CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 1 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S House Joint Resolution 1 A joint resolution proposing amendments to Sections 3, 2 4, and 6 of Article VII and the creation of a new 3 section in Article XII of the State Constitution to 4 authorize the Legislature to provide two $25,000 5 exemptions and an assessment limitation to certain 6 real property subject to a long -term lease, to provide 7 an additional homestead exemption for owners of 8 homestead property who have not owned homestead 9 property for a specified time before purchase of the 10 current homestead property, and to provide an 11 effective date. 12 13 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 14 15 That the following amendments to Sections 3, 4, and 6 of 16 Article VII and the c reation of a new section in Article XII of 17 the State Constitution are agreed to and shall be submitted to 18 the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next 19 general election: 20 ARTICLE VII 21 FINANCE AND TAXATION 22 SECTION 3. Taxes; exemptions. — 23 (a) All property owned by a municipality and used 24 exclusively by it for municipal or public purposes shall be 25 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 2 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S exempt from taxation. A municipality, owning property outside 26 the municipality, may be required by general law to make payment 27 to the taxing unit in which the property is located. Such 28 portions of property as are used predominantly for educational, 29 literary, scientific, religious or charitable purposes may be 30 exempted by general law from taxation. 31 (b) There shall be exempt from taxation, cumulati vely, to 32 every head of a family residing in this state, household goods 33 and personal effects to the value fixed by general law, not less 34 than one thousand dollars, and to every widow or widower or 35 person who is blind or totally and permanently disabled, 36 property to the value fixed by general law not less than five 37 hundred dollars. 38 (c) Any county or municipality may, for the purpose of its 39 respective tax levy and subject to the provisions of this 40 subsection and general law, grant community and economic 41 development ad valorem tax exemptions to new businesses and 42 expansions of existing businesses, as defined by general law. 43 Such an exemption may be granted only by ordinance of the county 44 or municipality, and only after the electors of the county or 45 municipality voting on such question in a referendum authorize 46 the county or municipality to adopt such ordinances. An 47 exemption so granted shall apply to improvements to real 48 property made by or for the use of a new business and 49 improvements to real property relate d to the expansion of an 50 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 3 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S existing business and shall also apply to tangible personal 51 property of such new business and tangible personal property 52 related to the expansion of an existing business. The amount or 53 limits of the amount of such exemption shall b e specified by 54 general law. The period of time for which such exemption may be 55 granted to a new business or expansion of an existing business 56 shall be determined by general law. The authority to grant such 57 exemption shall expire ten years from the date of approval by 58 the electors of the county or municipality, and may be renewable 59 by referendum as provided by general law. 60 (d) 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 e ligible 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 (e) By general law and subject to conditions specified 71 therein: 72 (1) Twenty-five thousand dollars of the assessed value of 73 property subject to tangible personal property tax shall be 74 exempt from ad valorem taxation. 75 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 4 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (2) The assessed value of solar devices or renewable 76 energy source devices subject to tangible personal property tax 77 may be exempt from ad valorem taxation, subject to limitations 78 provided by general law. 79 (f) There shall be granted an ad valorem tax exemption for 80 real property dedicated in perpetuity for conservation purposes, 81 including real property encumbered by perpetual conservation 82 easements or by other perpetual conservation protections, as 83 defined by general law. 84 (g) By general law and subject to the conditions specified 85 therein, each person who receives a homestead exemption as 86 provided in section 6 of this article; who was a member of the 87 United States military or military reserves, the United States 88 Coast Guard or its reserves, or the Florida National Guard; and 89 who was deployed during the preceding calendar year on active 90 duty outside the continental United States , Alaska, or Hawaii in 91 support of military operations designated by the legislature 92 shall receive an additional exemption equal to a percentage of 93 the taxable value of his or her homestead property. The 94 applicable percentage shall be calculated as the numb er of days 95 during the preceding calendar year the person was deployed on 96 active duty outside the continental United States, Alaska, or 97 Hawaii in support of military operations designated by the 98 legislature divided by the number of days in that year. 99 (h) By general law and subject to conditions and 100 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 5 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S provisions specified therein, the legislature may provide that 101 every person who holds the legal or equitable title to real 102 estate that is currently receiving the benefits available for 103 homestead properties under subsection (a) of Section 6, and 104 holds the legal or equitable title to a separate parcel of real 105 estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of a lessee 106 under a single written lease of six continuous months or more, 107 if such lease is in effect on January 1 of the taxable year; if 108 the entire parcel could qualify for the benefits afforded 109 homestead properties under subsection (a) of Section 6, if the 110 owner maintained that property as his or her permanent 111 residence; and if such property is owned direc tly through sole 112 ownership or joint ownership with a spouse, or indirectly 113 through a limited liability company that holds legal or 114 equitable title to such real estate if such limited liability 115 company is owned solely or jointly with a spouse, shall be 116 exempt from taxation on such leased property up to the assessed 117 valuation of twenty-five thousand dollars; and, for all levies 118 other than school district levies, on the assessed valuation 119 greater than fifty thousand dollars and up to seventy -five 120 thousand dollars. 