Florida Senate - 2026 SJR 274
By Senator Bernard
24-00443B-26 2026274__
1 Senate Joint Resolution
2 A joint resolution proposing amendments to Sections 4
3 and 6 of Article VII and the creation of a new section
4 in Article XII of the State Constitution to provide
5 that the assessed value of homestead property may not
6 increase after 20 years of ownership and residency, to
7 provide an additional homestead tax exemption equal to
8 50 percent of the assessed value of property, other
9 than school district levies, for persons who have
10 owned and resided on the property as their permanent
11 residence for 30 years or more, and to provide an
12 effective date.
13
14 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 That the following amendments to Sections 4 and 6 of
17 Article VII and the creation of a new section of Article XII of
18 the State Constitution are agreed to and shall be submitted to
19 the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
20 general election or at an earlier special election specifically
21 authorized by law for that purpose:
22 ARTICLE VII
23 FINANCE AND TAXATION
24 SECTION 4. Taxation; assessments.—By general law
25 regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just
26 valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided:
27 (a) Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge
28 to Florida’s aquifers, or land used exclusively for
29 noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general
30 law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
31 (b) As provided by general law and subject to conditions,
32 limitations, and reasonable definitions specified therein, land
33 used for conservation purposes shall be classified by general
34 law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
35 (c) Pursuant to general law tangible personal property held
36 for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for
37 taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be
38 classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation.
39 (d) All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under
40 Section 6 of this Article shall have their homestead assessed at
41 just value as of January 1 of the year following the effective
42 date of this amendment. This assessment shall change only as
43 provided in this subsection.
44 (1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be changed
45 annually on January 1st of each year; but those changes in
46 assessments shall not exceed the lower of the following, unless
47 paragraph (9) applies:
48 a. Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior year.
49 b. The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all
50 urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or
51 successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially
52 reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
53 Labor Statistics.
54 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value.
55 (3) After any change of ownership, as provided by general
56 law, homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of
57 January 1 of the following year, unless the provisions of
58 paragraph (8) apply. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed
59 as provided in this subsection.
60 (4) New homestead property shall be assessed at just value
61 as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of the
62 homestead, unless the provisions of paragraph (8) apply. That
63 assessment shall only change as provided in this subsection.
64 (5) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to
65 homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by general
66 law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any change,
67 addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be
68 assessed as provided in this subsection.
69 (6) In the event of a termination of homestead status, the
70 property shall be assessed as provided by general law.
71 (7) The provisions of this amendment are severable. If any
72 of the provisions of this amendment shall be held
73 unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the
74 decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining
75 provisions of this amendment.
76 (8)
77 a. A person who establishes a new homestead as of January 1
78 and who has received a homestead exemption pursuant to Section 6
79 of this Article as of January 1 of any of the three years
80 immediately preceding the establishment of the new homestead is
81 entitled to have the new homestead assessed at less than just
82 value. The assessed value of the newly established homestead
83 shall be determined as follows:
84 1. If the just value of the new homestead is greater than
85 or equal to the just value of the prior homestead as of January
86 1 of the year in which the prior homestead was abandoned, the
87 assessed value of the new homestead shall be the just value of
88 the new homestead minus an amount equal to the lesser of
89 $500,000 or the difference between the just value and the
90 assessed value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the
91 year in which the prior homestead was abandoned. Thereafter, the
92 homestead shall be assessed as provided in this subsection.
93 2. If the just value of the new homestead is less than the
94 just value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the year in
95 which the prior homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of
96 the new homestead shall be equal to the just value of the new
97 homestead divided by the just value of the prior homestead and
98 multiplied by the assessed value of the prior homestead.
99 However, if the difference between the just value of the new
100 homestead and the assessed value of the new homestead calculated
101 pursuant to this sub-subparagraph is greater than $500,000, the
102 assessed value of the new homestead shall be increased so that
103 the difference between the just value and the assessed value
104 equals $500,000. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed as
105 provided in this subsection.
106 b. By general law and subject to conditions specified
107 therein, the legislature shall provide for application of this
108 paragraph to property owned by more than one person.
