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Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-208

No. CS/HB 4053

Avalon Beach-Mulat Fire Protection District, Santa Rosa County
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SPONSOR
Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Boyles
FILED BY
Nathan Boyles — District 3, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
6/10/2026

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Avalon Beach-Mulat Fire Protection District, Santa Rosa County; Provides exemption from non-ad valorem assessments for churches & specified religious institutions otherwise exempt from ad valorem taxes; provides calculation methods for non-ad valorem assessments; revises non-ad valorem assessments for residential properties & non-ad valorem assessments for industrial properties exceeding 40,000 square feet.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Exempts churches from fire district assessments and revises property fee tiers.

Churches and religious institutions exempt from ad valorem taxes are now barred from paying non-ad valorem fire protection assessments.

Residential properties over 1,600 square feet face a lower per-square-foot rate, with a new $350 total cap on the assessment.

Industrial properties over 40,000 square feet face a reduced per-square-foot rate, while the base tier expands to 2,500 square feet.

The district must rely on the county property appraiser's use codes to determine which assessment tier applies to each parcel.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Exemption for religious properties majors. 3(1)

AIProhibits the district from levying non-ad valorem assessments on churches and religious institutions that are already exempt from ad valorem taxes.

“the district may not levy and enforce non-ad valorem assessments on a church or religious institution that is otherwise exempt from ad valorem taxes.” bill text, line 25 →
§ 2 New calculation method for commercial and industrial properties majors. 3(2)(a)

AIRequires non-ad valorem assessments for commercial and industrial properties to be calculated using the combined total square footage of all buildings on the parcel, regardless of the number of structures.

“the non-ad valorem assessments shall be calculated using the combined total square footage of all buildings and structures located on the parcel, regardless of the number of”
§ 3 Revised maximum assessment for residential properties moderates. 3(2)(b)1

AIReduces the per-square-foot rate for residential properties over 1,600 square feet from $0.1544 to $0.13 and caps the total assessment at $350.

“with an additional $0.13 per square foot in excess of 1,600 square feet, with the total assessment levied not to exceed $350.”
§ 4 Revised maximum assessment for industrial properties majors. 3(2)(b)4

AIChanges the base assessment for industrial properties from 950 to 2,500 square feet, reduces the per-square-foot rate from $0.1544 to $0.13, and adds a $0.05 per square foot rate for space over 40,000 square feet.

“Five hundred dollars for properties with a predominantly industrial use code up to 2,500 square feet, with an additional $0.13 per square foot in excess of 2,500 square feet up to”
§ 5 Definition of use code moderates. 3(2)(c)

AIDefines "use code" as the property use classifications assigned by the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser and requires the district to rely on these classifications from the most recent certified tax roll.

“the term "use code" shall mean the property use classifications assigned by the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser in accordance with the property use code system” bill text, line 54 →
TIMELINE
7/1/2026
Chapter No. 2026-208
6/10/2026
Approved by Governor
6/9/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/11/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/11/2026
In Messages
3/11/2026
CS passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 -SJ 790
3/11/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 790
3/11/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 790
3/11/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/11/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 785
3/9/2026
Placed on Local Calendar, 03/11/26
3/3/2026
Received
3/3/2026
Referred to Rules
3/3/2026
In Messages
3/3/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 83, NAYS 27
3/3/2026
Read 3rd time
3/3/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/3/2026
Amendment 483483 adopted
3/3/2026
Read 2nd time
2/26/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026)
2/25/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/25/2026
Temporarily postponed, on 2nd Reading
2/19/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
2/17/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/17/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
2/17/2026
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
2/17/2026
Favorable by State Affairs Committee
2/13/2026
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
2/10/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
2/10/2026
Reported out of Ways & Means Committee
2/10/2026
Favorable by Ways & Means Committee
2/6/2026
Added to Ways & Means Committee agenda
2/6/2026
Now in Ways & Means Committee
2/6/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
2/6/2026
Referred to Ways & Means Committee
2/5/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/5/2026
CS Filed
2/5/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/5/2026
Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2/5/2026
Favorable with CS by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2/3/2026
Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/12/2026
Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/12/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
1/12/2026
Referred to Ways & Means Committee
1/12/2026
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Filed
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