THE BILL ITSELF
SJR 550
Prohibition on Levying Ad Valorem Taxes on Tangible Personal Property
Florida Senate - 2026 SJR 550 By Senator Bernard 24-00725-26 2026550__
1
Senate Joint Resolution
2
A joint resolution proposing amendments to Sections 3,
3
4, and 9 of Article VII and creating a new section in
4
Article XII of the State Constitution to prohibit
5
levying ad valorem taxes on tangible personal property
6
by counties, school districts, and municipalities and
7
to provide an effective date.
9
Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
That the following amendments to Sections 3, 4, and 9 of
12
Article VII and the creation of a new section in Article XII of
13
the State Constitution are agreed to and shall be submitted to
14
the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
15
general election or at an earlier special election specifically
16
authorized by law for that purpose:
17
ARTICLE VII
18
FINANCE AND TAXATION
19
SECTION 3. Taxes; exemptions.—
20
(a) All property owned by a municipality and used
21
exclusively by it for municipal or public purposes shall be
22
exempt from taxation. A municipality, owning property outside
23
the municipality, may be required by general law to make payment
24
to the taxing unit in which the property is located. Such
25
portions of property as are used predominantly for educational,
26
literary, scientific, religious or charitable purposes may be
27
exempted by general law from taxation.
28
(b) There shall be exempt from taxation , cumulatively, to
29
every head of a family residing in this state, household goods
30
and personal effects to the value fixed by general law, not less
31
than one thousand dollars, and to every widow or widower or
32
person who is blind or totally and permanently disabled,
33
property to the value fixed by general law not less than five
34
hundred dollars.
35
(c) Any county or municipality may, for the purpose of its
36
respective tax levy and subject to the provisions of this
37
subsection and general law, grant community and economic
38
development ad valorem tax exemptions to new businesses and
39
expansions of existing businesses, as defined by general law.
40
Such an exemption may be granted only by ordinance of the county
41
or municipality, and only after the electors of the county or
42
municipality voting on such question in a referendum authorize
43
the county or municipality to adopt such ordinances. An
44
exemption so granted shall apply to improvements to real
45
property made by or for the use of a new business and
46
improvements to real property related to the expansion of an
47
existing business and shall also apply to tangible personal
48
property of such new business and tangible personal property
49
related to the expansion of an existing business . The amount or
50
limits of the amount of such exemption shall be specified by
51
general law. The period of time for which such exemption may be
52
granted to a new business or expansion of an existing business
53
shall be determined by general law. The authority to grant such
54
exemption shall expire ten years from the date of approval by
55
the electors of the county or municipality, and may be renewable
56
by referendum as provided by general law.
57
(d) Any county or municipality may, for the purpose of its
58
respective tax levy and subject to the provisions of this
59
subsection and general law, grant historic preservation ad
60
valorem tax exemptions to owners of historic properties. This
61
exemption may be granted only by ordinance of the county or
62
municipality. The amount or limits of the amount of this
63
exemption and the requirements for eligible properties must be
64
specified by general law. The period of time for which this
65
exemption may be granted to a property owner shall be determined
66
by general law.
67
(e) By general law and subject to conditions specified
68
therein:
69
(1) Twenty-five thousand dollars of the assessed value of
70
property subject to tangible personal property tax shall be
71
exempt from ad valorem taxation.
72
(2) The assessed value of solar devices or renewable energy
73
source devices subject to tangible personal property tax may be
74
exempt from ad valorem taxation, subject to limitations provided
75
by general law.
76
(f) There shall be granted an ad valorem tax exemption for
77
real property dedicated in perpetuity for conservation purposes,
78
including real property encumbered by perpetual conservation
79
easements or by other perpetual conservation protections, as
80
defined by general law.
81
(f) (g) By general law and subject to the conditions
82
specified therein, each person who receives a homestead
83
exemption as provided in section 6 of this article; who was a
84
member of the United States military or military reserves, the
85
United States Coast Guard or its reserves, or the Florida
86
National Guard; and who was deployed during the preceding
87
calendar year on active duty outside the continental United
88
States, Alaska, or Hawaii in support of military operations
89
designated by the legislature shall receive an additional
90
exemption equal to a percentage of the taxable value of his or
91
her homestead property. The applicable percentage shall be
92
calculated as the number of days during the preceding calendar
93
year the person was deployed on active duty outside the
94
continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in support of
95
military operations designated by the legislature divided by the
96
number of days in that year.