121 SECTION 4. Taxation; assessments. —By general law 122 regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just 123 valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided: 124 (a) Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge 125 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 6 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S to Florida's aquifers, or land used exclusively for 126 noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general 127 law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use. 128 (b) As provided by general law and subject to conditions, 129 limitations, and reasonable definitions specified therein, land 130 used for conservation purposes shall be classified by general 131 law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use. 132 (c) Pursuant to general law tangible personal property 133 held for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be va lued for 134 taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be 135 classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation. 136 (d) All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under 137 Section 6 of this Article shall have their homestead assessed at 138 just value as of January 1 of the year following the effective 139 date of this amendment. This assessment shall change only as 140 provided in this subsection. 141 (1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be 142 changed annually on January 1st of each year; but thos e changes 143 in assessments shall not exceed the lower of the following: 144 a. Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior 145 year. 146 b. The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all 147 urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or 148 successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially 149 reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of 150 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 7 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S Labor Statistics. 151 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value. 152 (3) After any change of ownership, as provided by general 153 law, homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of 154 January 1 of the following year, unless the provisions of 155 paragraph (8) apply. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed 156 as provided in this subsection. 157 (4) New homestead property shall be assessed at jus t value 158 as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of the 159 homestead, unless the provisions of paragraph (8) apply. That 160 assessment shall only change as provided in this subsection. 161 (5) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to 162 homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by general 163 law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any change, 164 addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be 165 assessed as provided in this subsection. 166 (6) In the event of a terminatio n of homestead status, the 167 property shall be assessed as provided by general law. 168 (7) The provisions of this amendment are severable. If any 169 of the provisions of this amendment shall be held 170 unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the 171 decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining 172 provisions of this amendment. 173 (8)a. A person who establishes a new homestead as of 174 January 1 and who has received a homestead exemption pursuant to 175 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 8 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S Section 6 of this Article as of January 1 of any of the three 176 years immediately preceding the establishment of the new 177 homestead is entitled to have the new homestead assessed at less 178 than just value. The assessed value of the newly established 179 homestead shall be determined as follows: 180 1. If the just value of the new homestead is greater than 181 or equal to the just value of the prior homestead as of January 182 1 of the year in which the prior homestead was abandoned, the 183 assessed value of the new homestead shall be the just value of 184 the new homestead mi nus an amount equal to the lesser of 185 $500,000 or the difference between the just value and the 186 assessed value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the 187 year in which the prior homestead was abandoned. Thereafter, the 188 homestead shall be assessed as prov ided in this subsection. 189 2. If the just value of the new homestead is less than the 190 just value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the year in 191 which the prior homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of 192 the new homestead shall be equal to the ju st value of the new 193 homestead divided by the just value of the prior homestead and 194 multiplied by the assessed value of the prior homestead. 195 However, if the difference between the just value of the new 196 homestead and the assessed value of the new homestead c alculated 197 pursuant to this sub -subparagraph is greater than $500,000, the 198 assessed value of the new homestead shall be increased so that 199 the difference between the just value and the assessed value 200 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 9 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S equals $500,000. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assess ed as 201 provided in this subsection. 202 b. By general law and subject to conditions specified 203 therein, the legislature shall provide for application of this 204 paragraph to property owned by more than one person. 