HJR 273

1
House Joint Resolution
2A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 4 of
3Article VII of the State Constitution to prohibit annual
4increases in the assessed value of homestead and
5nonhomestead property if the just value of the property
6decreases, limit annual assessment increases applicable to
7nonhomestead property to the lower of a specified
8percentage or the percentage change in the Consumer Price
9Index, and apply to school district levies the annual
10assessment increase limitations applicable to nonhomestead
11property.
12
13Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15     That the following amendment to Section 4 of Article VII of
16the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to
17the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
18general election or at an earlier special election specifically
19authorized by law for that purpose:
20
ARTICLE VII
21
FINANCE AND TAXATION
22     SECTION 4.  Taxation; assessments.-By general law
23regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just
24valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided:
25     (a)  Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge
26to Florida's aquifers, or land used exclusively for
27noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general
28law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
29     (b)  As provided by general law and subject to conditions,
30limitations, and reasonable definitions specified therein, land
31used for conservation purposes shall be classified by general
32law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
33     (c)  Pursuant to general law tangible personal property
34held for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for
35taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be
36classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation.
37     (d)  All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under
38Section 6 of this Article shall have their homestead assessed at
39just value as of January 1 of the year following the effective
40date of this amendment. This assessment shall change only as
41provided in this subsection.
42     (1)  Assessments subject to this subsection shall be
43changed annually on January 1st of each year.; but those changes
44in assessments
45     a.  An increase in an assessment shall not exceed the lower
46of the following:
47     1.a.  Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior
48year.
49     2.b.  The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for
50all urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or
51successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially
52reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
53Labor Statistics.
54     b.  An assessment shall not increase if the just value of
55the property is less than the just value of the property on the
56preceding January 1.
57     (2)  No assessment shall exceed just value.
58     (3)  After any change of ownership, as provided by general
59law, homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of
60January 1 of the following year, unless the provisions of
61paragraph (8) apply. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed
62as provided in this subsection.
63     (4)  New homestead property shall be assessed at just value
64as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of the
65homestead, unless the provisions of paragraph (8) apply. That
66assessment shall only change as provided in this subsection.
67     (5)  Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to
68homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by general
69law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any change,
70addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be
71assessed as provided in this subsection.
72     (6)  In the event of a termination of homestead status, the
73property shall be assessed as provided by general law.
74     (7)  The provisions of this amendment are severable. If any
75of the provisions of this amendment shall be held
76unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the
77decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining
78provisions of this amendment.
79     (8)a.  A person who establishes a new homestead as of
80January 1, 2009, or January 1 of any subsequent year and who has
81received a homestead exemption pursuant to Section 6 of this
82Article as of January 1 of either of the two years immediately
83preceding the establishment of the new homestead is entitled to
84have the new homestead assessed at less than just value. If this
85revision is approved in January of 2008, a person who
86establishes a new homestead as of January 1, 2008, is entitled
87to have the new homestead assessed at less than just value only
88if that person received a homestead exemption on January 1,
892007. The assessed value of the newly established homestead
90shall be determined as follows:
91     1.  If the just value of the new homestead is greater than
92or equal to the just value of the prior homestead as of January
931 of the year in which the prior homestead was abandoned, the
94assessed value of the new homestead shall be the just value of
95the new homestead minus an amount equal to the lesser of
96$500,000 or the difference between the just value and the
97assessed value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the
98year in which the prior homestead was abandoned. Thereafter, the
99homestead shall be assessed as provided in this subsection.
100     2.  If the just value of the new homestead is less than the
101just value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the year in
102which the prior homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of
103the new homestead shall be equal to the just value of the new
104homestead divided by the just value of the prior homestead and
105multiplied by the assessed value of the prior homestead.
106However, if the difference between the just value of the new
107homestead and the assessed value of the new homestead calculated
108pursuant to this sub-subparagraph is greater than $500,000, the
109assessed value of the new homestead shall be increased so that
110the difference between the just value and the assessed value
111equals $500,000. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed as
112provided in this subsection.
113     b.  By general law and subject to conditions specified
114therein, the Legislature shall provide for application of this
115paragraph to property owned by more than one person.
116     (e)  The legislature may, by general law, for assessment
117purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow
118counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that
119historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of
120character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply
121only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The
122requirements for eligible properties must be specified by
123general law.
