| 1 | A bill to be entitled | 
| 2 | An act relating to ad valorem taxation; amending s. | 
| 3 | 193.1554, F.S.; reducing the amount by which any change in | 
| 4 | the value of nonhomestead residential property resulting | 
| 5 | from an annual reassessment may exceed the assessed value | 
| 6 | of the property for the prior year; amending s. 193.1555, | 
| 7 | F.S.; reducing the amount by which any change in the value | 
| 8 | of certain residential and nonresidential real property | 
| 9 | resulting from an annual reassessment may exceed the | 
| 10 | assessed value of the property for the prior year; | 
| 11 | creating s. 196.078, F.S.; providing a definition; | 
| 12 | providing a first-time Florida homesteader with an | 
| 13 | additional homestead exemption; providing for calculation | 
| 14 | of the exemption; providing for the applicability period | 
| 15 | of the exemption; providing for an annual reduction in the | 
| 16 | exemption during the applicability period; providing | 
| 17 | application procedures; providing for applicability of | 
| 18 | specified provisions; providing for contingent effect of | 
| 19 | provisions and varying dates of application depending on | 
| 20 | the adoption and adoption date of specified joint | 
| 21 | resolutions; authorizing the Department of Revenue to | 
| 22 | adopt emergency rules; providing for application and | 
| 23 | renewal of emergency rules; amending s. 218.12, F.S.; | 
| 24 | requiring the Legislature to consider appropriating funds | 
| 25 | to fiscally constrained counties to offset reductions in | 
| 26 | ad valorem tax revenue as the result of the implementation | 
| 27 | of certain revisions to the State Constitution; requiring | 
| 28 | application to the department to participate in the | 
| 29 | distribution of such an appropriation; providing for | 
| 30 | certain contingent effect and retroactive application; | 
| 31 | providing an effective date. | 
| 32 | 
 | 
| 33 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: | 
| 34 | 
 | 
| 35 | Section 1.  If House Joint Resolution 381 or Senate Joint | 
| 36 | Resolution 658, 2011 Regular Session, is approved by a vote of | 
| 37 | the electors in the general election held in November 2012, | 
| 38 | subsection (3) of section 193.1554, Florida Statutes, is amended | 
| 39 | to read: | 
| 40 | 193.1554  Assessment of nonhomestead residential property.- | 
| 41 | (3)  Beginning in 2013 2009, or the year following the year | 
| 42 | the property is placed on the tax roll, whichever is later, the | 
| 43 | property shall be reassessed annually on January 1. Any change | 
| 44 | resulting from such reassessment may not exceed 5 10percent of | 
| 45 | the assessed value of the property for the prior year, except as | 
| 46 | provided in subsection (6). | 
| 47 | Section 2.  If House Joint Resolution 381 or Senate Joint | 
| 48 | Resolution 658, 2011 Regular Session, is approved by a vote of | 
| 49 | the electors in a special election held concurrent with the | 
| 50 | presidential preference primary in 2012, subsection (3) of | 
| 51 | section 193.1554, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 52 | 193.1554  Assessment of nonhomestead residential property.- | 
| 53 | (3)  Beginning in 2012 2009, or the year following the year | 
| 54 | the property is placed on the tax roll, whichever is later, the | 
| 55 | property shall be reassessed annually on January 1. Any change | 
| 56 | resulting from such reassessment may not exceed 5 10percent of | 
| 57 | the assessed value of the property for the prior year, except as | 
| 58 | provided in subsection (6). | 
| 59 | Section 3.  If House Joint Resolution 381 or Senate Joint | 
| 60 | Resolution 658, 2011 Regular Session, is approved by a vote of | 
| 61 | the electors in the general election held in November 2012, | 
| 62 | subsection (3) of section 193.1555, Florida Statutes, is amended | 
| 63 | to read: | 
| 64 | 193.1555  Assessment of certain residential and | 
| 65 | nonresidential real property.- | 
| 66 | (3)  Beginning in 2013 2009, or the year following the year | 
| 67 | the property is placed on the tax roll, whichever is later, the | 
| 68 | property shall be reassessed annually on January 1. Any change | 
| 69 | resulting from such reassessment may not exceed 5 10percent of | 
| 70 | the assessed value of the property for the prior year, except as | 
| 71 | provided in subsection (6). | 
| 72 | Section 4.  If House Joint Resolution 381 or Senate Joint | 
| 73 | Resolution 658, 2011 Regular Session, is approved by a vote of | 
| 74 | the electors in a special election held concurrent with the | 
| 75 | presidential preference primary in 2012, subsection (3) of | 
| 76 | section 193.1555, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 77 | 193.1555  Assessment of certain residential and | 
| 78 | nonresidential real property.- | 
| 79 | (3)  Beginning in 2012 2009, or the year following the year | 
| 80 | the property is placed on the tax roll, whichever is later, the | 