109 (9) A person who has owned and used real property as his or
110 her permanent residence for twenty years or more, and who
111 qualifies for the homestead exemption under Section 6 of this
112 article, is entitled to have such homestead property assessed at
113 less than just value. The assessed value shall be the amount
114 established as of January 1 of the twentieth year of continuous
115 ownership and residency and may not increase thereafter so long
116 as the property continues to receive the homestead exemption.
117 Periods of ownership and residency on multiple homestead
118 properties may be aggregated to meet the applicable time period
119 specified in this paragraph. The property appraiser shall keep
120 the records necessary to verify eligibility for the assessment
121 limitation under this paragraph, including ownership and
122 residency periods for any previous property for which a
123 homestead exemption was granted under Section 6 of this article.
124 (e) The legislature may, by general law, for assessment
125 purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow
126 counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that
127 historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of
128 character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply
129 only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The
130 requirements for eligible properties must be specified by
131 general law.
132 (f) A county may, in the manner prescribed by general law,
133 provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead
134 property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of
135 that property which results from the construction or
136 reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing
137 living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents
138 or parents of the owner of the property or of the owner’s spouse
139 if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the
140 living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a
141 reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following:
142 (1) The increase in assessed value resulting from
143 construction or reconstruction of the property.
144 (2) Twenty percent of the total assessed value of the
145 property as improved.
146 (g) For all levies other than school district levies,
147 assessments of residential real property, as defined by general
148 law, which contains nine units or fewer and which is not subject
149 to the assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a)
150 through (d) shall change only as provided in this subsection.
151 (1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be changed
152 annually on the date of assessment provided by law; but those
153 changes in assessments shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the
154 assessment for the prior year.
155 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value.
156 (3) After a change of ownership or control, as defined by
157 general law, including any change of ownership of a legal entity
158 that owns the property, such property shall be assessed at just
159 value as of the next assessment date. Thereafter, such property
160 shall be assessed as provided in this subsection.
161 (4) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to such
162 property shall be assessed as provided for by general law;
163 however, after the adjustment for any change, addition,
164 reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as
165 provided in this subsection.
166 (h) For all levies other than school district levies,
167 assessments of real property that is not subject to the
168 assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a) through (d)
169 and (g) shall change only as provided in this subsection.
170 (1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be changed
171 annually on the date of assessment provided by law; but those
172 changes in assessments shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the
173 assessment for the prior year.
174 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value.
175 (3) The legislature must provide that such property shall
176 be assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a
177 qualifying improvement, as defined by general law, is made to
178 such property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as
179 provided in this subsection.
180 (4) The legislature may provide that such property shall be
181 assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a
182 change of ownership or control, as defined by general law,
183 including any change of ownership of the legal entity that owns
184 the property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as
185 provided in this subsection.
186 (5) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to such
187 property shall be assessed as provided for by general law;
188 however, after the adjustment for any change, addition,
189 reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as
190 provided in this subsection.
191 (i) The legislature, by general law and subject to
192 conditions specified therein, may prohibit the consideration of
193 the following in the determination of the assessed value of real
194 property:
195 (1) Any change or improvement to real property used for
196 residential purposes made to improve the property’s resistance
197 to wind damage.
198 (2) The installation of a solar or renewable energy source
199 device.
200 (j)
201 (1) The assessment of the following working waterfront
202 properties shall be based upon the current use of the property:
203 a. Land used predominantly for commercial fishing purposes.
204 b. Land that is accessible to the public and used for
205 vessel launches into waters that are navigable.
206 c. Marinas and drystacks that are open to the public.
207 d. Water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities,
208 commercial fishing facilities, and marine vessel construction
209 and repair facilities and their support activities.
210 (2) The assessment benefit provided by this subsection is
211 subject to conditions and limitations and reasonable definitions
212 as specified by the legislature by general law.
