the United States Department of Labor,

244 Bureau of Labor Statistics, if such percent change is positive.

245 (3) The amount of assessed valuation exempt from taxation

246 for which every person who has the legal or equitable title to

247 real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the

248 owner, or another person legally or naturally dependent upon the

249 owner, is eligible, and which applies solely to levies other

250 than school district levies, that is added to this constitution

251 after January 1, 2025, shall be adjusted annually on January 1

252 of each year for inflation using the percent change in the

253 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average,

254 all items 1967=100, or successor reports for the preceding

255 calendar year as initially reported by the United States

256 Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, if such percent

257 change is positive, beginning the year following the effective

258 date of such exemption.

259 (b) Not more than one exemption shall be allowed any

260 individual or family unit or with respect to any residential

261 unit. No exemption shall exceed the value of the real estate

262 assessable to the owner or, in case of ownership through stock

263 or membership in a corporation, the value of the proportion

264 which the interest in the corporation bears to the assessed

265 value of the property.

266 (c) By general law and subject to conditions specified

267 therein, the Legislature may provide to renters, who are

268 permanent residents, ad valorem tax relief on all ad valorem tax

269 levies. Such ad valorem tax relief shall be in the form and

270 amount established by general law.

271 (d) The legislature may, by general law, allow counties or

272 municipalities, for the purpose of their respective tax levies

273 and subject to the provisions of general law, to grant either or

274 both of the following additional homestead tax exemptions:

275 (1) An exemption not exceeding fifty thousand dollars to a

276 person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate and

277 maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, who has

278 attained age sixty-five, and whose household income, as defined

279 by general law, does not exceed twenty thousand dollars; or

280 (2) An exemption equal to the assessed value of the

281 property to a person who has the legal or equitable title to

282 real estate with a just value less than two hundred and fifty

283 thousand dollars, as determined in the first tax year that the

284 owner applies and is eligible for the exemption, and who has

285 maintained thereon the permanent residence of the owner for not

286 less than twenty-five years, who has attained age sixty-five,

287 and whose household income does not exceed the income limitation

288 prescribed in paragraph (1).

290 The general law must allow counties and municipalities to grant

291 these additional exemptions, within the limits prescribed in

292 this subsection, by ordinance adopted in the manner prescribed

293 by general law, and must provide for the periodic adjustment of

294 the income limitation prescribed in this subsection for changes

295 in the cost of living.

296 (e)

297 (1) Each veteran who is age 65 or older who is partially or

298 totally permanently disabled shall receive a discount from the

299 amount of the ad valorem tax otherwise owed on homestead

300 property the veteran owns and resides in if the disability was

301 combat related and the veteran was honorably discharged upon

302 separation from military service. The discount shall be in a

303 percentage equal to the percentage of the veteran’s permanent,

304 service-connected disability as determined by the United States

305 Department of Veterans Affairs. To qualify for the discount

306 granted by this paragraph, an applicant must submit to the

307 county property appraiser, by March 1, an official letter from

308 the United States Department of Veterans Affairs stating the

309 percentage of the veteran’s service-connected disability and

310 such evidence that reasonably identifies the disability as

311 combat related and a copy of the veteran’s honorable discharge.

312 If the property appraiser denies the request for a discount, the

313 appraiser must notify the applicant in writing of the reasons

314 for the denial, and the veteran may reapply. The Legislature

315 may, by general law, waive the annual application requirement in

316 subsequent years.

317 (2) If a veteran who receives the discount described in

318 paragraph (1) predeceases his or her spouse, and if, upon the

319 death of the veteran, the surviving spouse holds the legal or

320 beneficial title to the homestead property and permanently

321 resides thereon, the discount carries over to the surviving

322 spouse until he or she remarries or sells or otherwise disposes

323 of the homestead property. If the surviving spouse sells or

324 otherwise disposes of the property, a discount not to exceed the

325 dollar amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll

326 may be transferred to the surviving spouse’s new homestead

327 property, if used as his or her permanent residence and he or

328 she has not remarried.

329 (3) This subsection is self-executing and does not require

330 implementing legislation.

331 (f) By general law and subject to conditions and

332 limitations specified therein, the Legislature may provide ad

333 valorem tax relief equal to the total amount or a portion of the

334 ad valorem tax otherwise owed on homestead property to:

335 (1) The surviving spouse of a veteran who died from

336 service-connected causes while on active duty as a member of the

337 United States Armed Forces.

338 (2) The surviving spouse of a first responder who died in

339 the line of duty.

340 (3) A first responder who is totally and permanently

341 disabled as a result of an injury or injuries sustained in the

342 line of duty. Causal connection between a disability and service

343 in the line of duty shall not be presumed but must be determined

344 as provided by general law. For purposes of this paragraph, the

345 term “disability” does not include a chronic condition or

346 chronic disease, unless the injury sustained in the line of duty

347 was the sole cause of the chronic condition or chronic disease.

349 As used in this subsection and as further defined by general

350 law, the term “first responder” means a law enforcement officer,

351 a correctional officer, a firefighter, an emergency medical

352 technician, or a paramedic, and the term “in the line of duty”

353 means arising out of and in the actual performance of duty

354 required by employment as a first responder.

355 (g)(1) Any person who has held legal title or beneficial

356 title in equity to any real property in this state and who, in

357 good faith, has made such property his or her permanent

358 residence for thirty years or more, who qualifies to receive a

359 homestead exemption provided in this section, and who has paid

360 all ad valorem taxes due on the property, is entitled to an

361 exemption equal to fifty percent (50%) of the assessed value of

362 the property, which shall apply to all ad valorem taxes other

363 than school district levies.

364 (2) For purposes of this subsection, the applicable period

365 of ownership and residency must be satisfied as of January 1 of

366 the tax year for which the exemption is claimed.

367 (3) Periods of ownership and residency on multiple

368 homestead properties may be aggregated to meet the applicable

369 time periods specified in paragraph (1). The property appraiser

370 shall keep the records necessary to verify eligibility for the

371 exemption under this section, including ownership and residency

372 periods for any previous property for which a homestead

373 exemption was granted under this section.

374 ARTICLE XII

375 SCHEDULE

376 Additional homestead property tax benefits for long-term

377 owners and permanent residents.—This section and the amendments

378 to Sections 4 and 6 of Article VII, providing that the assessed

379 value of homestead property may not increase after twenty years

380 of ownership and residency and providing an additional homestead

381 property tax exemption equal to fifty percent (50%) of the

382 assessed value of property, other than school district levies,

383 for persons who have owned and resided on the property as their

384 permanent residence for thirty years or more, shall take effect

385 January 1, 2027.

386 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be

387 placed on the ballot:

388 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

389 ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 4 AND 6

390 ARTICLE XII

391 ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX BENEFITS FOR LONG-TERM

392 OWNERS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS.—Proposing amendments to the

393 State Constitution to provide that the assessed value of

394 property may not increase after 20 years of ownership and

395 residency and to grant an additional homestead tax exemption

396 equal to 50 percent of the property’s assessed value, excluding

397 school district levies, for persons who have owned and resided

398 on the property as their permanent residence for 30 years or

399 more. This amendment shall take effect January 1, 2027.