HJR 75

1	House Joint Resolution
2	A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 4 of
3	Article VII of the State Constitution to apply to all real
4	property the limitations on assessments applied to
5	homestead property and revise assessment requirements and
6	the creation of Section 27 of Article XII of the State
7	Constitution to specify an effective date.
8
9	Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11	That the following amendment to Section 4 of Article VII of
12	the State Constitution and creation of Section 27 of Article XII
13	of the State Constitution are agreed to and shall be submitted
14	to the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the
15	next general election or at an earlier special election
16	specifically authorized by law for that purpose:
17	ARTICLE VII
18	FINANCE AND TAXATION
19	SECTION 4.  Taxation; assessments.--By general law
20	regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just
21	valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided:
22	(a)  Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge
23	to Florida's aquifers, or land used exclusively for
24	noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general
25	law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
26	(b)  Pursuant to general law tangible personal property
27	held for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for
28	taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be
29	classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation.
30	(c)  All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under
31	Section 6 of this Article shall have their real property
32	homestead assessed at just value as of January 1 of the year
33	following the effective date of this amendment. This assessment
34	shall change only as provided herein.
35	(1)  Assessments subject to this provision shall be changed
36	annually on January 1st of each year, only if determined to be
37	necessary by the property appraiser based upon market data as
38	provided by general law; but those changes in assessments shall
39	not exceed the lower of the following:
40	a.  Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior
41	year.
42	b.  The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all
43	urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or
44	successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially
45	reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
46	Labor Statistics.
47	(2)  No assessment shall exceed just value.
48	(3)  After any change of ownership, as provided by general
49	law, real homestead property shall be assessed at just value as
50	of January 1 of the following year. Thereafter, the real
51	property homestead shall be assessed as provided herein.
52	(4)  New real homestead property shall be assessed at just
53	value as of January 1st of the year following the establishment
54	of the real property homestead. That assessment shall only
55	change as provided herein.
56	(5)  Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to
57	real homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by
58	general law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any
59	change, addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall
60	be assessed as provided herein.
61	(6)  In the event of a termination of homestead status, the
62	property shall be assessed as provided by general law.
63	(6)(7)  The provisions of this amendment are severable. If
64	any of the provisions of this amendment shall be held
65	unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the
66	decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining
67	provisions of this amendment.
68	(d)  The legislature may, by general law, for assessment
69	purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow
70	counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that
71	historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of
72	character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply
73	only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The
74	requirements for eligible properties must be specified by
75	general law.
76	(e)  A county may, in the manner prescribed by general law,
77	provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead
78	property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of
79	that property which results from the construction or
80	reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing
81	living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents
82	or parents of the owner of the property or of the owner's spouse
83	if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the
84	living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a
85	reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following:
86	(1)  The increase in assessed value resulting from
87	construction or reconstruction of the property.
88	(2)  Twenty percent of the total assessed value of the
89	property as improved.
90	ARTICLE XII
91	SCHEDULE
92	SECTION 27.  Assessments of real property.--The amendment
93	to Section 4 of Article VII applying to all real property the
94	limitations on assessments previously applied only to homestead
95	property and requiring changes in assessments only if determined
96	to be necessary by the property appraiser based upon market data
97	shall take effect January 1 of the year following the election
98	in which the amendment is approved.
99	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
100	placed on the ballot:
101	CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
102	ARTICLE VII, SECTION 4
103	ARTICLE XII, SECTION 27
104	LIMITATIONS ON ASSESSMENTS OF REAL PROPERTY.--Proposing
105	amendment of the State Constitution to apply to all real
106	property the limitations on assessments currently applied only
107	to homestead property and to require changes in assessments only
108	if determined to be necessary by the property appraiser based
109	upon market data, to take effect January 1 of the year following
110	approval of the amendment by the electors.

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