HJR 1563

1
House Joint Resolution
2A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 4 of
3Article VII of the State Constitution to authorize
4counties and municipalities to prescribe a specified
5method for valuing certain properties for ad valorem tax
6purposes.
7
8Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9
10     That the following amendment to Section 4 of Article VII of
11the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to
12the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
13general election or at an earlier special election specifically
14authorized by law for that purpose:
15
ARTICLE VII
16
FINANCE AND TAXATION
17     SECTION 4.  Taxation; assessments.--By general law
18regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just
19valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided:
20     (a)  Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge
21to Florida's aquifers, or land used exclusively for
22noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general
23law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
24     (b)  Pursuant to general law tangible personal property
25held for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for
26taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be
27classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation.
28     (c)  All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under
29Section 6 of this Article shall have their homestead assessed at
30just value as of January 1 of the year following the effective
31date of this amendment. This assessment shall change only as
32provided herein.
33     (1)  Assessments subject to this provision shall be changed
34annually on January 1st of each year; but those changes in
35assessments shall not exceed the lower of the following:
36     a.  Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior
37year.
38     b.  The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all
39urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or
40successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially
41reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
42Labor Statistics.
43     (2)  No assessment shall exceed just value.
44     (3)  After any change of ownership, as provided by general
45law, homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of
46January 1 of the following year. Thereafter, the homestead shall
47be assessed as provided herein.
48     (4)  New homestead property shall be assessed at just value
49as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of the
50homestead. That assessment shall only change as provided herein.
51     (5)  Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to
52homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by general
53law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any change,
54addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be
55assessed as provided herein.
56     (6)  In the event of a termination of homestead status, the
57property shall be assessed as provided by general law.
58     (7)  The provisions of this amendment are severable. If any
59of the provisions of this amendment shall be held
60unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the
61decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining
62provisions of this amendment.
63     (d)  The legislature may, by general law, for assessment
64purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow
65counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that
66historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of
67character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply
68only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The
69requirements for eligible properties must be specified by
70general law.
71     (e)  A county may, in the manner prescribed by general law,
72provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead
73property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of
74that property which results from the construction or
75reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing
76living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents
77or parents of the owner of the property or of the owner's spouse
78if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the
79living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a
80reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following:
81     (1)  The increase in assessed value resulting from
82construction or reconstruction of the property.
83     (2)  Twenty percent of the total assessed value of the
84property as improved.
85     (f)  A county or municipality may, subject to the
86provisions of this subsection, authorize by ordinance
87multifamily rental property used for either affordable housing
88or workforce housing to be assessed solely on the basis of the
89actual income from such property. Such reduced assessment shall
90apply only to the tax levies of jurisdictions adopting such an
91ordinance. The requirements for eligible properties shall be
92specified by general law.
93     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
94placed on the ballot:
95
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
96
ARTICLE VII, SECTION 4
97     VALUATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WORKFORCE
98HOUSING.--Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to
99allow counties and municipalities, by ordinance and applicable
100to their own tax levies, to authorize multifamily rental
101property used for either affordable housing or workforce housing
102to be assessed solely on the basis of the actual income from
103such property.


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