HJR 353

1
House Joint Resolution
2A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 6 of
3Article VII and the creation of Section 26 of Article XII
4of the State Constitution to increase the maximum
5additional homestead exemption for low-income seniors from
6$25,000 to $50,000 and to schedule the amendment to take
7effect January 1, 2007, if adopted.
8
9Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11     That the following amendment to Section 6 of Article VII
12and the creation of Section 26 of Article XII of the State
13Constitution are agreed to and shall be submitted to the
14electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
15general election or at an earlier special election specifically
16authorized by law for that purpose:
17
ARTICLE VII
18
FINANCE AND TAXATION
19     SECTION 6.  Homestead exemptions.--
20     (a)  Every person who has the legal or equitable title to
21real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the
22owner, or another legally or naturally dependent upon the owner,
23shall be exempt from taxation thereon, except assessments for
24special benefits, up to the assessed valuation of five thousand
25dollars, upon establishment of right thereto in the manner
26prescribed by law. The real estate may be held by legal or
27equitable title, by the entireties, jointly, in common, as a
28condominium, or indirectly by stock ownership or membership
29representing the owner's or member's proprietary interest in a
30corporation owning a fee or a leasehold initially in excess of
31ninety-eight years.
32     (b)  Not more than one exemption shall be allowed any
33individual or family unit or with respect to any residential
34unit. No exemption shall exceed the value of the real estate
35assessable to the owner or, in case of ownership through stock
36or membership in a corporation, the value of the proportion
37which the interest in the corporation bears to the assessed
38value of the property.
39     (c)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
40therein, the exemption shall be increased to a total of twenty-
41five thousand dollars of the assessed value of the real estate
42for each school district levy. By general law and subject to
43conditions specified therein, the exemption for all other levies
44may be increased up to an amount not exceeding ten thousand
45dollars of the assessed value of the real estate if the owner
46has attained age sixty-five or is totally and permanently
47disabled and if the owner is not entitled to the exemption
48provided in subsection (d).
49     (d)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
50therein, the exemption shall be increased to a total of the
51following amounts of assessed value of real estate for each levy
52other than those of school districts: fifteen thousand dollars
53with respect to 1980 assessments; twenty thousand dollars with
54respect to 1981 assessments; twenty-five thousand dollars with
55respect to assessments for 1982 and each year thereafter.
56However, such increase shall not apply with respect to any
57assessment roll until such roll is first determined to be in
58compliance with the provisions of section 4 by a state agency
59designated by general law. This subsection shall stand repealed
60on the effective date of any amendment to section 4 which
61provides for the assessment of homestead property at a specified
62percentage of its just value.
63     (e)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
64therein, the Legislature may provide to renters, who are
65permanent residents, ad valorem tax relief on all ad valorem tax
66levies. Such ad valorem tax relief shall be in the form and
67amount established by general law.
68     (f)  The legislature may, by general law, allow counties or
69municipalities, for the purpose of their respective tax levies
70and subject to the provisions of general law, to grant an
71additional homestead tax exemption not exceeding fifty twenty-
72five thousand dollars to any person who has the legal or
73equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the
74permanent residence of the owner and who has attained age sixty-
75five and whose household income, as defined by general law, does
76not exceed twenty thousand dollars. The general law must allow
77counties and municipalities to grant this additional exemption,
78within the limits prescribed in this subsection, by ordinance
79adopted in the manner prescribed by general law, and must
80provide for the periodic adjustment of the income limitation
81prescribed in this subsection for changes in the cost of living.
82
ARTICLE XII
83
SCHEDULE
84     SECTION 26.  Increased homestead exemption.--The amendment
85to Section 6 of Article VII increasing the maximum additional
86amount of the homestead exemption for low-income seniors shall
87take effect January 1, 2007.
88     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
89placed on the ballot:
90
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
91
ARTICLE VII, SECTION 6
92
ARTICLE XII, SECTION 26
93     INCREASED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.--Proposing amendment of the
94State Constitution to increase the maximum additional homestead
95exemption for low-income seniors from $25,000 to $50,000 and to
96schedule the amendment to take effect January 1, 2007, if
97adopted.


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