| 81 | property shall be reassessed annually on January 1. Any change | 
| 82 | resulting from such reassessment may not exceed 5 10percent of | 
| 83 | the assessed value of the property for the prior year, except as | 
| 84 | provided in subsection (6). | 
| 85 | Section 5.  If House Joint Resolution 381 or Senate Joint | 
| 86 | Resolution 658, 2011 Regular Session, is approved by a vote of | 
| 87 | the electors in the general election held in November 2012, | 
| 88 | section 196.078, Florida Statutes, is created to read: | 
| 89 | 196.078  Additional homestead exemption for a first-time | 
| 90 | Florida homesteader.- | 
| 91 | (1)  As used in this section, the term "first-time Florida | 
| 92 | homesteader" means a person who establishes the right to receive | 
| 93 | the homestead exemption provided in s. 196.031 within 1 year | 
| 94 | after purchasing the homestead property and who has not owned | 
| 95 | property in the 3 calendar years prior to such purchase to which | 
| 96 | the homestead exemption provided in s. 196.031(1)(a) applied. | 
| 97 | (2)  For purposes of this section, the date on which the | 
| 98 | deed or other transfer instrument was signed and notarized or | 
| 99 | otherwise executed shall be considered the date a property was | 
| 100 | purchased. | 
| 101 | (3)  Every first-time Florida homesteader is entitled to an | 
| 102 | additional homestead exemption in an amount equal to 50 percent | 
| 103 | of the homestead property's just value on January 1 of the year | 
| 104 | the homestead is established, for all levies other than school | 
| 105 | district levies. The additional exemption may not exceed the | 
| 106 | median just value for homestead property in the county where the | 
| 107 | property at issue is located in the calendar year immediately | 
| 108 | preceding January 1 of the year the homestead is established. | 
| 109 | The additional exemption applies for a period of 5 years or | 
| 110 | until the year the property is sold, whichever occurs first. The | 
| 111 | amount of the additional exemption shall be reduced in each | 
| 112 | subsequent year by an amount equal to 20 percent of the amount | 
| 113 | of the additional exemption received in the year the homestead | 
| 114 | was established or by an amount equal to the difference between | 
| 115 | the just value of the property and the assessed value of the | 
| 116 | property determined under s. 193.155, whichever is greater. Not | 
| 117 | more than one exemption provided under this subsection is | 
| 118 | allowed per homestead property. The additional exemption applies | 
| 119 | to property purchased on or after January 1, 2012, but is not | 
| 120 | available in the sixth and subsequent years after the additional | 
| 121 | exemption is first received. | 
| 122 | (4)  The property appraiser shall require a first-time | 
| 123 | Florida homesteader claiming an exemption under this section to | 
| 124 | submit, not later than March 1 on a form prescribed by the | 
| 125 | Department of Revenue, a sworn statement attesting that the | 
| 126 | taxpayer, and each other person who holds legal or equitable | 
| 127 | title to the property, has not owned property in the 3 calendar | 
| 128 | years prior to such purchase to which the homestead exemption | 
| 129 | provided by s. 196.031(1)(a) applied. In order for the exemption | 
| 130 | to be retained upon the addition of another person to the title | 
| 131 | to the property, the person added must also submit, not later | 
| 132 | than the subsequent March 1 on a form prescribed by the | 
| 133 | department, a sworn statement attesting that he or she has not | 
| 134 | owned property in the 3 calendar years prior to being added to | 
| 135 | the title to which the homestead exemption provided by s. | 
| 136 | 196.031(1)(a) applied. | 
| 137 | (5)  Sections 196.131 and 196.161 apply to the exemption | 
| 138 | provided in this section. | 
| 139 | Section 6.  If House Joint Resolution 381 or Senate Joint | 
| 140 | Resolution 658, 2011 Regular Session, is approved by a vote of | 
| 141 | the electors in a special election held concurrent with the | 
| 142 | presidential preference primary in 2012, section 196.078, | 
| 143 | Florida Statutes, is created to read: | 
| 144 | 196.078  Additional homestead exemption for a first-time | 
| 145 | Florida homesteader.- | 
| 146 | (1)  As used in this section, the term "first-time Florida | 
| 147 | homesteader" means a person who establishes the right to receive | 
| 148 | the homestead exemption provided in s. 196.031 within 1 year | 
| 149 | after purchasing the homestead property and who has not owned | 
| 150 | property in the 3 calendar years prior to such purchase to which | 
| 151 | the homestead exemption provided in s. 196.031(1)(a) applied. | 
| 152 | (2)  For purposes of this section, the date on which the | 
| 153 | deed or other transfer instrument was signed and notarized or | 
| 154 | otherwise executed shall be considered the date a property was | 