205 (e) The legislature may, by general law, for as sessment 206 purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow 207 counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that 208 historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of 209 character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply 210 only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The 211 requirements for eligible properties must be specified by 212 general law. 213 (f) A county may, in the manner prescribed by general law, 214 provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead 215 property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of 216 that property which results from the construction or 217 reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing 218 living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents 219 or parents of the owner of th e property or of the owner's spouse 220 if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the 221 living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a 222 reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following: 223 (1) The increase in assessed value resu lting from 224 construction or reconstruction of the property. 225 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 10 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (2) Twenty percent of the total assessed value of the 226 property as improved. 227 (g) For all levies other than school district levies, 228 assessments of residential real property, as defined by general 229 law, which contains nine units or fewer and which is not subject 230 to the assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a) 231 through (d) shall change only as provided in this subsection. 232 (1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be 233 changed annually on the date of assessment provided by law; but 234 those changes in assessments shall not exceed ten percent (10%) 235 of the assessment for the prior year. 236 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value. 237 (3) After a change of ownership or control, as defined by 238 general law, including any change of ownership of a legal entity 239 that owns the property, such property shall be assessed at just 240 value as of the next assessment date. Thereafter, such property 241 shall be assessed as provided in this subsection. 242 (4) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to 243 such property shall be assessed as provided for by general law; 244 however, after the adjustment for any change, addition, 245 reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as 246 provided in this subsection. 247 (h) For all levies other than school district levies, 248 assessments of real property that is not subject to the 249 assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a) through (d) 250 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 11 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S and (g) shall change only as provided in this subsection. 251 (1) Assessments subje ct to this subsection shall be 252 changed annually on the date of assessment provided by law; but 253 those changes in assessments shall not exceed ten percent (10%) 254 of the assessment for the prior year. 255 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value. 256 (3) The legislature must provide that such property shall 257 be assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a 258 qualifying improvement, as defined by general law, is made to 259 such property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as 260 provided in this subs ection. 261 (4) The legislature may provide that such property shall 262 be assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a 263 change of ownership or control, as defined by general law, 264 including any change of ownership of the legal entity that owns 265 the property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as 266 provided in this subsection. 267 (5) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to 268 such property shall be assessed as provided for by general law; 269 however, after the adjustment for any change, addition, 270 reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as 271 provided in this subsection. 272 (i) The legislature, by general law and subject to 273 conditions specified therein, may prohibit the consideration of 274 the following in the determination of t he assessed value of real 275 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 12 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S property: 276 (1) Any change or improvement to real property used for 277 residential purposes made to improve the property's resistance 278 to wind damage. 279 (2) The installation of a solar or renewable energy source 280 device. 281 (j)(1) The assessment of the following working waterfront 282 properties shall be based upon the current use of the property: 283 a. Land used predominantly for commercial fishing 284 purposes. 285 b. Land that is accessible to the public and used for 286 vessel launches into waters that are navigable. 287 c. Marinas and drystacks that are open to the public. 288 d. Water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities, 289 commercial fishing facilities, and marine vessel construction 290 and repair facilities and their support activities. 291 (2) The assessment benefit provided by this subsection is 292 subject to conditions and limitations and reasonable definitions 293 as specified by the legislature by general law. 294 (k) All persons entitled to the exemptions on real 295 property under subsection (h) of Section 3 of this Article shall 296 have such property assessed as follows: 297 (1) Assessments shall be changed annually on January 1 of 298 each year; but those changes in assessments shall not exceed the 299 lower of: three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior 300 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 13 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S year, or the percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all 301 urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or 302 successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially 303 reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of 304 Labor Statistics. 305 (2) No assessment shall exceed just value. 306 (3) After any change of ownership, as provided by general 307 law, or termination of homestead pursuant to paragraph (6) of 308 subsection (d) of this section, the property shall be assessed 309 at just value as of Janu ary 1 of the following year. Thereafter, 310 the property shall be assessed as provided in this paragraph. 311 (4) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to 312 such property shall be assessed as provided for by general law; 313 provided, however, after the adj ustment for any change, 314 addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be 315 assessed as provided in this subsection. 