The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Community Affairs
BILL: SB 120
INTRODUCER: Senator Avila
SUBJECT: Homestead Assessments
DATE: February 14, 2023
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Hackett Ryon CA Pre-meeting
2. FT
3. AP
I. Summary:
SB 120 is linked to SJR 122, which proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution to reduce
the maximum increase in assessments on homestead properties from three to two percent of the
previous year’s assessment. The bill implements the amendment in the associated statutory
provision.
The bill will take effect on the effective date of the amendment proposed by SJR 122 or a similar
joint resolution having substantially the same specific intent and purpose. If approved by the
electors in the next general election in November 2024, the proposed amendment (SJR 122) and
this bill will take effect on January 1, 2025.
II. Present Situation:
General Overview of Property Taxation
The ad valorem tax or “property tax” is an annual tax levied by counties, municipalities, school
districts, and some special districts. The tax is based on the taxable value of property as of
January 1 of each year.
1
The property appraiser annually determines the assessed or “just value”
2
of property within the taxing authority and then applies relevant exclusions, assessment
1
Both real property and tangible personal property are subject to tax. Section 192.001(12), F.S., defines “real property” as
land, buildings, fixtures, and all other improvements to land. Section 192.001(11)(d), F.S., defines “tangible personal
property” as all goods, chattels, and other articles of value capable of manual possession and whose chief value is intrinsic to
the article itself.
2
Property must be valued at “just value” for purposes of property taxation, unless the Florida Constitution provides
otherwise. FLA. CONST. art VII, s. 4. Just value has been interpreted by the courts to mean the fair market value that a willing
buyer would pay a willing seller for the property in an arm’s-length transaction. See Walter v. Shuler, 176 So. 2d 81 (Fla.
1965); Deltona Corp. v. Bailey, 336 So. 2d 1163 (Fla. 1976); Southern Bell Tel. & Tel. Co. v. Dade County, 275 So. 2d 4
(Fla. 1973).
REVISED: BILL: SB 120 Page 2
limitations, and exemptions to determine the property’s “taxable value.”
3
Tax bills are mailed in
November of each year based on the previous January 1 valuation and payment is due by March
31.
The Florida Constitution prohibits the state from levying ad valorem taxes
4
and limits the
Legislature’s authority to provide for property valuations at less than just value, unless expressly
authorized.
5
The just valuation standard generally requires the property appraiser to consider the highest and
best use of property;
6
however, the Florida Constitution authorizes certain types of property to be
valued based on their current use (classified use assessments), which often result in lower
assessments. Properties that receive classified use treatment in Florida include: agricultural land,
land producing high water recharge to Florida’s aquifers, and land used exclusively for
noncommercial recreational purposes;
7
land used for conservation purposes;
8
historic properties
when authorized by the county or municipality;
9
and certain working waterfront property.
10
Property Tax Exemptions for Homesteads
Statewide Homestead Exemption
Every person having legal and equitable title to real estate and who maintains a permanent
residence on the real estate (homestead property) is eligible for a $25,000 tax exemption
applicable to all ad valorem tax levies, including levies by school districts.
11
An additional
$25,000 exemption applies to homestead property value between $50,000 and $75,000.
12
This
exemption does not apply to ad valorem taxes levied by school districts.
Additional Homestead Exemptions
The Florida Constitution authorizes additional homestead exemptions, either directly through
legislation or through statutory permission for local governments to enact:
An exemption not exceeding $50,000 in home value for any low-income senior.
13
An exemption of the entire assessed value of a low-income senior’s homestead with a just
value less than $250,000 if he or she has maintained that homestead for not less than 25
years.
14,
15
3
See s. 192.001(2) and (16), F.S.
4
FLA. CONST. art. VII, s. 1(a).
5
See FLA. CONST. art. VII, s. 4.
6
Section 193.011(2), F.S.
7
FLA. CONST. art. VII, s. 4(a).
8
FLA. CONST. art. VII, s. 4(b).
9
FLA. CONST. art. VII, s. 4(e).
10
FLA. CONST. art. VII, s. 4(j).
11
FLA. CONST. art VII, s. 6(a) and s. 196.031, F.S.
12
Section 196.031(1)(b), F.S.
13
Implementing FLA. CONST. art. VII, s. 6(d)(1).
14
Implementing FLA. CONST. art. VII, s. 6(d)(2)
15
Taxpayers who initially receive the exemption are denied the exemption in a later year if the just value of their homestead
exceeds $250,000. BILL: SB 120 Page 3
A veteran or first responder
16
with a total and permanent service-connected disability is
entitled to a complete exemption for property owned and used as a homestead.
