Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed a bill that will place on the Aug. 30 primary-election ballot a proposal that could give commercial property owners a tax break on renewable energy devices.
Lawmakers this month approved a proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 193) and an accompanying bill (HB 195). The accompanying bill called for the proposed constitutional amendment to appear on the primary ballot instead of the November general-election ballot.
The proposed constitutional amendment did not need Scott's approval, but the accompanying bill did. Both were sponsored by Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, and Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, with Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg, also sponsoring the proposed constitutional amendment.
If approved by voters, the proposal would exempt the assessed value of solar and renewable energy devices installed on commercial and industrial property.
The proposal is intended to expand for 20 years an exemption that is already provided to residential property owners.
