(LATE FILED)	Amendment
Bill No. 7001D

Amendment No. 507635

CHAMBER ACTION
Senate		House
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1	Representative(s) Galvano, Ambler, and Llorente offered the
2	following:
3
4	Amendment (with ballot statement and title amendments)
5	Remove line(s) 24-484 and insert:
6	That the following amendments to Sections 3, 4, 6, and 9
7	and the creation of Section 19 of Article VII, the amendment to
8	Section 1 of Article VIII, and the creation of Sections 27 and
9	28 of Article XII of the State Constitution are agreed to and
10	shall be submitted to the electors of this state for approval or
11	rejection at the next general election or at an earlier special
12	election specifically authorized by law for that purpose:
13	ARTICLE VII
14	FINANCE AND TAXATION
15	SECTION 3.  Taxes; exemptions.--
16	(a)  All property owned by a municipality and used
17	exclusively by it for municipal or public purposes shall be
18	exempt from taxation.  A municipality, owning property outside
19	the municipality, may be required by general law to make payment
20	to the taxing unit in which the property is located.  Such
21	portions of property as are used predominantly for educational,
22	literary, scientific, religious or charitable purposes may be
23	exempted by general law from taxation.
24	(b)  There shall be exempt from taxation, cumulatively, to
25	every head of a family residing in this state, household goods
26	and personal effects to the value fixed by general law, not less
27	than one thousand dollars, and to every widow or widower or
28	person who is blind or totally and permanently disabled,
29	property to the value fixed by general law not less than five
30	hundred dollars.
31	(c)  Any county or municipality may, for the purpose of its
32	respective tax levy and subject to the provisions of this
33	subsection and general law, grant community and economic
34	development ad valorem tax exemptions to new businesses and
35	expansions of existing businesses, as defined by general law.
36	Such an exemption may be granted only by ordinance of the county
37	or municipality, and only after the electors of the county or
38	municipality voting on such question in a referendum authorize
39	the county or municipality to adopt such ordinances.  An
40	exemption so granted shall apply to improvements to real
41	property made by or for the use of a new business and
42	improvements to real property related to the expansion of an
43	existing business and shall also apply to tangible personal
44	property of such new business and tangible personal property
45	related to the expansion of an existing business. The amount or
46	limits of the amount of such exemption shall be specified by
47	general law.  The period of time for which such exemption may be
48	granted to a new business or expansion of an existing business
49	shall be determined by general law.  The authority to grant such
50	exemption shall expire ten years from the date of approval by
51	the electors of the county or municipality, and may be renewable
52	by referendum as provided by general law.
53	(d)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
54	therein, there may be granted an ad valorem tax exemption to a
55	renewable energy source device and to real property on which
56	such device is installed and operated, to the value fixed by
57	general law not to exceed the original cost of the device, and
58	for the period of time fixed by general law not to exceed ten
59	years.
60	(e)  Any county or municipality may, for the purpose of its
61	respective tax levy and subject to the provisions of this
62	subsection and general law, grant historic preservation ad
63	valorem tax exemptions to owners of historic properties.  This
64	exemption may be granted only by ordinance of the county or
65	municipality.  The amount or limits of the amount of this
66	exemption and the requirements for eligible properties must be
67	specified by general law.  The period of time for which this
68	exemption may be granted to a property owner shall be determined
69	by general law.
70	(f)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
71	therein, twenty-five thousand dollars of the assessed value of
72	property subject to tangible personal property tax shall be
73	exempt from ad valorem taxation.
74	SECTION 4.  Taxation; assessments.--By general law
75	regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just
76	valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided:
77	(a)  Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge
78	to Florida's aquifers, or land used exclusively for
79	noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general
80	law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
81	(b)  Pursuant to general law tangible personal property
82	held for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for
83	taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be
84	classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation.
85	(c)  All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under
86	Section 6 of this Article shall have their homestead assessed at
87	just value as of January 1 of the year following the effective
88	date of this amendment. This assessment shall change only as
89	provided herein.