| 155 | purchased. | 
| 156 | (3)  Every first-time Florida homesteader is entitled to an | 
| 157 | additional homestead exemption in an amount equal to 50 percent | 
| 158 | of the homestead property's just value on January 1 of the year | 
| 159 | the homestead is established, for all levies other than school | 
| 160 | district levies. The additional exemption may not exceed the | 
| 161 | median just value for homestead property in the county where the | 
| 162 | property at issue is located in the calendar year immediately | 
| 163 | preceding January 1 of the year the homestead is established. | 
| 164 | The additional exemption applies for a period of 5 years or | 
| 165 | until the year the property is sold, whichever occurs first. The | 
| 166 | amount of the additional exemption shall be reduced in each | 
| 167 | subsequent year by an amount equal to 20 percent of the amount | 
| 168 | of the additional exemption received in the year the homestead | 
| 169 | was established or by an amount equal to the difference between | 
| 170 | the just value of the property and the assessed value of the | 
| 171 | property determined under s. 193.155, whichever is greater. Not | 
| 172 | more than one exemption provided under this subsection is | 
| 173 | allowed per homestead property. The additional exemption applies | 
| 174 | to property purchased on or after January 1, 2011, but is not | 
| 175 | available in the sixth and subsequent years after the additional | 
| 176 | exemption is first received. | 
| 177 | (4)(a)  In 2011, the property appraiser shall require a | 
| 178 | first-time Florida homesteader claiming an exemption under this | 
| 179 | section to submit, not later than June 1 on a form prescribed by | 
| 180 | the Department of Revenue, a sworn statement attesting that the | 
| 181 | taxpayer, and each other person who holds legal or equitable | 
| 182 | title to the property, has not owned property in the 3 calendar | 
| 183 | years prior to such purchase to which the homestead exemption | 
| 184 | provided by s. 196.031(1)(a) applied. | 
| 185 | (b)  In 2013 and thereafter, the property appraiser shall | 
| 186 | require a first-time Florida homesteader claiming an exemption | 
| 187 | under this section to submit, not later than March 1 on a form | 
| 188 | prescribed by the Department of Revenue, a sworn statement | 
| 189 | attesting that the taxpayer, and each other person who holds | 
| 190 | legal or equitable title to the property, has not owned property | 
| 191 | in the 3 calendar years prior to such purchase to which the | 
| 192 | homestead exemption provided by s. 196.031(1)(a) applied. | 
| 193 | (c)  In order for the exemption provided under this section | 
| 194 | to be retained upon the addition of another person to the title | 
| 195 | to the property, the person added must also submit, not later | 
| 196 | than the subsequent March 1 on a form prescribed by the | 
| 197 | department, a sworn statement attesting that he or she has not | 
| 198 | owned property in the 3 calendar years prior to being added to | 
| 199 | the title to which the homestead exemption provided by s. | 
| 200 | 196.031(1)(a) applied. | 
| 201 | (5)  Sections 196.131 and 196.161 apply to the exemption | 
| 202 | provided in this section. | 
| 203 | Section 7.  (1)  In anticipation of implementing this act, | 
| 204 | the executive director of the Department of Revenue is | 
| 205 | authorized, and all conditions are deemed met, to adopt | 
| 206 | emergency rules under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54(4), Florida | 
| 207 | Statutes, to make necessary changes and preparations so that | 
| 208 | forms, methods, and data records, electronic or otherwise, are | 
| 209 | ready and in place if sections 2, 4, and 6 or sections 1, 3, and | 
| 210 | 5 of this act become law. | 
| 211 | (2)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, such | 
| 212 | emergency rules shall remain in effect for 18 months after the | 
| 213 | date of adoption and may be renewed during the pendency of | 
| 214 | procedures to adopt rules addressing the subject of the | 
| 215 | emergency rules. | 
| 216 | Section 8.  If House Joint Resolution 381 or Senate Joint | 
| 217 | Resolution 658, 2011 Regular Session, is approved by a vote of | 
| 218 | the electors in a special election held concurrent with the | 
| 219 | presidential preference primary in 2012 or in the general | 
| 220 | election held in November 2012, section 218.12, Florida | 
| 221 | Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 222 | 218.12  Appropriations to offset reductions in ad valorem | 
| 223 | tax revenue in fiscally constrained counties.- | 
| 224 | (1)(a)  Beginning in fiscal year 2008-2009, the Legislature | 
| 225 | shall appropriate moneys to offset the reductions in ad valorem | 
| 226 | tax revenue experienced by fiscally constrained counties, as | 
| 227 | defined in s. 218.67(1), which occur as a direct result of the | 