124     (f)  A county may, in the manner prescribed by general law,
125provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead
126property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of
127that property which results from the construction or
128reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing
129living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents
130or parents of the owner of the property or of the owner's spouse
131if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the
132living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a
133reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following:
134     (1)  The increase in assessed value resulting from
135construction or reconstruction of the property.
136     (2)  Twenty percent of the total assessed value of the
137property as improved.
138     (g)  For all levies other than school district levies,
139Assessments of residential real property, as defined by general
140law, which contains nine units or fewer and which is not subject
141to the assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a)
142through (d) shall change only as provided in this subsection.
143     (1)  Assessments subject to this subsection shall be
144changed annually on the date of assessment provided by law.; but
145those changes in assessments
146     a.  An increase in an assessment shall not exceed the lower
147of the following:
148     1.  Three percent (3%) ten percent (10%) of the assessment
149for the prior year.
150     2.  The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all
151urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or
152successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially
153reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
154Labor Statistics.
155     b.  An assessment shall not increase if the just value of
156the property is less than the just value of the property on the
157preceding date of assessment provided by law.
158     (2)  No assessment shall exceed just value.
159     (3)  After a change of ownership or control, as defined by
160general law, including any change of ownership of a legal entity
161that owns the property, such property shall be assessed at just
162value as of the next assessment date. Thereafter, such property
163shall be assessed as provided in this subsection.
164     (4)  Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to
165such property shall be assessed as provided for by general law;
166however, after the adjustment for any change, addition,
167reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as
168provided in this subsection.
169     (h)  For all levies other than school district levies,
170Assessments of real property that is not subject to the
171assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a) through (d)
172and (g) shall change only as provided in this subsection.
173     (1)  Assessments subject to this subsection shall be
174changed annually on the date of assessment provided by law.; but
175those changes in assessments
176     a.  An increase in an assessment shall not exceed the lower
177of the following:
178     1.  Three percent (3%) ten percent (10%) of the assessment
179for the prior year.
180     2.  The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all
181urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or
182successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially
183reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
184Labor Statistics.
185     b.  An assessment shall not increase if the just value of
186the property is less than the just value of the property on the
187preceding date of assessment provided by law.
188     (2)  No assessment shall exceed just value.
189     (3)  The legislature must provide that such property shall
190be assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a
191qualifying improvement, as defined by general law, is made to
192such property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as
193provided in this subsection.
194     (4)  The legislature may provide that such property shall
195be assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a
196change of ownership or control, as defined by general law,
197including any change of ownership of the legal entity that owns
198the property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as
199provided in this subsection.
200     (5)  Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to
201such property shall be assessed as provided for by general law;
202however, after the adjustment for any change, addition,
203reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as
204provided in this subsection.
205     (i)  The legislature, by general law and subject to
206conditions specified therein, may prohibit the consideration of
207the following in the determination of the assessed value of real
208property used for residential purposes:
209     (1)  Any change or improvement made for the purpose of
210improving the property's resistance to wind damage.
211     (2)  The installation of a renewable energy source device.
212     (j)(1)  The assessment of the following working waterfront
213properties shall be based upon the current use of the property:
214     a.  Land used predominantly for commercial fishing
215purposes.
216     b.  Land that is accessible to the public and used for
217vessel launches into waters that are navigable.
218     c.  Marinas and drystacks that are open to the public.
219     d.  Water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities,
220commercial fishing facilities, and marine vessel construction
221and repair facilities and their support activities.
222     (2)  The assessment benefit provided by this subsection is
223subject to conditions and limitations and reasonable definitions
224as specified by the legislature by general law.
225     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
226placed on the ballot:
227
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
228
ARTICLE VII, SECTION 4
229     LIMITATIONS ON ANNUAL ASSESSMENT INCREASES TO HOMESTEAD AND
230NONHOMESTEAD PROPERTY.-
231     (1)  In certain circumstances, the law requires the
232assessed value of homestead and nonhomestead property to
233annually increase when the just value of the property decreases.
234To prevent that from happening, this amendment provides that the
235assessed value of homestead and nonhomestead property will not
236annually increase if the just value of that property decreases.
237     (2)  The amendment also reduces the limitation on annual
238increases in assessments of nonhomestead real property from a
239current limitation of 10 percent to a limitation of the lower of
2403 percent or the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index.
241     (3)  In addition, the amendment applies to school district
242levies the annual assessment increase limitations applicable to
243nonhomestead property.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.