HB0227 • 2026

Eligibility of Leasehold Interests for Homestead Exemptions

Housing Taxes

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: State Affairs Committee ; Maney ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Gerwig
Last action: 2026-03-09
Official status: House - Laid on Table, refer to CS/SB 110
Effective date: upon becom

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text explicitly limits the deemed ownership status to the specific purpose of homestead exemption, not general property rights.

Homestead Exemption for Long-Term Leaseholders

This bill changes Florida law to allow people with very long-term leases on homes or condos to qualify as having legal title for property tax breaks.

What This Bill Does

Amends section 196.041 of the Florida Statutes regarding homestead exemptions.
Allows lessees with a bona fide lease of an original term of 98 years or more to be treated as having legal title for tax purposes.
Applies this rule to residential parcels and condominiums defined in chapter 718.
Includes leases that end upon the death of the lessee if they meet the length requirement.
Confirms existing rules for tenants with older leases from before June 19, 1973.

Who It Names or Affects

People who hold leasehold interests in residential properties or condominiums.
Lessees whose contracts have an original term of at least 98 years.
Tenants with leases existing prior to June 19, 1973.

Terms To Know

Homestead Exemption: A reduction in property taxes for a person's primary residence based on having legal or equitable title.
Leasehold Interest: The right to use and occupy land or buildings under a lease agreement instead of owning the full title.
Bona Fide Lease: A genuine, good-faith contract for leasing property without fraud.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how tax amounts will change after the exemption is applied.
It only covers leases with specific length requirements and does not mention shorter-term rentals.
The text states it takes effect upon becoming law but does not list a specific calendar date.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

185837

Committee amendment H 227 Filed • Maney

Adopted 2/10/2026

Plain English: This amendment changes how long-term land leases qualify for homestead tax exemptions by allowing them to count even if they end when the tenant dies.

Leasehold interests can now get a homestead exemption even if the lease says it ends when the person renting the property passes away.

The official text provided is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, so details about leases lasting exactly 50 years or longer cannot be fully explained.
Because the sentence breaks at 'or persons holding leases of 50 years or', it is unclear if there are other specific conditions attached to this rule.

Bill History

2026-03-09 House
• Laid on Table, refer to CS/SB 110
2026-02-11 House
• Bill referred to House Calendar • Added to Second Reading Calendar
2026-02-10 House
• Favorable with CS by State Affairs Committee • Reported out of State Affairs Committee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2026-02-06 House
• Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
2026-01-14 House
• Favorable by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee • Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee • Now in State Affairs Committee
2026-01-13 House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2026-01-12 House
• Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
2025-12-10 House
• Favorable by Ways & Means Committee • Reported out of Ways & Means Committee • Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2025-12-03 House
• Added to Ways & Means Committee agenda
2025-10-28 House
• Referred to Ways & Means Committee • Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee • Referred to State Affairs Committee • Now in Ways & Means Committee
2025-10-21 House
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Eligibility of Leasehold Interests for Homestead Exemptions; Revises circumstances under which persons may be deemed to have legal or beneficial & equitable title to certain property for homestead exemption purposes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

CS/HB 227 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb227-01-c1
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 eligibility of leasehold interests 2
for homestead exemptions; amending s. 196.041, F.S.; 3
revising the circumstances under which a person may be 4
deemed to have legal or beneficial and equitable title 5
to certain property for homestead exemption purposes; 6
providing construction; providing an effective date. 7
8
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
10
Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 196.041, Florida 11
Statutes, is amended to read: 12
196.041 Extent of homestead exemptions.— 13
(1) Vendees in possession of real estate under bona fide 14
contracts to purchase when such instruments, under which they 15
claim title, are recorded in the office of the clerk of the 16
circuit court where said properties lie, and who reside thereon 17
in good faith and make the same their permanent residence; 18
persons residing on real estate by virtue of dower or other 19
estates therein limited in time by deed, will, jointure, or 20
settlement; and lessees owning the leasehold interest in a bona 21
fide lease having an original term of 98 years or more in a 22
residential parcel or in a condominium parcel as defined in 23
chapter 718, even if such lease contains a provision terminating 24
the leasehold interest upon the death of the lessees, or persons 25

CS/HB 227 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb227-01-c1
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

holding leases of 50 years or more, existing prior to June 19, 26
1973, for the purpose of homestead exemptions from ad valorem 27
taxes and no other purpose, shall be deemed to have legal or 28
beneficial and equitable title to said property. In addition, a 29
tenant-stockholder or member of a cooperative apartment 30
corporation who is entitled solely by reason of ownership of 31
stock or membership in the corporation to occupy for dwelling 32
purposes an apartment in a building owned by the corporation, 33
for the purpose of homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes and 34
for no other purpose, is deemed to have beneficial title in 35
equity to said apartment and a proportionate share of the land 36
on which the building is situated. 37
Section 2. The amendment made by this act to s. 196.041, 38
Florida Statutes, is remedial and clarifying in nature. 39
Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 40