90	(1)  Assessments subject to this provision shall be changed
91	annually on January 1st of each year; but those changes in
92	assessments shall not exceed the lower of the following:
93	a.  Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior
94	year.
95	b.  The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all
96	urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or
97	successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially
98	reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
99	Labor Statistics.
100	(2)  No assessment shall exceed just value.
101	(3)  After any change of ownership, as provided by general
102	law, homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of
103	January 1 of the following year, unless the provisions of
104	paragraph (8) apply. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed
105	as provided herein.
106	(4)  New homestead property shall be assessed at just value
107	as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of the
108	homestead, unless the provisions of paragraph (8) apply. That
109	assessment shall only change as provided herein.
110	(5)  Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to
111	homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by general
112	law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any change,
113	addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be
114	assessed as provided herein.
115	(6)  In the event of a termination of homestead status, the
116	property shall be assessed as provided by general law.
117	(7)  The provisions of this amendment are severable. If any
118	of the provisions of this amendment shall be held
119	unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the
120	decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining
121	provisions of this amendment.
122	(8)a.  For all levies other than school district levies, a
123	person who establishes a new homestead as of January 1, 2009, or
124	January 1 of any subsequent year and who has received a
125	homestead exemption pursuant to Section 6 of this Article as of
126	January 1 of either of the two years immediately preceding the
127	establishment of the new homestead is entitled to have the new
128	homestead assessed at less than just value. A person who
129	establishes a new homestead as of January 1, 2008, is entitled
130	to have the new homestead assessed at less than just value only
131	if that person received a homestead exemption on January 1,
132	2007. The assessed value of the newly established homestead
133	shall be determined as follows:
134	1.  If the just value of the new homestead is greater than
135	or equal to the just value of the prior homestead of the person
136	establishing the new homestead as of January 1 of the year in
137	which the prior homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of
138	the new homestead shall be the just value of the new homestead
139	minus an amount equal to the lesser of $1 million or the
140	difference between the just value and the assessed value of the
141	prior homestead as of January 1 of the year in which the prior
142	homestead was abandoned. Thereafter, the homestead shall be
143	assessed as provided herein.
144	2.  If the just value of the new homestead is less than the
145	just value of the prior homestead of the person establishing the
146	new homestead as of January 1 of the year in which the prior
147	homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of the new homestead
148	shall be equal to the just value of the new homestead divided by
149	the just value of the prior homestead and multiplied by the
150	assessed value of the prior homestead. However, if the
151	difference between the just value of the new homestead and the
152	assessed value of the new homestead calculated pursuant to this
153	sub-subparagraph is greater than $1 million, the assessed value
154	of the new homestead shall be increased so that the difference
155	between the just value and the assessed value equals $1 million.
156	Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed as provided herein.
157	b.  By general law and subject to conditions specified
158	therein, the legislature shall provide for application of this
159	paragraph to property owned by more than one person.
160	(d)  The legislature may, by general law, for assessment
161	purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow
162	counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that
163	historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of
164	character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply
165	only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The
166	requirements for eligible properties must be specified by
167	general law.
168	(e)  A county may, in the manner prescribed by general law,
169	provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead
170	property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of
171	that property which results from the construction or
172	reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing
173	living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents
174	or parents of the owner of the property or of the owner's spouse
175	if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the
176	living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a
177	reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following:
178	(1)  The increase in assessed value resulting from
179	construction or reconstruction of the property.
180	(2)  Twenty percent of the total assessed value of the
181	property as improved.
182	(f)  As defined by general law, real property that is used
183	to provide affordable housing and is subject to rent
184	restrictions imposed by a governmental agency may be assessed as
185	provided by general law, subject to conditions or limitations
186	specified therein. This subsection shall apply to all levies
187	other than school district levies.
