With the next Legislative session just a few months away, Florida state lawmakers are busy filing new proposals that could become law next year.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, 15 more of these bills were filed, with over half of them consisting of property-tax reform proposals submitted by state Sen. Mack Bernard (D-West Palm Beach).<\/p>\n
In fact, four of Bernard\u2019s filed bills are actually constitutional amendments, so even if they get the OK from lawmakers next year, they\u2019ll still need 60% of voters\u2019 approval in the next general election to become law.<\/p>\n
[BELOW: News 6 takes a look at five other bills filed this week]<\/p>\n
Property tax reform has been a major focus for state leaders like Gov. Ron DeSantis, who vowed earlier this year to push for legislation that could reduce \u2014 if not outright eliminate<\/a> \u2014 property taxes.<\/p>\n In the meantime, all of Thursday\u2019s new bills are as follows:<\/p>\n HB 253<\/a> \u2014 Veteran Dental Care<\/p>\n House Bill 253 aims to establish a Veterans Dental Care Program to expand access to comprehensive services for eligible veterans.<\/p>\n Under this bill, the program must provide dental services like routine examinations, cleanings, dental fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, dentures and more.<\/p>\n If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n HB 255<\/a> \u2014 Condominium Associations<\/p>\n House Bill 255 would require condominium associations to file a \u201cturnover certificate\u201d with the state within 30 days after unit owners elect a majority of the board.<\/p>\n This certificate must include the election date, names and mailing address of the elected unit-owner board members.<\/p>\n If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n HB 257<\/a> \u2014 Prostitution Penalties<\/p>\n House Bill 257 creates harsher penalties for prostitution and related crimes, including stiffer classifications for repeat offenders.<\/p>\n If approved, the bill would take effect on Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n SB 264<\/a> \u2014 New State Bird<\/p>\n Senate Bill 264 would require state officials to develop a survey among the state\u2019s youth to determine whether another bird should be picked to represent the state.<\/p>\n Such a survey would be provided at Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network summer camps in the summers of 2026 and 2027, and it would have to include the following birds:<\/p>\n American osprey<\/p>\n Florida scrub jay<\/p>\n American flamingo<\/p>\n American white ibis<\/p>\n Afterward, the survey results would be handed off to the state Senate President and House Speaker for consideration.<\/p>\n If approved, the bill would take effect immediately.<\/p>\n SB 266<\/a> \u2014 Public Adjuster Contracts<\/p>\n Senate Bill 266 expands rescission rights for \u201cvulnerable adults\u201d in the state using public adjuster services.<\/p>\n Under this bill, adults who lack the ability to consent and their legal representatives would be allowed to rescind a contract for public adjuster services to adjust a claim at any time without penalty.<\/p>\n If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n SB 268<\/a> \u2014 Public Records (Emergency Physicians)<\/p>\n Senate Bill 268 would establish a public records exemption for emergency physicians in the state.<\/p>\n This exemption would apply to personal information about these physicians, including names, home addresses, phone numbers and places of work.<\/p>\n If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2026.<\/p>\n SJR 270<\/a> \u2014 Property Tax Exemptions (65+)<\/p>\n Senate Joint Resolution 270 sets up a constitutional amendment to exempt residents ages 65 and over from paying non-school taxes on their homes.<\/p>\n This exemption applies to homes owned and maintained as a permanent residence for at least five years, with a household income of $350,000 or less (adjusted annually for inflation).<\/p>\n If passed by lawmakers and signed by the governor, the amendment would go to voters for approval in the 2026 general election. <\/p>\n It would need 60% of the vote to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.<\/p>\n SB 272<\/a> \u2014 Property Tax Exemptions (65+)<\/p>\n Senate Bill 272 would incorporate the new rules of SJR 270 if it gets approved by voters in the 2026 general election.<\/p>\n SJR 274<\/a> \u2014 Property Tax Exemptions (Long-Term)<\/p>\n Senate Joint Resolution 274 sets up a constitutional amendment to prevent the assessed value of properties from going up.<\/p>\n This prohibition would apply to properties that have been owned and lived in for at least 20 years.<\/p>\n The proposal would also grant properties an extra homestead tax exemption equal to 50% of their assessed values (not including school district levies) if they\u2019ve been owned and lived in as a primary residence for at least 30 years.<\/p>\n If passed by lawmakers and signed by the governor, the amendment would go to voters for approval in the 2026 general election. <\/p>\n It would need 60% of the vote to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.<\/p>\n SB 276<\/a> \u2014 Property Tax Exemptions (Long-Term)<\/p>\n Senate Bill 276 would incorporate the new rules of SJR 274 if it gets approved by voters in the 2026 general election.<\/p>\n SJR 278<\/a> \u2014 Assessed Value Limits (Homes)<\/p>\n Senate Joint Resolution 278 sets up a constitutional amendment to limit the assessed values of certain homes in the state.<\/p>\n More specifically, the proposal would apply to new homestead properties established after a change of ownership that had an assessed value of under $500,000 in the preceding year.<\/p>\n Under this amendment, the assessed value of such a property could not be raised by over 150% in a given year for property taxes.<\/p>\n If passed by lawmakers and signed by the governor, the amendment would go to voters for approval in the 2026 general election. <\/p>\n It would need 60% of the vote to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.<\/p>\n SB 280<\/a> \u2014 Assessed Value Limits (Homes)<\/p>\n Senate Bill 280 would incorporate the new rules of SJR 278 if it gets approved by voters in the 2026 general election.<\/p>\n SJR 282<\/a> \u2014 Assessed Value Limits (Businesses)<\/p>\n Senate Joint Resolution 282 would limit the assessed value of real property used for commercial purposes by small businesses.<\/p>\n More specifically, the proposal would prevent the assessed value from rising by over 3% or the CPI percentage change<\/a> \u2014 whichever is lower.<\/p>\n If passed by lawmakers and signed by the governor, the amendment would go to voters for approval in the 2026 general election. <\/p>\n It would need 60% of the vote to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.<\/p>\n SB 284<\/a> \u2014 Assessed Value Limits (Businesses)<\/p>\n Senate Bill 284 would incorporate the new rules of SJR 282 if it gets approved by voters in the 2026 general election.<\/p>\n SB 286<\/a> \u2014 Assessed Value Limits (Improvements)<\/p>\n