KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Florida

HB0071 • 2026

Distribution of Funds to Homestead Property Owners

Distribution of Funds to Homestead Property Owners

Taxes
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Holcomb
Last action
2025-11-18
Official status
House - Withdrawn prior to introduction
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not specify the exact amount of funds distributed or the criteria for eligibility beyond property value range. The duration of the program is specified to end on September 30, 2030, rather than January 1, 2031.

Distribution of Funds to Homestead Property Owners

This bill creates a program within the Department of Financial Services to distribute funds annually to eligible homestead property owners from September 30, 2026, through September 30, 2030.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Homestead Property Tax Relief Program within the Department of Financial Services (DFS).
  • Defines an 'eligible homesteader' as someone who receives a homestead exemption on property valued between $100,000 and $450,000.
  • Requires the Chief Financial Officer to give each eligible homesteader $1,000 every year from September 30, 2026, through September 30, 2030.
  • Directs the Chief Financial Officer to work with county property appraisers to identify all eligible homesteaders.
  • Requires DFS to develop rules for running the program.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Property owners who qualify as 'eligible homesteader' under the new law.
  • The Department of Financial Services and its Chief Financial Officer.

Terms To Know

homestead exemption
A tax benefit that reduces property taxes for homeowners living in their primary residence.
eligible homesteader
A homeowner who meets the criteria set by the law to receive financial assistance from the Homestead Property Tax Relief Program.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The program only lasts until September 30, 2030.
  • It is unclear how many property owners will qualify for this relief.

Bill History

  1. 2025-11-18 House

    • Withdrawn prior to introduction

  2. 2025-10-07 House

    • Referred to Select Committee on Property Taxes • Referred to Budget Committee • Now in Select Committee on Property Taxes

  3. 2025-09-30 House

    • Filed

Official Summary Text

Distribution of Funds to Homestead Property Owners; Creates Homestead Property Tax Relief Program within DFS; defines “eligible homesteader”; requires CFO to annually issue warrants of specified amount to certain homestead property owners beginning & ending on specified dates; requires CFO to work with county property appraisers for specified purpose; provides future repeal.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 71 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb71-00
Page 1 of 2
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

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to distribution of funds to homestead 2
property owners; creating s. 192.1321, F.S.; creating 3
the Homestead Property Tax Relief Program within the 4
Department of Financial Services; defining the term 5
"eligible homesteader"; requiring the Chief Financial 6
Officer to annually issue warrants of a specified 7
amount to certain homestead property owners beginning 8
and ending on specified dates; requiring the Chief 9
Financial Officer to work with county property 10
appraisers for a specified purpose; requiring the 11
department to develop rules; providing for future 12
repeal; providing an effective date. 13
14
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 15
16
Section 1. Section 192.1231, Florida Statutes, is created 17
to read: 18
192.1231 Homestead Property Tax Relief Program.— 19
(1) The Homestead Property Tax Relief Program is created 20
within the Department of Financial Services. The Department of 21
Financial Services shall provide funding and oversight for the 22
program consistent with this section. The purpose of the program 23
is to distribute funds annually to eligible homestead property 24
owners. 25

HB 71 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb71-00
Page 2 of 2
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) As used in this section, the term "eligible 26
homesteader" means the person who receives a homestead exemption 27
pursuant to s. 196.031 on homestead property owned on or before 28
September 30, 2024, with a current taxable value of at least 29
$100,000 but no more than $450,000. 30
(3) Each September 30, beginning in 2026 and ending in 31
2030, the Chief Financial Officer shall issue a warrant in the 32
amount of $1,000 to each eligible homesteader. 33
(4) The Chief Financial Officer shall work with county 34
property appraisers to identify all eligible homesteaders. 35
(5) The Department of Financial Services shall develop 36
rules to administer the Homestead Property Tax Relief Program. 37
(6) This section is repealed January 1, 2031. 38
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 39