213 SECTION 6. Homestead exemptions.—
214 (a)(1) Every person who has the legal or equitable title to
215 real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the
216 owner, or another legally or naturally dependent upon the owner,
217 shall be exempt from taxation thereon, except assessments for
218 special benefits, as follows:
219 a. Up to the assessed valuation of twenty-five thousand
220 dollars; and
221 b. For all levies other than school district levies, on the
222 assessed valuation greater than fifty thousand dollars and up to
223 seventy-five thousand dollars,
224
225 upon establishment of right thereto in the manner prescribed by
226 law. The real estate may be held by legal or equitable title, by
227 the entireties, jointly, in common, as a condominium, or
228 indirectly by stock ownership or membership representing the
229 owner’s or member’s proprietary interest in a corporation owning
230 a fee or a leasehold initially in excess of ninety-eight years.
231 The exemption shall not apply with respect to any assessment
232 roll until such roll is first determined to be in compliance
233 with the provisions of section 4 by a state agency designated by
234 general law. This exemption is repealed on the effective date of
235 any amendment to this Article which provides for the assessment
236 of homestead property at less than just value.
237 (2) The twenty-five thousand dollar amount of assessed
238 valuation exempt from taxation provided in subparagraph (a)(1)b.
239 shall be adjusted annually on January 1 of each year for
240 inflation using the percent change in the Consumer Price Index
241 for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100,
242 or successor reports for the preceding calendar year as
243 initially reported by the United States Department of Labor,
244 Bureau of Labor Statistics, if such percent change is positive.
245 (3) The amount of assessed valuation exempt from taxation
246 for which every person who has the legal or equitable title to
247 real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the
248 owner, or another person legally or naturally dependent upon the
249 owner, is eligible, and which applies solely to levies other
250 than school district levies, that is added to this constitution
251 after January 1, 2025, shall be adjusted annually on January 1
252 of each year for inflation using the percent change in the
253 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average,
254 all items 1967=100, or successor reports for the preceding
255 calendar year as initially reported by the United States
256 Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, if such percent
257 change is positive, beginning the year following the effective
258 date of such exemption.
259 (b) Not more than one exemption shall be allowed any
260 individual or family unit or with respect to any residential
261 unit. No exemption shall exceed the value of the real estate
262 assessable to the owner or, in case of ownership through stock
263 or membership in a corporation, the value of the proportion
264 which the interest in the corporation bears to the assessed
265 value of the property.
266 (c) By general law and subject to conditions specified
267 therein, the Legislature may provide to renters, who are
268 permanent residents, ad valorem tax relief on all ad valorem tax
269 levies. Such ad valorem tax relief shall be in the form and
270 amount established by general law.
271 (d) The legislature may, by general law, allow counties or
272 municipalities, for the purpose of their respective tax levies
273 and subject to the provisions of general law, to grant either or
274 both of the following additional homestead tax exemptions:
275 (1) An exemption not exceeding fifty thousand dollars to a
276 person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate and
277 maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, who has
278 attained age sixty-five, and whose household income, as defined
279 by general law, does not exceed twenty thousand dollars; or
280 (2) An exemption equal to the assessed value of the
281 property to a person who has the legal or equitable title to
282 real estate with a just value less than two hundred and fifty
283 thousand dollars, as determined in the first tax year that the
284 owner applies and is eligible for the exemption, and who has
285 maintained thereon the permanent residence of the owner for not
286 less than twenty-five years, who has attained age sixty-five,
287 and whose household income does not exceed the income limitation
288 prescribed in paragraph (1).
289
290 The general law must allow counties and municipalities to grant
291 these additional exemptions, within the limits prescribed in
292 this subsection, by ordinance adopted in the manner prescribed
293 by general law, and must provide for the periodic adjustment of
294 the income limitation prescribed in this subsection for changes
295 in the cost of living.
296 (e)
297 (1) Each veteran who is age 65 or older who is partially or
298 totally permanently disabled shall receive a discount from the
299 amount of the ad valorem tax otherwise owed on homestead
300 property the veteran owns and resides in if the disability was
301 combat related and the veteran was honorably discharged upon
302 separation from military service. The discount shall be in a
303 percentage equal to the percentage of the veteran’s permanent,
304 service-connected disability as determined by the United States
305 Department of Veterans Affairs. To qualify for the discount
306 granted by this paragraph, an applicant must submit to the
307 county property appraiser, by March 1, an official letter from
308 the United States Department of Veterans Affairs stating the
309 percentage of the veteran’s service-connected disability and
310 such evidence that reasonably identifies the disability as
311 combat related and a copy of the veteran’s honorable discharge.