188	(g)  As defined by general law, land that is used
189	exclusively for commercial fishing purposes or that is open to
190	the public and used predominantly for commercial water-dependent
191	activities or for public access to waters that are navigable may
192	be assessed as provided by general law, subject to conditions or
193	limitations specified therein. For purposes of this paragraph,
194	the term "water-dependent activity" means any activity that can
195	be conducted only on, in, over, or adjacent to waters that are
196	navigable and that requires direct access to water and involves
197	the use of water as an integral part of such activity. This
198	subsection shall apply to all levies other than school district
199	levies.
200	(h)  Increases in assessments each year for all property
201	other than property entitled to the assessment increase
202	limitations provided in this section shall not exceed the
203	limitations specified in paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of this
204	section.
205	SECTION 6.  Homestead exemptions.--
206	(a)  Every person who has the legal or equitable title to
207	real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the
208	owner, or another legally or naturally dependent upon the owner,
209	shall be exempt from taxation thereon, except assessments for
210	special benefits, up to the assessed valuation of twenty-five
211	five thousand dollars and, for all levies other than school
212	district levies, on the assessed valuation greater than fifty
213	thousand dollars and up to seventy-five thousand dollars, upon
214	establishment of right thereto in the manner prescribed by law.
215	The real estate may be held by legal or equitable title, by the
216	entireties, jointly, in common, as a condominium, or indirectly
217	by stock ownership or membership representing the owner's or
218	member's proprietary interest in a corporation owning a fee or a
219	leasehold initially in excess of ninety-eight years. The
220	exemption shall not apply with respect to any assessment roll
221	until such roll is first determined to be in compliance with the
222	provisions of Section 4 of this Article by a state agency
223	designated by general law. This exemption is repealed on the
224	effective date of any amendment to Section 4 of this Article
225	that provides for the assessment of homestead property at less
226	than just value.
227	(b)  Not more than one exemption shall be allowed any
228	individual or family unit or with respect to any residential
229	unit. No exemption shall exceed the value of the real estate
230	assessable to the owner or, in case of ownership through stock
231	or membership in a corporation, the value of the proportion
232	which the interest in the corporation bears to the assessed
233	value of the property.
234	(c)  As provided by general law and subject to conditions
235	specified therein, each person who establishes the right to
236	receive the homestead exemption provided in subsection (a)
237	within one year after purchasing the homestead property and who
238	had not previously owned property receiving the homestead
239	exemption provided in subsection (a) is entitled to an
240	additional homestead exemption in an amount equal to twenty-five
241	percent of the homestead property's just value on January 1 of
242	the year the homestead exemption is established, not to exceed
243	twenty-five percent of the median just value of homesteads in
244	the county in which the homestead is located in the year prior
245	to establishing the new homestead. This exemption is not
246	available if any owner of the property has previously owned
247	property that received the homestead exemption provided in
248	subsection (a). The additional homestead exemption shall be
249	reduced each year by the difference between the homestead's just
250	value and assessed value as determined under subsection (c) of
251	Section 4 of this Article until the value of the exemption is
252	reduced to zero. The exemption provided under this subsection
253	shall apply to all levies other than school district levies.
254	(c)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
255	therein, the exemption shall be increased to a total of twenty-
256	five thousand dollars of the assessed value of the real estate
257	for each school district levy. By general law and subject to
258	conditions specified therein, the exemption for all other levies
259	may be increased up to an amount not exceeding ten thousand
260	dollars of the assessed value of the real estate if the owner
261	has attained age sixty-five or is totally and permanently
262	disabled and if the owner is not entitled to the exemption
263	provided in subsection (d).
264	(d)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
265	therein, the exemption shall be increased to a total of the
266	following amounts of assessed value of real estate for each levy
267	other than those of school districts: fifteen thousand dollars
268	with respect to 1980 assessments; twenty thousand dollars with
269	respect to 1981 assessments; twenty-five thousand dollars with
270	respect to assessments for 1982 and each year thereafter.
271	However, such increase shall not apply with respect to any
272	assessment roll until such roll is first determined to be in
273	compliance with the provisions of section 4 by a state agency
274	designated by general law.  This subsection shall stand repealed
275	on the effective date of any amendment to section 4 which
276	provides for the assessment of homestead property at a specified
277	percentage of its just value.
