Florida Amendment 5, Annual Inflation Adjustment for Homestead Property Tax Exemption Value Amendment (2024)

Florida Amendment 5
Election date November 5, 2024
Topic Taxes and Property
Status a Approved
Type Constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

Florida Amendment 5, the Annual Inflation Adjustment for Homestead Property Tax Exemption Value Amendment, was on the ballot in Florida as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 5, 2024. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported an annual inflation adjustment to the amount of assessed value that is exempt from property taxation.

A "no" vote opposed an annual inflation adjustment to the amount of assessed value that is exempt from property taxation.

Election results

Amendment 5 needed to receive a 60% vote to be approved.

Florida Amendment 5
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		6,687,238	66.02%
No		3,441,658	33.98%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview

What did Amendment 5 do?

See also: Text of measure

As of 2024, in Florida, property tax (millage) rates were set by counties, school districts, cities, and special districts. Homes in Florida are assessed at just value (market value), minus the homestead exemption. The homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of a property. Every primary residence is eligible for a $25,000 homestead exemption, which exempts that amount from all taxes. Another $25,000 homestead exemption is applied on a homestead's value between $50,000 and $75,000, which exempts that amount from all taxes except school district taxes.

The amendment provided for an annual inflation adjustment for the value of the homestead property tax exemption that applies to non-school taxes. The adjustment was set to be made every year on January 1 based on the percent change in the Consumer Price Index reported by the U.S. Department of Labor if the change is positive.

How did Amendment 5 get on the ballot?

See also: Path to the ballot

To put a legislatively referred constitutional amendment before voters, a 60 percent vote is required in both the Florida State Senate and the Florida House of Representatives.

The amendment was approved by the Florida House of Representatives on February 1, 2024, with 86 representatives voting in favor and 29 representatives voting against. Among House Democrats, five were in favor and 29 were opposed. Among House Republicans, 81 were in favor and none were opposed.

The amendment was approved in the Florida State Senate on March 6, 2024, by a vote of 25-15. Of Senate Republicans, 25 were in favor and three were opposed. All 12 Senate Democrats voted against the amendment.

How has Florida voted on other property tax amendments?

See also: Background

In 2020, voters approved Amendment 5 by a vote of 74.49% to 25.51%. The amendment extended the period during which a person may transfer "Save Our Homes" benefits to a new homestead property from two years to three years.

In 2022, the Florida State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment to the ballot that would have provided an additional homestead property tax exemption on $50,000 of assessed value on property owned by certain public service workers including teachers, law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, active duty members of the military and Florida National Guard, and child welfare service employees. The amendment received 58.68% of the vote but failed due to the state's 60% supermajority requirement to adopt constitutional amendments.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for the measure was as follows:

“

ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE VALUE OF CERTAIN HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for the measure was as follows:

{{Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to require an annual adjustment for inflation to the value of current or future homestead exemptions that apply solely to levies other than school district levies and for which every person who has legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, or another person legally or naturally dependent upon the owner is eligible. This amendment takes effect January 1, 2025.}}

Constitutional changes

See also: Article VII, Florida Constitution and Article XII, Florida Constitution

The measure amended Article VII and Article XII of the state constitution. The following struck-through text was deleted and underlined text was added. Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.

(a) (1) Every person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, or another legally or naturally dependent upon the owner, shall be exempt from taxation thereon, except assessments for special benefits, as follows:

a. Up to the assessed valuation of twenty-five thousand dollars; and,

b. For all levies other than school district levies, on the assessed valuation greater than fifty thousand dollars and up to seventy-five thousand dollars, upon establishment of right thereto in the manner prescribed by law. The real estate may be held by legal or equitable title, by the entireties, jointly, in common, as a condominium, or indirectly by stock ownership or membership representing the owner's or member's proprietary interest in a corporation owning a fee or a leasehold initially in excess of ninety-eight years. The exemption shall not apply with respect to any assessment roll until such roll is first determined to be in compliance with the provisions of section 4 by a state agency designated by general law. This exemption is repealed on the effective date of any amendment to this Article which provides for the assessment of homestead property at less than just value.

(2) The twenty-five thousand dollar amount of assessed valuation exempt from taxation provided in subparagraph (a)(1)b. shall be adjusted annually on January 1 of each year for inflation using the percent change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967 equal to 100, or successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, if such percent change is positive.

(3) The amount of assessed valuation exempt from taxation for which every person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, or another person legally or naturally dependent upon the owner, is eligible, and which applies solely to levies other than school district levies, that is added to this constitution after January 1, 2025, shall be adjusted annually on January 1 of each year for inflation using the percent change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967 equal to 100, or successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, if such percent change is positive, beginning the year following the effective date of such exemption.

