Florida Senate - 2019 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SJR 344
Ì825478SÎ825478
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
03/07/2019 .
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The Committee on Community Affairs (Diaz) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment (with ballot and title amendments)
2
3 Delete everything after the resolving clause
4 and insert:
5 That the following amendment to Section 4 of Article VII
6 and the creation of a new section in Article XII of the State
7 Constitution are agreed to and shall be submitted to the
8 electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
9 general election or at an earlier special election specifically
10 authorized by law for that purpose:
11 ARTICLE VII
12 FINANCE AND TAXATION
13 SECTION 4. Taxation; assessments.—
14 By general law regulations shall be prescribed which shall
15 secure a just valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation,
16 provided:
17 (a) Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge
18 to Florida’s aquifers, or land used exclusively for
19 noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general
20 law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
21 (b) As provided by general law and subject to conditions,
22 limitations, and reasonable definitions specified therein, land
23 used for conservation purposes shall be classified by general
24 law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
25 (c) Pursuant to general law tangible personal property held
26 for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for
27 taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be
28 classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation.
29 (d) All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under
30 Section 6 of this Article shall have their homestead assessed at
31 just value as of January 1 of the year following the effective
32 date of this amendment. This assessment shall change only as
33 provided in this subsection.
34 (1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be changed
35 annually on January 1st of each year; but those changes in
36 assessments shall not exceed the lower of the following:
37 a. Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior year.
38 b. The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all
39 urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or
40 successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially
41 reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
42 Labor Statistics.
43 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value.
44 (3) After any change of ownership, as provided by general
45 law, homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of
46 January 1 of the following year, unless the provisions of
47 paragraph (8) apply. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed
48 as provided in this subsection.
49 (4) New homestead property shall be assessed at just value
50 as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of the
51 homestead, unless the provisions of paragraph (8) apply. That
52 assessment shall only change as provided in this subsection.
53 (5) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to
54 homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by general
55 law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any change,
56 addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be
57 assessed as provided in this subsection.
58 (6) In the event of a termination of homestead status, the
59 property shall be assessed as provided by general law.
60 (7) The provisions of this amendment are severable. If any
61 of the provisions of this amendment shall be held
62 unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the
63 decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining
64 provisions of this amendment.
65 (8)a. A person who establishes a new homestead as of
66 January 1, 2009, or January 1 of any subsequent year and who has
67 received a homestead exemption pursuant to Section 6 of this
68 Article as of January 1 of either of the two years immediately
69 preceding the establishment of the new homestead is entitled to
70 have the new homestead assessed at less than just value. If this
71 revision is approved in January of 2008, a person who
72 establishes a new homestead as of January 1, 2008, is entitled
73 to have the new homestead assessed at less than just value only
74 if that person received a homestead exemption on January 1,
75 2007. The assessed value of the newly established homestead
76 shall be determined as follows:
77 1. If the just value of the new homestead is greater than
78 or equal to the just value of the prior homestead as of January
79 1 of the year in which the prior homestead was abandoned, the
80 assessed value of the new homestead shall be the just value of
81 the new homestead minus an amount equal to the lesser of
82 $500,000 or the difference between the just value and the
83 assessed value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the
84 year in which the prior homestead was abandoned. Thereafter, the
85 homestead shall be assessed as provided in this subsection.
86 2. If the just value of the new homestead is less than the
87 just value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the year in
88 which the prior homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of
89 the new homestead shall be equal to the just value of the new
90 homestead divided by the just value of the prior homestead and
91 multiplied by the assessed value of the prior homestead.
92 However, if the difference between the just value of the new
93 homestead and the assessed value of the new homestead calculated
94 pursuant to this sub-subparagraph is greater than $500,000, the
95 assessed value of the new homestead shall be increased so that
96 the difference between the just value and the assessed value
97 equals $500,000. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed as
98 provided in this subsection.
99 b. By general law and subject to conditions specified
100 therein, the legislature shall provide for application of this
101 paragraph to property owned by more than one person.
102 (e) The legislature may, by general law, for assessment
103 purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow
104 counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that
105 historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of
106 character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply
107 only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The
108 requirements for eligible properties must be specified by
109 general law.
110 (f) A county may, in the manner prescribed by general law,
111 provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead
112 property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of
113 that property which results from the construction or
114 reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing
115 living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents
116 or parents of the owner of the property or of the owner’s spouse
117 if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the
118 living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a
119 reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following:
120 (1) The increase in assessed value resulting from
121 construction or reconstruction of the property.
122 (2) Twenty percent of the total assessed value of the
123 property as improved.