17
A veteran with a total service-connected disability that confines him or her to a wheelchair is
entitled to a complete exemption for property owned and used as a homestead. Upon the
veteran’s death, the exemption carries over to the veteran’s unremarried surviving spouse.
18
A veteran disabled to a degree of 10 percent or more by misfortune or during wartime service
is entitled to an exemption for any property up to $5,000. Upon the death of the veteran, the
exemption carries over to the veteran’s unremarried surviving spouse.
19
The unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran or first responder who died while on active
duty is entitled to a complete exemption for property owned and used as a homestead if the
veteran was a permanent resident of Florida on the day he or she died.
20
Certain combat-disabled veterans are entitled to a discount on their homestead property
taxes.
21
Limitation on Annual Increases in Assessments for Homestead Properties
The Florida Constitution
22
provides that, for those entitled to a homestead exemption, the
assessed value of the homestead shall be changed annually on January 1
st
of each year, but those
changes in assessments shall not exceed the lesser of three percent of the prior year’s assessment
or the percent change in the Consumer Price Index
23
for the preceding calendar year.
24
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Section 1 amends s. 193.155, F.S., to provide that change in a homestead property’s valuation
upon annual reassessment shall not exceed the lower of the consumer price index and two, rather
than three, percent of the previously assessed value of the property.
Section 2 provides that the bill will take effect on the effective date of the constitutional
amendment proposed by SJR 122.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
Article VII, s. 18(b) of the Florida Constitution provides that, except upon the approval of
each house of the Legislature by a two-thirds vote of the membership, the Legislature
16
“First responder” in this context means a law enforcement officer or correctional officer as defined in s. 943.10, a
firefighter as defined in s. 633.102, or an emergency medical technician or paramedic as defined in s. 401.23 who is a full-
time paid employee, part-time paid employee, or unpaid volunteer. Section 196.081(6)(c)1., F.S.
17
Sections 196.081 and 196.102, F.S.
18
Section 196.091(1) and (3), F.S.
19
Section 196.24, F.S.
20
Section 196.081(4), (6) F.S.
21
Section 196.082, F.S.
22
As amended by Constitutional Amendment 10 (1992), commonly referred to as the “Save Our Homes” initiative.
23
Specifically the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or successor
reports.
24
FLA. CONST. art. VII, s. 4(d)(1), implemented by section 193.155, F.S. BILL: SB 120 Page 4
may not enact, amend, or repeal any general law if the anticipated effect of doing so
would be to reduce the authority that municipalities or counties have to raise revenue in
the aggregate, as such authority existed on February 1, 1989. However, the mandates
requirements do not apply to laws having an insignificant impact.
25, 26
The mandates provision of Art. VII, s. 18 of the Florida Constitution may apply because
the bill reduces local governments’ authority to raise revenue by reducing ad valorem tax
bases compared to the tax bases that would exist under current law. This bill does not
appear to qualify under any exemption or exception, however, as a bill implementing a
constitutional amendment (SJR 122), it may be considered to have no direct effect or be
an exempt re-authorization of existing authority. If the bill does qualify as a mandate,
final passage must be approved by two-thirds of the membership of each house of the
Legislature.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
The Revenue Estimating Conference reviewed this bill and stated the impact of the
implementing bill to a constitutional amendment is zero due to its status as an
implementing bill. See the analysis of SJR 122 for a discussion of the proposed
amendment’s impact.
B. Private Sector Impact:
If the proposed amendment (SJR 122) is approved by 60 percent of voters in November
2024, homeowners with homestead exemptions will enjoy a reduced limit on rises in their
25
FLA. CONST. art. VII, s. 18(d).
26
An insignificant fiscal impact is the amount not greater than the average statewide population for the applicable fiscal year
times $0.10. The Florida Demographic Estimating Conference adopted estimations that the 2021 population will be
21,893,919, which makes the threshold for insignificant fiscal impact $2.19 million. Executive Summary, Demographic
Estimating Conference, Nov. 13, 2020, available at
http://edr.state.fl.us/content/conferences/population/demographicsummary.pdf (last visited January 20, 2022). BILL: SB 120 Page 5
homestead assessment. This will result in an indeterminate positive fiscal impact as
homeowners take advantage of ad valorem tax savings.
C. Government Sector Impact:
If the proposed amendment (SJR 122) is approved by 60 percent of voters in November
2024, homeowners with homestead exemptions will enjoy a reduced limit on rises in their
homestead assessment. This will result in an indeterminate negative fiscal impact on local
governments as their ability to raise assessments on homestead property will be reduced.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
Line 30 refers to “SJR ____” and should be updated to reflect the now numbered SJR 122.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 193.155 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.