FloridaPace Fire Rescue District changes property assessment rules
The law bars Pace Fire Rescue District from charging eligible religious institutions and sets property-size and use-code rules for other assessments.
What it does
Eligible churches and religious institutions would not pay the district's non-ad valorem assessments, which are charges collected outside regular property taxes.
Property assessments would use parcel-wide building space for commercial and industrial land, while residential assessments would remain tied to each dwelling unit and listed caps.
Assessment rates would be selected using Santa Rosa County's latest certified property-use classification, including commercial and industrial categories.
Argument forEligible religious institutions could save money because the district would not charge them these property assessments.
Argument againstThe district could collect less money from exempt properties, which might leave fewer assessment dollars available for fire-rescue services.
More detail
Pace Fire Rescue District may not charge these assessments to eligible churches or religious institutions. The exemption covers a church or religious institution that is otherwise exempt from regular property taxes. The institution must qualify for the existing exemption from regular property taxes. The district's assessment and collection methods otherwise follow the listed state laws and the charter. This provision takes effect when the act becomes law.
The district would calculate assessments for commercial and industrial parcels using the combined square footage of all buildings and structures on each parcel. Residential properties would continue to be assessed per dwelling unit, while commercial and industrial properties would be measured by total building and structure area on the parcel. Assessments may not exceed the maximum amounts and rates listed for residential, vacant, commercial, industrial, and unimproved properties. The supplied text does not preserve enough formatting to confirm which similarly placed dollar amounts and rates are replacement figures rather than deleted text. These calculation rules take effect when the act becomes law.
The district would use the county property appraiser's property-use classification to choose the applicable assessment. The classification comes from the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser's system under state revenue rules and applies to properties covered by the district's assessments. The district must use the classification shown on the most recent certified tax roll. The use code determines whether a property is treated as commercial, industrial, or another listed property type. This rule takes effect when the act becomes law.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 1Chapter No. 2026-207Latest
- Jun 10Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Jun 9Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 11Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Local Bills, Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11In Messages
- Mar 11CS passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 11Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 11Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Mar 9Placed on Local Calendar, 03/11/26
- Mar 3ReceivedMinor
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Referred to RulesMinor
- Mar 3In Messages
- Mar 3CS passed as amended; YEAS 84, NAYS 25Passed House
- Mar 3Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 3Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 3Amendment 245493 adopted
- Mar 3Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 26Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026)
- Feb 25Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Feb 25Temporarily postponed, on 2nd Reading
- Feb 19Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
- Feb 17Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (State Affairs Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 17Reported out of State Affairs Committee
- Feb 17Favorable by State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Feb 13Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
- Feb 10Now in State Affairs Committee
- Vote recorded Favorable (Ways & Means Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10Reported out of Ways & Means Committee
- Feb 10Favorable by Ways & Means CommitteeMinor
- Feb 6Added to Ways & Means Committee agenda
- Feb 6Now in Ways & Means Committee
- Feb 6Referred to State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Feb 6Referred to Ways & Means CommitteeMinor
- Feb 51st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 5CS FiledMinor
- Feb 5Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Feb 5Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
- Feb 5Favorable with CS by Intergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 3Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 12Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
- Jan 12Referred to State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Ways & Means CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 5FiledIntroduced
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