97
SECTION 4. Taxation; assessments.—By general law
98
regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just
99
valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided:
100
(a) Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge
101
to Florida’s aquifers, or land used exclusively for
102
noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general
103
law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
104
(b) As provided by general law and subject to conditions,
105
limitations, and reasonable definitions specified therein, land
106
used for conservation purposes shall be classified by general
107
law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
108
(c) Pursuant to general law tangible personal property held
109
for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for
110
taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be
111
classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation.
112
(d) All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under
113
section 6 of this article shall have their homestead assessed at
114
just value as of January 1 of the year following the effective
115
date of this amendment. This assessment shall change only as
116
provided in this subsection.
117
(1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be changed
118
annually on January 1st of each year; but those changes in
119
assessments shall not exceed the lower of the following:
120
a. Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior year.
121
b. The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all
122
urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or
123
successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially
124
reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
125
Labor Statistics.
126
(2) No assessment shall exceed just value.
127
(3) After any change of ownership, as provided by general
128
law, homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of
129
January 1 of the following year, unless the provisions of
130
paragraph (8) apply. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed
131
as provided in this subsection.
132
(4) New homestead property shall be assessed at just value
133
as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of the
134
homestead, unless the provisions of paragraph (8) apply. That
135
assessment shall only change as provided in this subsection.
136
(5) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to
137
homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by general
138
law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any change,
139
addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be
140
assessed as provided in this subsection.
141
(6) In the event of a termination of homestead status, the
142
property shall be assessed as provided by general law.
143
(7) The provisions of this amendment are severable. If any
144
of the provisions of this amendment shall be held
145
unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the
146
decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining
147
provisions of this amendment.
148
(8)a. A person who establishes a new homestead as of
149
January 1 and who has received a homestead exemption pursuant to
150
section 6 of this article as of January 1 of any of the three
151
years immediately preceding the establishment of the new
152
homestead is entitled to have the new homestead assessed at less
153
than just value. The assessed value of the newly established
154
homestead shall be determined as follows:
155
1. If the just value of the new homestead is greater than
156
or equal to the just value of the prior homestead as of January
157
1 of the year in which the prior homestead was abandoned, the
158
assessed value of the new homestead shall be the just value of
159
the new homestead minus an amount equal to the lesser of
160
$500,000 or the difference between the just value and the
161
assessed value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the
162
year in which the prior homestead was abandoned. Thereafter, the
163
homestead shall be assessed as provided in this subsection.
164
2. If the just value of the new homestead is less than the
165
just value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the year in
166
which the prior homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of
167
the new homestead shall be equal to the just value of the new
168
homestead divided by the just value of the prior homestead and
169
multiplied by the assessed value of the prior homestead.
170
However, if the difference between the just value of the new
171
homestead and the assessed value of the new homestead calculated
172
pursuant to this sub-subparagraph is greater than $500,000, the
173
assessed value of the new homestead shall be increased so that
174
the difference between the just value and the assessed value
175
equals $500,000. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed as
176
provided in this subsection.
177
b. By general law and subject to conditions specified
178
therein, the legislature shall provide for application of this
179
paragraph to property owned by more than one person.
180
(d) (e) The legislature may, by general law, for assessment
181
purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow
182
counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that
183
historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of
184
character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply
185
only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The
186
requirements for eligible properties must be specified by
187
general law.
188
(e) (f) A county may, in the manner prescribed by general
189
law, provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead
190
property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of
191
that property which results from the construction or
192
reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing
193
living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents
194
or parents of the owner of the property or of the owner’s spouse
195
if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the
196
living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a
197
reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following:
198
(1) The increase in assessed value resulting from
199
construction or reconstruction of the property.
200
(2) Twenty percent (20%) of the total assessed value of the
201
property as improved.
202
(f) (g) For all levies other than school district levies,
203
assessments of residential real property, as defined by general
204
law, which contains nine units or fewer and which is not subject
205
to the assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a)
206
through (d) shall change only as provided in this subsection.
207
(1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be changed
208
annually on the date of assessment provided by law; but those
209
changes in assessments shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the
210
assessment for the prior year.
