Reps. Gottlieb, Morales’ 2022 Bill Changes Widowed, Disabled Homestead Exemption from $500 to $5,000
State Reps. Michael Gottlieb (D-Broward) and Daisy Morales. Photos: Florida House of Representatives.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – State Representatives Michael Gottlieb (D-Broward) and Daisy Morales (D-Orlando) filed the second bill ahead of the 2022 Legislative Session, HB 13, increasing the homestead exemption for the widowed and disabled Monday, July 19, 2021.
HB 13 increases property tax exemption for residents who are widows, widowers, blind persons, or persons totally and permanently disabled.
The bill proposes to 10x the current exemption from $500 to $5,000 for eligible individuals and would apply to tax years beginning on or after January 2023.
“I talked with Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar and right now a widow only gets ten dollars in tax savings,” State Rep. Gottlieb told FNN News in a phone interview about what inspired him to draft the bill. “Sure, ten dollars is nice, but that’s not enough to add value to a person’s life.” In deciding a target figure to increase the exemption to, he “had to account for inflation and increases in property value.”
What’s a Homestead Exemption and Why is it So Important?
The Tallahassee Democrat reports that with homestead exemptions “the tax breaks can add up to big savings for property owners, but also a lot of lost revenue for municipal governments looking to finance important local services. So county property appraisers look to ensure that the tax exemption is not being abused.”
“I’m proud that we have legislators like Rep. Gottlieb who understand the importance of expanding the homestead exemption for widows, widowers, the blind and the disabled,” State Rep. Morales told FNN News. “This bill provides them an additional $4,500 in much needed tax savings.”
In defining the “totally and permanently disabled,” the bill clearly states:
“As used in this section, the term “totally and permanently disabled person” means a person who is currently certified by a physician licensed in this state, by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor, or by the Social Security Administration to be totally and permanently disabled.”
State Rep. Gottlieb and Morales’s 2022 House Bill 13
Joining Forces
When FNN News asked Rep. Gottlieb about State Rep. Morales joining as prime co-sponsor, “State Rep. Morales called me. She said she’d read the bill, liked it and wanted to be added as a prime co-sponsor,” he said. “I think she’s a great representative, so I said yes.”
Rep. Morales has a long history of advocating for the disabled and military veteran communities, both of whom benefit from this bill. “I’m glad to be a prime sponsor with Rep. Gottlieb on HB 13,” Rep. Morales shared. “It’s an issue that’s very important to me as well as residents across Florida.”
Before the Legislative Session begins on January 11, 2022, the Florida House and Senate will hold six weeks of committee meetings beginning in September. That period gives lawmakers the chance to start early on priority legislation.
The original bill can be found here.
Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News, part of the FNN News Network. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com