(b) Not more than one exemption shall be allowed any individual or family unit or with respect to any residential unit. No exemption shall exceed the value of the real estate assessable to the owner or, in case of ownership through stock or membership in a corporation, the value of the proportion which the interest in the corporation bears to the assessed value of the property.

(c) By general law and subject to conditions specified therein, the Legislature may provide to renters, who are permanent residents, ad valorem tax relief on all ad valorem tax levies. Such ad valorem tax relief shall be in the form and amount established by general law.

(d) The legislature may, by general law, allow counties or municipalities, for the purpose of their respective tax levies and subject to the provisions of general law, to grant either or both of the following additional homestead tax exemptions:

(1) An exemption not exceeding fifty thousand dollars to a person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, and who has attained age sixty-five, and whose household income, as defined by general law, does not exceed twenty thousand dollars; or

(2) An exemption equal to the assessed value of the property to a person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate with a just value less than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, as determined in the first tax year that the owner applies and is eligible for the exemption, and who has 74 maintained thereon the permanent residence of the owner for not less than twenty-five years, and who has attained age sixty-five, and whose household income does not exceed the income limitation prescribed in paragraph (1). The general law must allow counties and municipalities to grant these additional exemptions, within the limits prescribed in this subsection, by ordinance adopted in the manner prescribed by general law, and must provide for the periodic adjustment of the income limitation prescribed in this subsection for changes in the cost of living.

The general law must allow counties and municipalities to grant these additional exemptions, within the limits prescribed in this subsection, by ordinance adopted in the manner prescribed by general law, and must provide for the periodic adjustment of the income limitation prescribed in this subsection for changes in the cost of living

(e) Each veteran who is age 65 or older who is partially or totally permanently disabled shall receive a discount from the amount of the ad valorem tax otherwise owed on homestead property the veteran owns and resides in if the disability was combat related and the veteran was honorably discharged upon separation from military service. The discount shall be in a percentage equal to the percentage of the veteran's permanent, service-connected disability as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. To qualify for the discount granted by this paragraph, an applicant must submit to the county property appraiser, by March 1, an official letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs stating the percentage of the veteran's service-connected disability and such evidence that reasonably identifies the disability as combat related, and a copy of the veteran's honorable discharge. If the property appraiser denies the request for a discount, the appraiser must notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the denial, and the veteran may reapply. The Legislature may, by general law, waive the annual application requirement in subsequent years.

(2) If a veteran who receives the discount described in paragraph (1) predeceases his or her spouse, and if, upon the death of the veteran, the surviving spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the homestead property and permanently resides thereon, the discount carries over to the surviving spouse until he or she remarries or sells or otherwise disposes of the homestead property. If the surviving spouse sells or otherwise disposes of the property, a discount not to exceed the dollar amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll may be transferred to the surviving spouse's new homestead property, if used as his or her permanent residence and he or she has not remarried.

(3) This subsection is self-executing and does not require implementing legislation.

(f) By general law and subject to conditions and limitations specified therein, the Legislature may provide ad valorem tax relief equal to the total amount or a portion of the ad valorem tax otherwise owed on homestead property to the:

(1) The surviving spouse of a veteran who died from service-connected causes while on active duty as a member of the United States Armed Forces.

(2) The surviving spouse of a first responder who died in the line of duty.

(3) A first responder who is totally and permanently disabled as a result of an injury or injuries sustained in the line of duty. Causal connection between a disability and service in the line of duty shall not be presumed but must be determined as provided by general law. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "disability" does not include a chronic condition or chronic disease, unless the injury sustained in the line of duty was the sole cause of the chronic condition or chronic disease.

As used in this subsection and as further defined by general law, the term "first responder" means a law enforcement officer, a correctional officer, a firefighter, an emergency medical technician, or a paramedic, and the term "in the line of duty" means arising out of and in the actual performance of duty required by employment as a first responder.

ARTICLE XII SCHEDULE

Annual adjustment to homestead exemption value.—This section and the amendment to Section 6 of Article VII requiring an annual adjustment for inflation of specified homestead exemptions shall take effect January 1, 2025.

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2024

Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure.

The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 13, and the FRE is 19. The word count for the ballot title is 9.

The FKGL for the ballot summary is grade level 21, and the FRE is 11. The word count for the ballot summary is 73.