278	(d)(e)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
279	therein, the Legislature may provide to renters, who are
280	permanent residents, ad valorem tax relief on all ad valorem tax
281	levies. Such ad valorem tax relief shall be in the form and
282	amount established by general law.
283	(e)(f)  The legislature may, by general law, allow counties
284	or municipalities, for the purpose of their respective tax
285	levies and subject to the provisions of general law, to grant an
286	additional homestead tax exemption not exceeding fifty thousand
287	dollars to any person who has the legal or equitable title to
288	real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the
289	owner and who has attained age sixty-five and whose household
290	income, as defined by general law, does not exceed twenty
291	thousand dollars. The general law must allow counties and
292	municipalities to grant this additional exemption, within the
293	limits prescribed in this subsection, by ordinance adopted in
294	the manner prescribed by general law, and must provide for the
295	periodic adjustment of the income limitation prescribed in this
296	subsection for changes in the cost of living.
297	(f)(g)  Each veteran who is age 65 or older who is
298	partially or totally permanently disabled shall receive a
299	discount from the amount of the ad valorem tax otherwise owed on
300	homestead property the veteran owns and resides in if the
301	disability was combat related, the veteran was a resident of
302	this state at the time of entering the military service of the
303	United States, and the veteran was honorably discharged upon
304	separation from military service. The discount shall be in a
305	percentage equal to the percentage of the veteran's permanent,
306	service-connected disability as determined by the United States
307	Department of Veterans Affairs. To qualify for the discount
308	granted by this subsection, an applicant must submit to the
309	county property appraiser, by March 1, proof of residency at the
310	time of entering military service, an official letter from the
311	United States Department of Veterans Affairs stating the
312	percentage of the veteran's service-connected disability and
313	such evidence that reasonably identifies the disability as
314	combat related, and a copy of the veteran's honorable discharge.
315	If the property appraiser denies the request for a discount, the
316	appraiser must notify the applicant in writing of the reasons
317	for the denial, and the veteran may reapply. The Legislature
318	may, by general law, waive the annual application requirement in
319	subsequent years. This subsection shall take effect December 7,
320	2006, is self-executing, and does not require implementing
321	legislation.
322	(g)  Real property owned and used as a homestead by a
323	person who has attained age sixty-five and whose household
324	income, as defined by general law, does not exceed $23,604 is
325	exempt from ad valorem taxation. The legislature shall provide
326	for an annual adjustment of the income limitation prescribed in
327	this subsection for changes in the cost of living and may
328	provide additional financial eligibility requirements or other
329	eligibility requirements.
330	SECTION 9.  Local taxes.--
331	(a)  Counties, school districts, and municipalities shall,
332	and special districts may, be authorized by law to levy ad
333	valorem taxes and may be authorized by general law to levy other
334	taxes, for their respective purposes, except ad valorem taxes on
335	intangible personal property and taxes prohibited by this
336	constitution.
337	(b)  Ad valorem taxes, exclusive of taxes levied for the
338	payment of bonds and taxes levied for periods not longer than
339	two years when authorized by vote of the electors who are the
340	owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation,
341	shall not be levied in excess of the following millages upon the
342	assessed value of real estate and tangible personal property:
343	for all county purposes, ten mills; for all municipal purposes,
344	ten mills; for all school purposes, ten mills; for water
345	management purposes for the northwest portion of the state lying
346	west of the line between ranges two and three east, 0.05 mill;
347	for water management purposes for the remaining portions of the
348	state, 1.0 mill; and for all other special districts a millage
349	authorized by law approved by vote of the electors who are
350	owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation. A
351	county furnishing municipal services may, to the extent
352	authorized by law, levy additional taxes within the limits fixed
353	for municipal purposes.
354	(c)  By general law, the legislature shall limit the
355	authority of counties, municipalities, and special districts to
356	increase ad valorem taxes.