316 (5) The legislature may also provide that if any property 317 receiving the assessment limitation authorized under this 318 subsection subsequently becomes ineligible for the assessment 319 limitation authorized under this subsection for reasons other 320 than a change of ownership or control, as defined by general 321 law; or termination of homestead pursuant to paragraph (6) of 322 subsection (d) of this section; such property shall be assessed, 323 without reassessment at just value, pursuant to subsection (g) 324 of this section, unless such property is assessed under 325 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 14 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S subsection (d) of this section for that year. 326 SECTION 6. Homestead exemptions. — 327 (a)(1) Every person who has the legal or equitable title 328 to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of 329 the owner, or another legally or naturally dependent upon the 330 owner, shall be exempt from taxation thereon, except assessments 331 for special benefits, as follows: 332 a. Up to the assessed valuation of twenty -five thousand 333 dollars; and 334 b. For all levies other than school district levies, on 335 the assessed valuation greater than fifty thousand dollars and 336 up to seventy-five thousand dollars, 337 338 upon establishment of right thereto in the manner prescribed by 339 law. The real estate may be held by legal or equitable title, by 340 the entireties, jointly, in common, as a condominium, or 341 indirectly by stock ownership or membership representing the 342 owner's or member's proprietary interest in a corporation owning 343 a fee or a leasehold initially in excess of ninety -eight years. 344 The exemption shall not apply with respect to any assessment 345 roll until such roll is first determined to be in compliance 346 with the provisions of section 4 by a state agency designated by 347 general law. This exemption is repealed on the effective date of 348 any amendment to this Article which provides for the assessment 349 of homestead property at less than just value. 350 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 15 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (2) The twenty-five thousand dollar amount of assessed 351 valuation exempt from taxation provided in subparagraph (a)(1)b. 352 shall be adjusted annually on January 1 of each year for 353 inflation using the percent change in the Consumer Price Index 354 for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average, all item s 1967=100, 355 or successor reports for the preceding calendar year as 356 initially reported by the United States Department of Labor, 357 Bureau of Labor Statistics, if such percent change is positive. 358 (3) The amount of assessed valuation exempt from taxation 359 for which every person who has the legal or equitable title to 360 real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the 361 owner, or another person legally or naturally dependent upon the 362 owner, is eligible, and which applies solely to levies other 363 than school district levies, that is added to this constitution 364 after January 1, 2025, shall be adjusted annually on January 1 365 of each year for inflation using the percent change in the 366 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average, 367 all items 1967=100, or successor reports for the preceding 368 calendar year as initially reported by the United States 369 Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, if such percent 370 change is positive, beginning the year following the effective 371 date of such exemption . 372 (b) Not more than one exemption shall be allowed any 373 individual or family unit or with respect to any residential 374 unit. No exemption shall exceed the value of the real estate 375 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 16 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S assessable to the owner or, in case of ownership through stock 376 or membership in a corporation, the value of the proportion 377 which the interest in the corporation bears to the assessed 378 value of the property. 379 (c) By general law and subject to conditions specified 380 therein, the Legislature may provide to renters, who are 381 permanent residents, ad valorem tax relief on all ad valorem tax 382 levies. Such ad valorem tax relief shall be in the form and 383 amount established by general law. 384 (d) The legislature may, by general law, allow counties or 385 municipalities, for the purpose of their respect ive tax levies 386 and subject to the provisions of general law, to grant either or 387 both of the following additional homestead tax exemptions: 388 (1) An exemption not exceeding fifty thousand dollars to a 389 person who has the legal or equitable title to real esta te and 390 maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, who has 391 attained age sixty-five, and whose household income, as defined 392 by general law, does not exceed twenty thousand dollars; or 393 (2) An exemption equal to the assessed value of the 394 property to a person who has the legal or equitable title to 395 real estate with a just value less than two hundred and fifty 396 thousand dollars, as determined in the first tax year that the 397 owner applies and is eligible for the exemption, and who has 398 maintained thereon the permanent residence of the owner for not 399 less than twenty-five years, who has attained age sixty -five, 400 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 17 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S and whose household income does not exceed the income limitation 401 prescribed in paragraph (1). 402 403 The general law must allow counties and municipalit ies to grant 404 these additional exemptions, within the limits prescribed in 405 this subsection, by ordinance adopted in the manner prescribed 406 by general law, and must provide for the periodic adjustment of 407 the income limitation prescribed in this subsection for changes 408 in the cost of living. 