Florida Senate - 2011                                     SB 732
       
       
       
       By Senator Margolis
       
       
       
       
       35-00739A-11                                           2011732__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the assessment of residential
    3         property; creating s. 193.624, F.S.; prohibiting an
    4         increase in the assessed value of residential property
    5         solely as the result of installing and operating a
    6         renewable energy source device or improving the
    7         property’s resistance to wind damage; amending ss.
    8         193.155 and 193.1554, F.S.; specifying additional
    9         exceptions to assessments of homestead and
   10         nonhomestead property at just value; repealing s.
   11         196.175, F.S., relating to the renewable energy source
   12         property tax exemption; providing an effective date.
   13  
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15  
   16         Section 1. Section 193.624, Florida Statutes, is created to
   17  read:
   18         193.624 Assessment of residential property.—The assessed
   19  value of residential property may not be increased solely as the
   20  result of:
   21         (1) The installation and operation of a renewable energy
   22  source device.
   23         (2) Changes or improvements made for the purpose of
   24  improving the property’s resistance to wind damage. Such
   25  improvements include:
   26         (a) Improving the strength of the roof deck attachment.
   27         (b) Creating a secondary water barrier to prevent water
   28  intrusion.
   29         (c) Installing hurricane-resistant shingles.
   30         (d) Installing gable-end bracing.
   31         (e) Reinforcing roof-to-wall connections.
   32         (f) Installing storm shutters.
   33         (g) Installing impact-resistant glazing.
   34         (h) Installing hurricane-resistant doors.
   35         Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
   36  193.155, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   37         193.155 Homestead assessments.—Homestead property shall be
   38  assessed at just value as of January 1, 1994. Property receiving
   39  the homestead exemption after January 1, 1994, shall be assessed
   40  at just value as of January 1 of the year in which the property
   41  receives the exemption unless the provisions of subsection (8)
   42  apply.
   43         (4)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) and s. 193.624,
   44  changes, additions, or improvements to homestead property shall
   45  be assessed at just value as of the first January 1 after the
   46  changes, additions, or improvements are substantially completed.
   47         Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
   48  193.1554, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   49         193.1554 Assessment of nonhomestead residential property.—
   50         (6)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) and s. 193.624,
   51  changes, additions, or improvements to nonhomestead residential
   52  property shall be assessed at just value as of the first January
   53  1 after the changes, additions, or improvements are
   54  substantially completed.
   55         Section 4. Section 196.175, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
   56         Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.