357	SECTION 19.  State sales and use tax increase;
358	application.--By general law, the legislature shall increase the
359	state tax on sales, use, and other transactions imposed under
360	chapter 212, Florida Statutes, by one percent (1%), provided
361	that all revenues generated by the additional one percent (1%)
362	shall be appropriated by the legislature and credited on an
363	annual basis against the amount required by the state to be
364	levied by each school district on all real property for ad
365	valorem taxes necessary to comply with required local effort
366	provisions of general law.
367
368	ARTICLE VIII
369	LOCAL GOVERNMENT
370	SECTION 1.  Counties.--
371	(a)  POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.  The state shall be divided by
372	law into political subdivisions called counties. Counties may be
373	created, abolished or changed by law, with provision for payment
374	or apportionment of the public debt.
375	(b)  COUNTY FUNDS.  The care, custody and method of
376	disbursing county funds shall be provided by general law.
377	(c)  GOVERNMENT.  Pursuant to general or special law, a
378	county government may be established by charter which shall be
379	adopted, amended or repealed only upon vote of the electors of
380	the county in a special election called for that purpose.
381	(d)  COUNTY OFFICERS.  There shall be elected by the
382	electors of each county, for terms of four years, a sheriff, a
383	tax collector, a property appraiser, a supervisor of elections,
384	and a clerk of the circuit court; except, when provided by
385	county charter or special law approved by vote of the electors
386	of the county, any county officer other than a property
387	appraiser may be chosen in another manner therein specified, or
388	any county office other than the office of property appraiser
389	may be abolished when all the duties of the office prescribed by
390	general law are transferred to another office. When not
391	otherwise provided by county charter or special law approved by
392	vote of the electors, the clerk of the circuit court shall be ex
393	officio clerk of the board of county commissioners, auditor,
394	recorder and custodian of all county funds.
395	(e)  COMMISSIONERS.  Except when otherwise provided by
396	county charter, the governing body of each county shall be a
397	board of county commissioners composed of five or seven members
398	serving staggered terms of four years. After each decennial
399	census the board of county commissioners shall divide the county
400	into districts of contiguous territory as nearly equal in
401	population as practicable. One commissioner residing in each
402	district shall be elected as provided by law.
403	(f)  NON-CHARTER GOVERNMENT.  Counties not operating under
404	county charters shall have such power of self-government as is
405	provided by general or special law. The board of county
406	commissioners of a county not operating under a charter may
407	enact, in a manner prescribed by general law, county ordinances
408	not inconsistent with general or special law, but an ordinance
409	in conflict with a municipal ordinance shall not be effective
410	within the municipality to the extent of such conflict.
411	(g)  CHARTER GOVERNMENT.  Counties operating under county
412	charters shall have all powers of local self-government not
413	inconsistent with general law, or with special law approved by
414	vote of the electors. The governing body of a county operating
415	under a charter may enact county ordinances not inconsistent
416	with general law. The charter shall provide which shall prevail
417	in the event of conflict between county and municipal
418	ordinances.
419	(h)  TAXES; LIMITATION.  Property situate within
420	municipalities shall not be subject to taxation for services
421	rendered by the county exclusively for the benefit of the
422	property or residents in unincorporated areas.
423	(i)  COUNTY ORDINANCES.  Each county ordinance shall be
424	filed with the custodian of state records and shall become
425	effective at such time thereafter as is provided by general law.
426	(j)  VIOLATION OF ORDINANCES.  Persons violating county
427	ordinances shall be prosecuted and punished as provided by law.
428	(k)  COUNTY SEAT.  In every county there shall be a county
429	seat at which shall be located the principal offices and
430	permanent records of all county officers. The county seat may
431	not be moved except as provided by general law. Branch offices
432	for the conduct of county business may be established elsewhere
433	in the county by resolution of the governing body of the county
434	in the manner prescribed by law. No instrument shall be deemed
435	recorded until filed at the county seat, or a branch office
436	designated by the governing body of the county for the recording
437	of instruments, according to law.