409 (e)(1) Each veteran who is age 65 or older who is 410 partially or totally permanently disabled shall receive a 411 discount from the amount of the ad valorem tax otherwise owed on 412 homestead property the veteran owns and resides i n if the 413 disability was combat related and the veteran was honorably 414 discharged upon separation from military service. The discount 415 shall be in a percentage equal to the percentage of the 416 veteran's permanent, service -connected disability as determined 417 by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. To qualify 418 for the discount granted by this paragraph, an applicant must 419 submit to the county property appraiser, by March 1, an official 420 letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs 421 stating the percentage of the veteran's service -connected 422 disability and such evidence that reasonably identifies the 423 disability as combat related and a copy of the veteran's 424 honorable discharge. If the property appraiser denies the 425 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 18 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S request for a discount, the app raiser must notify the applicant 426 in writing of the reasons for the denial, and the veteran may 427 reapply. The Legislature may, by general law, waive the annual 428 application requirement in subsequent years. 429 (2) If a veteran who receives the discount describe d in 430 paragraph (1) predeceases his or her spouse, and if, upon the 431 death of the veteran, the surviving spouse holds the legal or 432 beneficial title to the homestead property and permanently 433 resides thereon, the discount carries over to the surviving 434 spouse until he or she remarries or sells or otherwise disposes 435 of the homestead property. If the surviving spouse sells or 436 otherwise disposes of the property, a discount not to exceed the 437 dollar amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll 438 may be transferred to the surviving spouse's new homestead 439 property, if used as his or her permanent residence and he or 440 she has not remarried. 441 (3) This subsection is self -executing and does not require 442 implementing legislation. 443 (f) By general law and subject to c onditions and 444 limitations specified therein, the Legislature may provide ad 445 valorem tax relief equal to the total amount or a portion of the 446 ad valorem tax otherwise owed on homestead property to: 447 (1) The surviving spouse of a veteran who died from 448 service-connected causes while on active duty as a member of the 449 United States Armed Forces. 450 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 19 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (2) The surviving spouse of a first responder who died in 451 the line of duty. 452 (3) A first responder who is totally and permanently 453 disabled as a result of an injury o r injuries sustained in the 454 line of duty. Causal connection between a disability and service 455 in the line of duty shall not be presumed but must be determined 456 as provided by general law. For purposes of this paragraph, the 457 term "disability" does not include a chronic condition or 458 chronic disease, unless the injury sustained in the line of duty 459 was the sole cause of the chronic condition or chronic disease. 460 461 As used in this subsection and as further defined by general 462 law, the term "first responder" means a l aw enforcement officer, 463 a correctional officer, a firefighter, an emergency medical 464 technician, or a paramedic, and the term "in the line of duty" 465 means arising out of and in the actual performance of duty 466 required by employment as a first responder. 467 (g) As provided by general law and subject to conditions 468 specified therein, every person who establishes the right to 469 receive the homestead exemption provided in subsection (a) 470 within 1 year after purchasing the homestead property and who 471 has not owned proper ty to which the homestead exemption provided 472 in subsection (a) applied in the previous four calendar years is 473 entitled to an additional homestead exemption for all levies 474 other than school district levies. The additional exemption is 475 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 20 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the homestead 476 property's just value on January 1 of the year the homestead is 477 established. The additional exemption may not exceed the median 478 just value of all homestead property during the calendar year 479 immediately preceding January 1 of the year the homestead is 480 established in the county where such property is located. The 481 additional exemption shall apply for a period of five years or 482 until the year the property is sold, whichever occurs first. The 483 amount of the additional exemption sh all be reduced in each 484 subsequent year by an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of 485 the amount of the additional exemption received in the year the 486 homestead was established. Only one exemption provided under 487 this subsection shall be allowed per homestead property at one 488 time. The additional exemption applies to property purchased on 489 or after January 1, 2027, if this amendment is approved at the 490 2026 general election, but the additional exemption is not 491 available in the sixth and subsequent years after it is first 492 received. 493 ARTICLE XII 494 SCHEDULE 495 Tax exemptions and an assessment limitation for long -term 496 leased residential property. —This section and the amendments to 497 Sections 3, 4, and 6 of Article VII, which authorize the 498 legislature to provide two $25,000 exemptions and an assessment 499 limitation to real property that, on January 1, is subject to a 500 CS/CS/HJR 1257 2025 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hjr1257-02-c2 Page 21 of 21 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S written lease of six continuous months or more and is owned by a 501 person who holds legal or equitable title to real estate 502 receiving a homestead exemption and to p rovide for an additional 503 homestead exemption for owners of homestead property who have 504 not owned homestead property during the four calendar years 505 immediately preceding purchase of the current homestead 506 property, shall take effect January 1, 2027. 507 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be 508 placed on the ballot: 509 CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND MENTS 510 ARTICLE VII, SECTION S 3, 4, AND 6 511 ARTICLE XII 512 PROPERTY TAX BENEFIT S FOR CERTAIN LONG-TERM LEASED 513 PROPERTY; ADDITIONAL EXEMPTION FOR FIRST-TIME HOMESTEAD PROPERTY 514 OWNERS.—Proposing amendments to the State Constitution to 515 authorize the Legislature to provide two $25,000 exemptions and 516 an assessment limitation for certain residential real property 517 subject to a written lease of 6 continuous months or more and to 518 provide an additional homestead exemption for first-time 519 homestead property owners. These amendments shall take effect 520 January 1, 2027. 521