Support

Supporters

Officials

• State Rep. James Buchanan (R)
• State Rep. Ryan Chamberlin (R)
• State Rep. Alina Garcia (R)
• State Rep. Lauren Melo (R)
• State Rep. John Snyder (R)
• State Rep. Keith Truenow (R)
• State Rep. Kaylee Tuck (R)

Arguments

You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Opposition

You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Media editorials

See also: 2024 ballot measure media endorsements

Support

Ballotpedia did not identify any media editorials in support of Amendment 5. If you are aware of one, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Oppose

• The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board: "The Post recommends voters reject this amendment with a 'no' vote. It creates the deceptive impression that state lawmakers are giving homeowners a bigger tax break. In fact they're proposing a change that would diminish revenue badly needed for counties and municipalities to operate and provide the multiple services that make our communities livable. Our counties and cities will still need to pay for municipal services and would have to raise their local tax rates to compensate for the revenue loss this tax break would create. So, increasing homestead exemptions is just a shell game, one that distorts the legitimate need for revenue collection and forces local officials to take back what state lawmakers are pretending to give away. So it benefits no one except the lawmakers who hope to score cheap publicity off it."
• TCPalm Editorial Board: "While those of us who own homestead properties might potentially benefit from a small tax cut, the seemingly never-ending process of asking voters to (artificially) limit their property tax values through constitutional amendments every few years is exhausting. The potential unintended consequences ― from local governments raising millage to make up for revenue shortfalls or cost-shifts to businesses, small or large, that don’t have homesteads ― seem to be rarely considered."
• Palm Beach Post Editorial Board: "The Post recommends voters reject this amendment with a 'no' vote. It creates the deceptive impression that state lawmakers are giving homeowners a bigger tax break. In fact they're proposing a change that would diminish revenue badly needed for counties and municipalities to operate and provide the multiple services that make our communities livable."
• Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Board: "Amendment 5 would not change the basic homestead exemption, which exempts property taxes on the first $25,000 of a home's value. But it could reduce taxes paid of all governmental agencies except schools on the exemption that now excludes valuations between $50,000 and $75,000 of a home's value. If inflation were to go up, the city, county and special district taxes on that other part would go down unless those governing boards raise tax rates. In other words, revenue that pays for police, fire, roads, parks and other municipal and county services could be cut, and while that extra exemption may not save individual taxpayers much, it could be devastating to local governments."

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Florida ballot measures

If you are aware of a committee registered to support or oppose this measure, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Oppose	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

Background

Property taxes in Florida

Property taxes in Florida are levied by counties, school districts, cities, and special districts, which set millage rates. One mill is equal $1 per $1,000 of assessed value. As of 2024, homes in Florida are assessed at just value (market value), less the homestead exemption. Every primary residence is eligible for a $25,000 homestead exemption. Another $25,000 homestead exemption is applied to the value of a homestead between $50,000 up to $75,000 and applies to all taxes except for school district taxes. In Florida, other property tax exemptions may be granted for those with disabilities, those deployed on active military duty, disabled veterans, surviving spouses of veterans or first responders, and low-income citizens aged 65 or older.

Property tax amendments in Florida

Amendment 3 of 2022

See also: Florida Amendment 3, Additional Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Certain Public Service Workers Measure (2022)

In 2022, the Florida State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment to the ballot that would have provided an additional homestead property tax exemption on $50,000 of assessed value on property owned by certain public service workers including teachers, law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, active duty members of the military and Florida National Guard, and child welfare service employees. The amendment received 58.68% of the vote, but failed due to the state's 60% supermajority requirement to adopt constitutional amendments.

Amendment 5 of 2020

See also: Florida Amendment 5, Extend "Save Our Homes" Portability Period Amendment (2020)

In 2020, voters approved Amendment 5 by a vote of 74.49% to 25.51%. The amendment was designed to extend the period during which a person may transfer "Save Our Homes" benefits to a new homestead property from two years to three years. Going into the election, if a person moved to a new home, they had two years to transfer their "Save Our Homes" benefit to have the new home assessed "at less than just value." The amendment was designed to increase that time period to three years rather than two. The Florida Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) determined that approval of the amendment would reduce local property taxes by $1.8 million beginning in fiscal year 2021-22 and would eventually grow to a $10.2 million reduction annually.

"Save Our Homes" property valuation increase limits

See also: Florida Homestead Valuation Limit, Amendment 10 (1992)

Amendment 10 of 1992, a citizen initiative known as the "Save Our Homes Amendment", limited homestead property valuation increases for homes receiving a homestead exemption to a maximum of 3 percent annually. Voters approved the measure in a vote of 54 percent to 46 percent. The difference between the just value and the assessed value is referred to as the Save Our Homes (SOH) benefit.