438	ARTICLE XII
439	SCHEDULE
440	SECTION 27.  Elected property appraisers; application.--The
441	requirement in Section 1(d) of Article VIII for a property
442	appraiser to be elected by the electors of the county shall
443	apply in each county, including each charter county, regardless
444	of whether the charter was adopted pursuant to Section 1(g) of
445	Article VIII or pursuant to Section 9, Section 10, Section 11,
446	or Section 24 of Article VIII of the Constitution of 1885, as
447	amended and incorporated by reference in Section 6(e) of Article
448	VIII. Any county that does not have an elected property
449	appraiser on the effective date of the amendment to Section 1 of
450	Article VIII of this constitution shall provide for electing a
451	property appraiser at the next general election as provided by
452	general law.
453	SECTION 28.  Property tax exemptions and ad valorem tax
454	limitations.--The amendments to Sections 3, 4, 6, and 9 and
455	creation of Section 19 of Article VII, providing a $25,000
456	exemption from ad valorem taxation for tangible personal
457	property, providing an additional $25,000 homestead exemption,
458	authorizing the transfer of the accrued benefit from the
459	limitation on the assessment of homestead property, providing an
460	additional homestead exemption for first-time homestead property
461	owners, providing a complete homestead exemption for low-income
462	seniors, providing for assessing rent-restricted affordable
463	housing and commercial and public-access waterfront property
464	pursuant to general law, limiting annual increases in
465	assessments of nonhomestead real property, requiring the
466	legislature to limit the authority of counties, municipalities,
467	and special districts to increase ad valorem taxes, and
468	requiring the legislature to increase the state sales and use
469	tax by one percent and appropriate revenues from the increase to
470	reduce any required local effort; the amendment to Section 1 of
471	Article VIII, requiring property appraisers to be elected; and
472	the creation of Section 27 of this Article, providing for
473	election of county property appraisers, and this section, if
474	submitted to the electors of this state for approval or
475	rejection at a special election authorized by law to be held on
476	January 29, 2008, shall take effect upon approval by the
477	electors and shall operate retroactively to January 1, 2008, or,
478	if submitted to the electors of this state for approval or
479	rejection at the next general election, shall take effect
480	January 1 of the year following such general election.
481
482	== B A L L O T  S T A T E M E N T  A M E N D M E N T ==
483	Remove line(s) 488-562 and insert:
484	ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 3, 4, 6, 9, AND 19
485	ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 1
486	ARTICLE XII, SECTIONS 27 AND 28
487	PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS; LIMITATIONS ON AD VALOREM TAX
488	INCREASES; SALES TAX INCREASE; ELECTED PROPERTY
489	APPRAISERS.--This revision proposes changes to the State
490	Constitution relating to ad valorem taxation, a sales tax
491	increase, and elected property appraisers. With respect to
492	homestead property, this revision 1) adds an additional
493	homestead exemption for most homestead owners, 2) exempts
494	certain low-income seniors from ad valorem tax on their
495	homesteads, 3) provides an additional homestead exemption that
496	diminishes over time for first-time Florida homebuyers, and 4)
497	provides for the transfer of accumulated Save Our Homes
498	benefits. With respect to non-homestead property, this revision
499	allows the Legislature to limit ad valorem assessments on 5)
500	affordable housing and 6) on working waterfronts under specific
501	circumstances, 7) provides a $25,000 exemption for tangible
502	personal property, and 8) limits annual increases in assessments
503	of nonhomestead real property. Further, this revision 9)
504	requires the Legislature to limit the authority of local
505	governments other than school districts to increase property
506	taxes, 10) requires the Legislature to increase the state sales
507	and use tax and appropriate revenues from the increase to reduce
508	required local effort, and 11) requires all county property
509	appraisers to be elected.
510	In more detail, this revision:
511	1.  Increases the homestead exemption by providing an
512	additional $25,000 homestead exemption for the portion of the
513	assessed value above $50,000 up to $75,000.  This exemption does
514	not apply to school taxes.
515	2.  Exempts certain low-income seniors from ad valorem tax
516	on their homes. Persons 65 or older whose household income is
517	less than $23,604, adjusted annually for inflation, will be
518	totally exempt from ad valorem taxes, including school taxes, on
519	their homestead property.