| 228 | implementation of revisions of Art. VII of the State | 
| 229 | Constitution approved in the special election held on January | 
| 230 | 29, 2008. The moneys appropriated for this purpose shall be | 
| 231 | distributed in January of each fiscal year among the fiscally | 
| 232 | constrained counties based on each county's proportion of the | 
| 233 | total reduction in ad valorem tax revenue resulting from the | 
| 234 | implementation of the revision. | 
| 235 | (b) (2)On or before November 15 of each year, beginning in | 
| 236 | 2008, each fiscally constrained county shall apply to the | 
| 237 | Department of Revenue to participate in the distribution of the | 
| 238 | appropriation and provide documentation supporting the county's | 
| 239 | estimated reduction in ad valorem tax revenue in the form and | 
| 240 | manner prescribed by the Department of Revenue. The | 
| 241 | documentation must include an estimate of the reduction in | 
| 242 | taxable value directly attributable to revisions of Art. VII of | 
| 243 | the State Constitution for all county taxing jurisdictions | 
| 244 | within the county and shall be prepared by the property | 
| 245 | appraiser in each fiscally constrained county. The documentation | 
| 246 | must also include the county millage rates applicable in all | 
| 247 | such jurisdictions for both the current year and the prior year; | 
| 248 | rolled-back rates, determined as provided in s. 200.065, for | 
| 249 | each county taxing jurisdiction; and maximum millage rates that | 
| 250 | could have been levied by majority vote pursuant to s. 200.185. | 
| 251 | For purposes of this section, each fiscally constrained county's | 
| 252 | reduction in ad valorem tax revenue shall be calculated as 95 | 
| 253 | percent of the estimated reduction in taxable value times the | 
| 254 | lesser of the 2007 applicable millage rate or the applicable | 
| 255 | millage rate for each county taxing jurisdiction in the prior | 
| 256 | year. | 
| 257 | (c) (3)In determining the reductions in ad valorem tax | 
| 258 | revenues occurring as a result of the implementation of the | 
| 259 | revisions to Art. VII of the State Constitution approved in the | 
| 260 | special election held on January 29, 2008, the value of | 
| 261 | assessments reduced pursuant to s. 4(d)(8)a., Art. VII of the | 
| 262 | State Constitution shall include only the reduction in taxable | 
| 263 | value for homesteads established January 1 of the year in which | 
| 264 | the determination is being made. | 
| 265 | (2)(a)  Beginning in the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the | 
| 266 | Legislature shall consider appropriating moneys to offset the | 
| 267 | reductions in ad valorem tax revenue experienced by fiscally | 
| 268 | constrained counties, as defined in s. 218.67(1), which occur as | 
| 269 | a direct result of the implementation of the revision of Art. | 
| 270 | VII of the State Constitution contained in House Joint | 
| 271 | Resolution 381 or Senate Joint Resolution 658, 2011 Regular | 
| 272 | Session. The moneys appropriated for this purpose shall be | 
| 273 | distributed among the fiscally constrained counties based on | 
| 274 | each county's proportion of the total reduction in ad valorem | 
| 275 | tax revenue resulting from the implementation of the revision. | 
| 276 | (b)  On or before February 1 each year, each fiscally | 
| 277 | constrained county shall apply to the Department of Revenue to | 
| 278 | participate in the distribution of the appropriation and provide | 
| 279 | documentation supporting the county's estimated reduction in ad | 
| 280 | valorem tax revenue to the Department of Revenue. | 
| 281 | Section 9.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, | 
| 282 | except that the sections of this act which take effect upon the | 
| 283 | approval of House Joint Resolution 381 or Senate Joint | 
| 284 | Resolution 658, 2011 Regular Session, by a vote of the electors | 
| 285 | in a special election held concurrent with the presidential | 
| 286 | preference primary in 2012 shall apply retroactively to the 2012 | 
| 287 | tax roll if the revision of the State Constitution contained in | 
| 288 | House Joint Resolution 381 or Senate Joint Resolution 658, 2011 | 
| 289 | Regular Session, is approved by a vote of the electors in a | 
| 290 | special election held concurrent with the presidential | 
| 291 | preference primary in 2012; or the sections of this act which | 
| 292 | take effect upon the approval of House Joint Resolution 381 or | 
| 293 | Senate Joint Resolution 658, 2011 Regular Session, by a vote of | 
| 294 | the electors in the general election held in November 2012 shall | 
| 295 | apply to the 2013 tax roll if the revision of the State | 
| 296 | Constitution contained in House Joint Resolution 381 or Senate | 
| 297 | Joint Resolution 658, 2011 Regular Session, is approved by a | 
| 298 | vote of the electors in the general election held in November | 
| 299 | 2012. |