FL S0280

Creates section 125.595 to allow county commissioners in economically distressed counties to use state tax distributions and legislatively authorized county taxes to reduce proposed millage rates for ad valorem taxes, requiring a two-thirds vote of the board.

Defines "eligible county" as one with a proposed millage rate exceeding the previous year's adopted rate and meeting at least two of four criteria: declining property values, declining per capita income, reduced state sales tax remittance, or unemployment rate exceeding 8 percent.

Automatically qualifies counties included in a major federal disaster or emergency declaration in the previous calendar year as eligible counties.

Requires the Office of Economic and Demographic Research to determine county eligibility by July 1 each year and post determinations on its website; authority may be exercised only one fiscal year at a time.

Prohibits use of this authority for revenues restricted by the State Constitution or from voter-approved taxes.