520	3.  Provides an increased exemption for first-time Florida
521	homebuyers beginning in 2008. First-time homebuyers in Florida
522	who qualify for homestead exemption will be eligible for an
523	additional exemption equal to 25 percent of the assessed value
524	of their new home, not to exceed 25 percent of the county median
525	homestead just value for the prior year. The amount of the
526	exemption will decrease each year by the amount of the home's
527	Save Our Homes benefit. When the amount of the home's Save Our
528	Homes benefit meets or exceeds this exemption, the exemption is
529	lost. This exemption also is available to 2007 first-time
530	homebuyers who qualify for homestead exemption January 1, 2008.
531	This exemption does not apply to school taxes.
532	4.  Provides for the transfer of accumulated Save Our Homes
533	benefits. Homestead property owners will be able to transfer
534	their Save Our Homes benefit to a new homestead within two years
535	of relinquishing their previous homestead exemption; except, if
536	the new homestead is established on January 1, 2008, the
537	previous homestead must have been relinquished in 2007. If the
538	new homestead has a higher just value than the old one, the
539	entire benefit can be transferred; if the new homestead has a
540	lower just value, the amount of benefit transferred will be
541	reduced in proportion of the just value of the new homestead to
542	the just value of the old homestead. The transferred benefit may
543	not exceed $1 million. This provision does not apply to school
544	taxes.
545	5.  Provides for assessing certain rent-restricted
546	affordable housing property as provided by general law. This
547	provision will not apply to school taxes.
548	6.  Provides for assessing certain waterfront property used
549	for commercial fishing, commercial water-dependent activities,
550	and public access as provided by general law. This provision
551	will not apply to school taxes.
552	7.  Limits increases in assessments each year for all
553	property other than homestead property to the lower of 3 percent
554	or the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index.
555	8.  Authorizes an exemption from ad valorem taxes of
556	$25,000 of assessed value of tangible personal property. This
557	provision applies to all tax levies.
558	9.  Requires the Legislature to limit the authority of
559	counties, municipalities, and special districts to increase ad
560	valorem taxes.
561	10.  Requires the Legislature to increase the state sales
562	and use tax by one percent and appropriate revenues generated
563	from the increase to reduce any required local effort imposed
564	upon school districts.
565	11.  Requires each county to have an elected property
566	appraiser as a county officer and eliminates the option for
567	choosing a property appraiser in any other manner as provided by
568	county charter or special law approved by vote of the electors
569	of the county and the option of abolishing the office of the
570	property appraiser when all the duties of the office prescribed
571	by general law are transferred to another office. Provides that
572	the requirement for a property appraiser elected by the electors
573	of the county shall apply in each county without exception,
574	including each charter county, regardless of the authority under
575	which the charter was adopted. It further provides for
576	application of the elected property appraiser requirement to
577	counties, and charter counties notwithstanding constitutional
578	grants of authority to charter counties, and requires such
579	counties to provide for electing a property appraiser as
580	provided by general law.
581
582
583	======= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T =======
584	Remove lines 3-17, and insert:
585	6, and 9 and the creation of Section 19 of Article VII, an
586	amendment to Section 1 of Article VIII, and the creation of
587	Sections 27 and 28 of Article XII of the State Constitution, to
588	require an exemption from ad valorem taxation for tangible
589	personal property, to provide for the transfer of the accrued
590	benefit from the limitation on the assessed value of homestead
591	property, to provide for assessing rent-restricted affordable
592	housing and commercial and public-access waterfront property by
593	general law, to limit assessment increases for nonhomestead real
594	property, to increase the homestead exemption, to create an
595	additional homestead exemption for first-time homestead property
596	owners, to provide a complete homestead exemption for low-income
597	seniors, to require the Legislature to limit county,
598	municipality, and special district authority to increase ad
599	valorem taxes, to require the Legislature to increase the sales
600	tax and appropriate increased revenues to reduce required local
601	effort,

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