Florida property value assessment limits for home improvements

See also: Florida Property Value Assessment Exemptions, Amendment 3 (2008) and Florida Property Tax Exemptions for Renewable Energy Equipment, Amendment 4 (August 2016)

Florida Amendment 3 of 2008 authorized the state Legislature to provide that certain home improvements for residential properties could not be considered when determining a property's value for tax purposes. Such improvements included those made to increase resistance to wind damage and the installation of solar devices or renewable energy source devices. The measure was placed on the ballot by the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission and was approved by a vote of 60.51 percent to 39.49 percent.

Amendment 4 of 2016 extended the property tax exemption for solar and renewable energy devices to commercial and industrial properties. It was approved by a vote of 72.62 percent to 27.38 percent.

Property tax ballot measures, 2024

Ten ballot measures concerning property taxes were certified to appear on the 2024 ballot in eight states.

State	Year	Ballot Measure	Type	Status
Wyoming	2024	Wyoming Property Tax on Residential Property and Owner-Occupied Primary Residences Amendment	Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Approved
New Mexico	2024	New Mexico Constitutional Amendment 1	Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Approved
New Mexico	2024	New Mexico Constitutional Amendment 2	Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Approved
Colorado	2024	Colorado Amendment G	Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Approved
Virginia	2024	Virginia Property Tax Exemption for Veterans and Surviving Spouses Amendment	Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Approved
Arizona	2024	Arizona Proposition 312	Legislatively referred state statute	Approved
Florida	2024	Florida Amendment 5	Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Approved
Georgia	2024	Georgia Referendum A	Legislatively referred state statute	Approved
Georgia	2024	Georgia Amendment 1	Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Approved
Louisiana	2024	Louisiana Amendment 4	Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Approved

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Florida Constitution

To put a legislatively referred constitutional amendment before voters, a 60 percent vote is required in both the Florida State Senate and the Florida House of Representatives.

The amendment was introduced as House Joint Resolution 7017 on January 9, 2024. It was approved in the House on February 1, 2024, with 86 representatives voting in favor and 29 representatives voting against. Among House Democrats, five were in favor and 29 were opposed. Among House Republicans, 81 were in favor and none were opposed.

The amendment was approved in the Senate on March 6, by a vote of 25-15. Of Senate Republicans, 25 were in favor and three were opposed. All 12 Senate Democrats voted against the amendment.

Vote in the Florida House of Representatives February 1, 2024
Requirement: Three-fifths (60 percent) vote of all members in each chamber
Number of yes votes required: 72  a
	Yes	No	Not voting
Total	86	29	5
Total percent	71.67%	24.17%	4.17%
Democrat	5	29	2
Republican	81	0	3

Vote in the Florida State Senate March 6, 2024
Requirement: Three-fifths (60 percent) vote of all members in each chamber
Number of yes votes required: 24  a
	Yes	No	Not voting
Total	25	15	0
Total percent	62.50%	37.50%	0.00%
Democrat	0	12	0
Republican	25	3	0

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Florida

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Florida.

How to vote in Florida

Poll times

In Florida, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. Florida is divided between the Eastern and Central time zones. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Florida, one must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a legal resident of Florida and the county in which he or she intends to vote. Pre-registration is available beginning at 16 years of age.

Voters may retrieve registration applications at the following locations:

• Local elections offices
• Public assistance agencies
• Disability services agencies
• Independent living centers
• Military recruitment offices
• Public libraries
• Drivers license office
• Tax collector's office
• The office of any entity authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to issue fishing, hunting, or trapping permits

A registration form is also available online. The form can be printed and submitted via mail.

Click here to find your county Supervisor of Elections.

Automatic registration

Florida does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Florida has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Voters may also apply for or modify their voter registration status while renewing their driver's license through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ online renewal system here.

Same-day registration

Florida does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Florida, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Florida does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "it is a 3rd degree felony to submit false information."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The page Voter Information Lookup, run by the Florida Department of State, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Florida requires voters to present photo identification with a signature while voting.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of July 2024. Click here for the Florida Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

• Florida driver’s license
• Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• United States passport
• Debit or credit card
• Military identification
• Student identification
• Retirement center identification
• Neighborhood association identification
• Public assistance identification
• Veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
• License to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06
• Employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the federal government, the state, a county, or a municipality

A voter who presents an ID without a signature must show a second form of identification that includes the voter’s signature.

See also

2024 measures

• 2024 ballot measures
• Taxes on the ballot
• Property on the ballot

Florida

• Florida ballot measures
• Florida ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Florida House Joint Resolution 7017