124 (g) For all levies other than school district levies,
125 assessments of residential real property, as defined by general
126 law, which contains nine units or fewer and which is not subject
127 to the assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a)
128 through (d) shall change only as provided in this subsection.
129 (1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be changed
130 annually on the date of assessment provided by law; but those
131 changes in assessments shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the
132 assessment for the prior year.
133 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value.
134 (3) After a change of ownership or control, as defined by
135 general law, including any change of ownership of a legal entity
136 that owns the property, such property shall be assessed at just
137 value as of the next assessment date. Thereafter, such property
138 shall be assessed as provided in this subsection.
139 (4) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to such
140 property shall be assessed as provided for by general law;
141 however, after the adjustment for any change, addition,
142 reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as
143 provided in this subsection.
144 (h) For all levies other than school district levies,
145 assessments of real property that is not subject to the
146 assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a) through (d)
147 and (g) shall change only as provided in this subsection.
148 (1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be changed
149 annually on the date of assessment provided by law; but those
150 changes in assessments shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the
151 assessment for the prior year.
152 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value.
153 (3) The legislature must provide that such property shall
154 be assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a
155 qualifying improvement, as defined by general law, is made to
156 such property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as
157 provided in this subsection.
158 (4) The legislature may provide that such property shall be
159 assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a
160 change of ownership or control, as defined by general law,
161 including any change of ownership of the legal entity that owns
162 the property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as
163 provided in this subsection.
164 (5) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to such
165 property shall be assessed as provided for by general law;
166 however, after the adjustment for any change, addition,
167 reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as
168 provided in this subsection.
169 (i) The legislature, by general law and subject to
170 conditions specified therein, may prohibit the consideration of
171 the following in the determination of the assessed value of real
172 property:
173 (1) Any change or improvement to real property used for
174 residential purposes made to improve the property’s resistance
175 to wind damage.
176 (2) The installation of a solar or renewable energy source
177 device.
178 (j)(1) The assessment of the following working waterfront
179 properties shall be based upon the current use of the property:
180 a. Land used predominantly for commercial fishing purposes.
181 b. Land that is accessible to the public and used for
182 vessel launches into waters that are navigable.
183 c. Marinas and drystacks that are open to the public.
184 d. Water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities,
185 commercial fishing facilities, and marine vessel construction
186 and repair facilities and their support activities.
187 (2) The assessment benefit provided by this subsection is
188 subject to conditions and limitations and reasonable definitions
189 as specified by the legislature by general law.
190 (k) By general law, and subject to conditions specified
191 therein, the legislature may, for school district levy purposes,
192 prohibit increases in the assessed value of property qualifying
193 for a homestead exemption under section 6 of this article, if
194 the legal or equitable title to the property is held by a person
195 who:
196 (1) Has attained age sixty-five; and
197 (2) Has held legal or equitable title to the property and
198 maintained permanent residence thereon for at least twenty-five
199 years.
200 ARTICLE XII
201 SCHEDULE
202 Assessment limitation for school district levy purposes for
203 certain persons who have attained age sixty-five.—This section
204 and the amendment to Section 4 of Article VII authorizing the
205 legislature, for school district levy purposes, to prohibit
206 increases in the assessed value of homestead property if the
207 legal or equitable title to the property is held by a person who
208 has attained age sixty-five and if he or she has held legal or
209 equitable title to the property and maintained permanent
210 residence thereon for at least twenty-five years, shall take
211 effect January 1, 2021.
212
213 ====== B A L L O T S T A T E M E N T A M E N D M E N T ======
214 And the ballot statement is amended as follows:
215 Delete everything after the resolving clause
216 and insert:
217 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
218 ARTICLE VII, SECTION 4
219 ARTICLE XII
220 HOMESTEAD ASSESSMENT LIMITATION FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVY
221 PURPOSES FOR CERTAIN PERSONS AGE 65 OR OLDER.—Authorizes the
222 Legislature, by general law, to prohibit increases in the
223 assessed value of homestead property, for school district levy
224 purposes, if the legal or equitable title to the property is
225 held by a person who is 65 years of age or older and if he or
226 she has held such title and maintained permanent residence on
227 the property for at least 25 years. This amendment takes effect
228 January 1, 2021.
229
230 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
231 And the title is amended as follows:
232 Delete everything before the resolving clause
233 and insert:
234 Senate Joint Resolution
235 A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 4
236 of Article VII and the creation of a new section in
237 Article XII of the State Constitution to authorize the
238 Legislature, by general law, to prohibit increases in
239 the assessed value of homestead property, for school
240 district levy purposes, if the legal or equitable
241 title to the property is held by a person who is 65
242 years of age or older and if he or she has held such
243 title and maintained permanent residence on the
244 property for at least 25 years, and to provide an
245 effective date.