211
(2) No assessment shall exceed just value.
212
(3) After a change of ownership or control, as defined by
213
general law, including any change of ownership of a legal entity
214
that owns the property, such property shall be assessed at just
215
value as of the next assessment date. Thereafter, such property
216
shall be assessed as provided in this subsection.
217
(4) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to such
218
property shall be assessed as provided for by general law;
219
however, after the adjustment for any change, addition,
220
reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as
221
provided in this subsection.
222
(g) (h) For all levies other than school district levies,
223
assessments of real property that is not subject to the
224
assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a), (b), (c),
225
(a) through (d) and (f) (g) shall change only as provided in
226
this subsection.
227
(1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be changed
228
annually on the date of assessment provided by law; but those
229
changes in assessments shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the
230
assessment for the prior year.
231
(2) No assessment shall exceed just value.
232
(3) The legislature must provide that such property shall
233
be assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a
234
qualifying improvement, as defined by general law, is made to
235
such property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as
236
provided in this subsection.
237
(4) The legislature may provide that such property shall be
238
assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a
239
change of ownership or control, as defined by general law,
240
including any change of ownership of the legal entity that owns
241
the property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as
242
provided in this subsection.
243
(5) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to such
244
property shall be assessed as provided for by general law;
245
however, after the adjustment for any change, addition,
246
reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as
247
provided in this subsection.
248
(h) (i) The legislature, by general law and subject to
249
conditions specified therein, may prohibit the consideration of
250
the following in the determination of the assessed value of real
251
property:
252
(1) Any change or improvement to real property used for
253
residential purposes made to improve the property’s resistance
254
to wind damage.
255
(2) The installation of a solar or renewable energy source
256
device.
257
(i) (j) (1) The assessment of the following working
258
waterfront properties shall be based upon the current use of the
259
property:
260
a. Land used predominantly for commercial fishing purposes.
261
b. Land that is accessible to the public and used for
262
vessel launches into waters that are navigable.
263
c. Marinas and drystacks that are open to the public.
264
d. Water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities,
265
commercial fishing facilities, and marine vessel construction
266
and repair facilities and their support activities.
267
(2) The assessment benefit provided by this subsection is
268
subject to conditions and limitations and reasonable definitions
269
as specified by the legislature by general law.
270
SECTION 9. Local taxes.—
271
(a) Counties, school districts, and municipalities shall,
272
and special districts may, be authorized by law to levy ad
273
valorem taxes and may be authorized by general law to levy other
274
taxes, for their respective purposes, except ad valorem taxes on
275
intangible personal property and tangible personal property and
276
taxes prohibited by this constitution.
277
(b) Ad valorem taxes, exclusive of taxes levied for the
278
payment of bonds and taxes levied for periods not longer than
279
two years when authorized by vote of the electors who are the
280
owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation,
281
shall not be levied in excess of the following millages upon the
282
assessed value of real estate and tangible personal property :
283
for all county purposes, ten mills; for all municipal purposes,
284
ten mills; for all school purposes, ten mills; for water
285
management purposes for the northwest portion of the state lying
286
west of the line between ranges two and three east, 0.05 mill;
287
for water management purposes for the remaining portions of the
288
state, 1.0 mill; and for all other special districts a millage
289
authorized by law approved by vote of the electors who are
290
owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation. A
291
county furnishing municipal services may, to the extent
292
authorized by law, levy additional taxes within the limits fixed
293
for municipal purposes.
294
ARTICLE XII
295
SCHEDULE
296
Prohibition on levying ad valorem taxes on tangible
297
personal property by counties, school districts, and
298
municipalities.—This section and the amendments to Sections 3,
299
4, and 9 of Article VII, prohibiting the levying of ad valorem
300
taxes on tangible personal property by counties, school
301
districts, and municipalities, shall take effect January 1,
302
2027.
303
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
304
placed on the ballot:
305
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
306
ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 3, 4, AND 9
307
ARTICLE XII
308
PROHIBITION ON LEVYING AD VALOREM TAXES ON TANGIBLE
309
PERSONAL PROPERTY BY CERTAIN ENTITIES.—Proposing amendments to
310
the State Constitution to prohibit the levying of ad valorem
311
taxes on tangible personal property by counties, school
312
districts, and municipalities. This amendment takes effect
313
January 1, 2027.