Read the full stored bill text
HJR 903 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hjr903-00
Page 1 of 9
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 an amendment to Section 4 2
of Article VII and the creation of a new section in 3
Article XII of the State Constitution to reduce the 4
maximum percentage that the assessed value of 5
nonhomestead properties may increase annually and to 6
provide an effective date. 7
8
Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
10
That the following amendment to Section 4 of Article VII 11
and the creation of a new section in Article XII of the State 12
Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors 13
of this state for approval or rejection at the next general 14
election or at an earlier special election specifically 15
authorized by law for that purpose: 16
ARTICLE VII 17
FINANCE AND TAXATION 18
SECTION 4. Taxation; assessments.—By general law 19
regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just 20
valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided: 21
(a) Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge 22
to Florida's aquifers, or land used exclusively for 23
noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general 24
law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use. 25
HJR 903 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hjr903-00
Page 2 of 9
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
(b) As provided by general law and subject to conditions, 26
limitations, and reasonable definitions specified therein, land 27
used for conservation purposes shall be classified by general 28
law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use. 29
(c) Pursuant to general law tangible personal property 30
held for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for 31
taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be 32
classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation. 33
(d) All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under 34
Section 6 of this Article shall have their homestead assessed at 35
just value as of January 1 of the year following the effective 36
date of this amendment. This assessment shall change only as 37
provided in this subsection. 38
(1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be 39
changed annually on January 1st of each year; but those changes 40
in assessments shall not exceed the lower of the following: 41
a. Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior 42
year. 43
b. The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all 44
urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or 45
successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially 46
reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of 47
Labor Statistics. 48
(2) No assessment shall exceed just value. 49
(3) After any change of ownership, as provided by general 50
HJR 903 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hjr903-00
Page 3 of 9
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
law, homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of 51
January 1 of the following year, unless the provisions of 52
paragraph (8) apply. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed 53
as provided in this subsection. 54
(4) New homestead property shall be assessed at just value 55
as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of the 56
homestead, unless the provisions of paragraph (8) apply. That 57
assessment shall only change as provided in this subsection. 58
(5) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to 59
homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by general 60
law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any change, 61
addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be 62
assessed as provided in this subsection. 63
(6) In the event of a termination of homestead status, the 64
property shall be assessed as provided by general law. 65
(7) The provisions of this amendment are severable. If any 66
of the provisions of this amendment shall be held 67
unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the 68
decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining 69
provisions of this amendment. 70
(8)a. A person who establishes a new homestead as of 71
January 1 and who has received a homestead exemption pursuant to 72
Section 6 of this Article as of January 1 of any of the three 73
years immediately preceding the establishment of the new 74
homestead is entitled to have the new homestead assessed at less 75
HJR 903 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hjr903-00
Page 4 of 9
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
than just value. The assessed value of the newly established 76
homestead shall be determined as follows: 77
1. If the just value of the new homestead is greater than 78
or equal to the just value of the prior homestead as of January 79
1 of the year in which the prior homestead was abandoned, the 80
assessed value of the new homestead shall be the just value of 81
the new homestead minus an amount equal to the lesser of 82
$500,000 or the difference between the just value and the 83
assessed value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the 84
year in which the prior homestead was abandoned. Thereafter, the 85
homestead shall be assessed as provided in this subsection. 86
2. If the just value of the new homestead is less than the 87
just value of the prior homestead as of January 1 of the year in 88
which the prior homestead was abandoned, the assessed value of 89
the new homestead shall be equal to the just value of the new 90
homestead divided by the just value of the prior homestead and 91
multiplied by the assessed value of the prior homestead. 92
However, if the difference between the just value of the new 93
homestead and the assessed value of the new homestead calculated 94
pursuant to this sub-subparagraph is greater than $500,000, the 95
assessed value of the new homestead shall be increased so that 96
the difference between the just value and the assessed value 97
equals $500,000. Thereafter, the homestead shall be assessed as 98
provided in this subsection. 99
b. By general law and subject to conditions specified 100
HJR 903 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hjr903-00
Page 5 of 9
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
therein, the legislature shall provide for application of this 101
paragraph to property owned by more than one person. 102
(e) The legislature may, by general law, for assessment 103
purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow 104
counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that 105
historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of 106
character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply 107
only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The 108
requirements for eligible properties must be specified by 109
general law. 110
(f) A county may, in the manner prescribed by general law, 111
provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead 112
property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of 113
that property which results from the construction or 114
reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing 115
living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents 116
or parents of the owner of the property or of the owner's spouse 117
if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the 118
living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a 119
reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following: 120
(1) The increase in assessed value resulting from 121
construction or reconstruction of the property. 122
(2) Twenty percent of the total assessed value of the 123
property as improved. 124
(g) For all levies other than school district levies, 125
HJR 903 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hjr903-00
Page 6 of 9
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
assessments of residential real property, as defined by general 126
law, which contains nine units or fewer and which is not subject 127
to the assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a) 128
through (d) shall change only as provided in this subsection. 129
(1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be 130
changed annually on the date of assessment provided by law; but 131
those changes in assessments shall not exceed three percent (3%) 132
ten percent (10%) of the assessment for the prior year. 133
(2) No assessment shall exceed just value. 134
(3) After a change of ownership or control, as defined by 135
general law, including any change of ownership of a legal entity 136
that owns the property, such property shall be assessed at just 137
value as of the next assessment date. Thereafter, such property 138
shall be assessed as provided in this subsection. 139
(4) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to 140
such property shall be assessed as provided for by general law; 141
however, after the adjustment for any change, addition, 142
reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as 143
provided in this subsection. 144
(h) For all levies other than school district levies, 145
assessments of real property that is not subject to the 146
assessment limitations set forth in subsections (a) through (d) 147
and (g) shall change only as provided in this subsection. 148
(1) Assessments subject to this subsection shall be 149
changed annually on the date of assessment provided by law; but 150
HJR 903 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hjr903-00
Page 7 of 9
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
those changes in assessments shall not exceed three percent (3%) 151
ten percent (10%) of the assessment for the prior year. 152
(2) No assessment shall exceed just value. 153
(3) The legislature must provide that such property shall 154
be assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a 155
qualifying improvement, as defined by general law, is made to 156
such property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as 157
provided in this subsection. 158
(4) The legislature may provide that such property shall 159
be assessed at just value as of the next assessment date after a 160
change of ownership or control, as defined by general law, 161
including any change of ownership of the legal entity that owns 162
the property. Thereafter, such property shall be assessed as 163
provided in this subsection. 164
(5) Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to 165
such property shall be assessed as provided for by general law; 166
however, after the adjustment for any change, addition, 167
reduction, or improvement, the property shall be assessed as 168
provided in this subsection. 169
(i) The legislature, by general law and subject to 170
conditions specified therein, may prohibit the consideration of 171
the following in the determination of the assessed value of real 172
property: 173
(1) Any change or improvement to real property used for 174
residential purposes made to improve the property's resistance 175
HJR 903 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hjr903-00
Page 8 of 9
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 wind damage. 176
(2) The installation of a solar or renewable energy source 177
device. 178
(j)(1) The assessment of the following working waterfront 179
properties shall be based upon the current use of the property: 180
a. Land used predominantly for commercial fishing 181
purposes. 182
b. Land that is accessible to the public and used for 183
vessel launches into waters that are navigable. 184
c. Marinas and drystacks that are open to the public. 185
d. Water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities, 186
commercial fishing facilities, and marine vessel construction 187
and repair facilities and their support activities. 188
(2) The assessment benefit provided by this subsection is 189
subject to conditions and limitations and reasonable definitions 190
as specified by the legislature by general law. 191
ARTICLE XII 192
SCHEDULE 193
Reducing the maximum percentage that the assessed value of 194
nonhomestead properties may increase annually.—This section and 195
the amendment to Section 4 of Article VII reducing the maximum 196
percentage that the assessed value of property that is not 197
subject to the homestead exemption may increase annually shall 198
take effect January 1, 2027. 199
HJR 903 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hjr903-00
Page 9 of 9
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
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be 200
placed on the ballot: 201
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 202
ARTICLE VII, SECTION 4 203
ARTICLE XII 204
REDUCING THE MAXIMUM PERCENTAGE THAT THE ASSESSED VALUE OF 205
NONHOMESTEAD PROPERTIES MAY INCREASE ANNUALLY.—Proposing an 206
amendment to the State Constitution, effective January 1, 2027, 207
reducing the maximum percentage that the assessed value of 208
property that is not subject to the homestead exemption may 209
increase annually from 10% to 3%. 210