312 If the property appraiser denies the request for a discount, the
313 appraiser must notify the applicant in writing of the reasons
314 for the denial, and the veteran may reapply. The Legislature
315 may, by general law, waive the annual application requirement in
316 subsequent years.
317 (2) If a veteran who receives the discount described in
318 paragraph (1) predeceases his or her spouse, and if, upon the
319 death of the veteran, the surviving spouse holds the legal or
320 beneficial title to the homestead property and permanently
321 resides thereon, the discount carries over to the surviving
322 spouse until he or she remarries or sells or otherwise disposes
323 of the homestead property. If the surviving spouse sells or
324 otherwise disposes of the property, a discount not to exceed the
325 dollar amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll
326 may be transferred to the surviving spouse’s new homestead
327 property, if used as his or her permanent residence and he or
328 she has not remarried.
329 (3) This subsection is self-executing and does not require
330 implementing legislation.
331 (f) By general law and subject to conditions and
332 limitations specified therein, the Legislature may provide ad
333 valorem tax relief equal to the total amount or a portion of the
334 ad valorem tax otherwise owed on homestead property to:
335 (1) The surviving spouse of a veteran who died from
336 service-connected causes while on active duty as a member of the
337 United States Armed Forces.
338 (2) The surviving spouse of a first responder who died in
339 the line of duty.
340 (3) A first responder who is totally and permanently
341 disabled as a result of an injury or injuries sustained in the
342 line of duty. Causal connection between a disability and service
343 in the line of duty shall not be presumed but must be determined
344 as provided by general law. For purposes of this paragraph, the
345 term “disability” does not include a chronic condition or
346 chronic disease, unless the injury sustained in the line of duty
347 was the sole cause of the chronic condition or chronic disease.
348
349 As used in this subsection and as further defined by general
350 law, the term “first responder” means a law enforcement officer,
351 a correctional officer, a firefighter, an emergency medical
352 technician, or a paramedic, and the term “in the line of duty”
353 means arising out of and in the actual performance of duty
354 required by employment as a first responder.
355 (g)(1) Any person who has held legal title or beneficial
356 title in equity to any real property in this state and who, in
357 good faith, has made such property his or her permanent
358 residence for thirty years or more, who qualifies to receive a
359 homestead exemption provided in this section, and who has paid
360 all ad valorem taxes due on the property, is entitled to an
361 exemption equal to fifty percent (50%) of the assessed value of
362 the property, which shall apply to all ad valorem taxes other
363 than school district levies.
364 (2) For purposes of this subsection, the applicable period
365 of ownership and residency must be satisfied as of January 1 of
366 the tax year for which the exemption is claimed.
367 (3) Periods of ownership and residency on multiple
368 homestead properties may be aggregated to meet the applicable
369 time periods specified in paragraph (1). The property appraiser
370 shall keep the records necessary to verify eligibility for the
371 exemption under this section, including ownership and residency
372 periods for any previous property for which a homestead
373 exemption was granted under this section.
374 ARTICLE XII
375 SCHEDULE
376 Additional homestead property tax benefits for long-term
377 owners and permanent residents.—This section and the amendments
378 to Sections 4 and 6 of Article VII, providing that the assessed
379 value of homestead property may not increase after twenty years
380 of ownership and residency and providing an additional homestead
381 property tax exemption equal to fifty percent (50%) of the
382 assessed value of property, other than school district levies,
383 for persons who have owned and resided on the property as their
384 permanent residence for thirty years or more, shall take effect
385 January 1, 2027.
386 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
387 placed on the ballot:
388 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
389 ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 4 AND 6
390 ARTICLE XII
391 ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX BENEFITS FOR LONG-TERM
392 OWNERS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS.—Proposing amendments to the
393 State Constitution to provide that the assessed value of
394 property may not increase after 20 years of ownership and
395 residency and to grant an additional homestead tax exemption
396 equal to 50 percent of the property’s assessed value, excluding
397 school district levies, for persons who have owned and resided
398 on the property as their permanent residence for 30 years or
399 more. This amendment shall take effect January 1, 2027.