§ 201.15, F.S. — Distribution of taxes collected

All taxes collected under this chapter are hereby pledged and shall be first made available to make payments when due on bonds issued pursuant to s. 215.618 or s. 215.619, or any other bonds authorized to be issued on a parity basis with such bonds. Such pledge and availability for the payment of these bonds shall have priority over any requirement for the costs of collection and enforcement under this section. Before distribution pursuant to this section, the Department of Revenue shall deduct amounts necessary to pay the costs of the collection and enforcement of the tax levied by this chapter. The costs may not be levied against any portion of taxes pledged to debt service on bonds to the extent that the costs are required to pay any amounts relating to the bonds. All of the costs of the collection and enforcement of the tax levied by this chapter shall be available and transferred to the extent necessary to pay debt service and any other amounts payable with respect to bonds authorized before January 1, 2017, secured by revenues distributed pursuant to this section. All taxes remaining after deduction of costs shall be distributed as follows:

# (1)

Amounts necessary to make payments on bonds issued pursuant to s. 215.618 or s. 215.619, as provided under paragraphs (3)(a) and (b), or on any other bonds authorized to be issued on a parity basis with such bonds shall be deposited into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund.

# (2)

If the amounts deposited pursuant to subsection (1) are less than 33 percent of all taxes collected after first deducting the costs of collection, an amount equal to 33 percent of all taxes collected after first deducting the costs of collection, minus the amounts deposited pursuant to subsection (1), shall be deposited into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund.

# (3)

Amounts on deposit in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund shall be used in the following order:(a) Payment of debt service or funding of debt service reserve funds, rebate obligations, or other amounts payable with respect to Florida Forever bonds issued pursuant to s. 215.618. The amount used for such purposes may not exceed $300 million in each fiscal year. It is the intent of the Legislature that all bonds issued to fund the Florida Forever Act be retired by December 31, 2040. Except for bonds issued to refund previously issued bonds, no series of bonds may be issued pursuant to this paragraph unless such bonds are approved and the debt service for the remainder of the fiscal year in which the bonds are issued is specifically appropriated in the General Appropriations Act or other law with respect to bonds issued for the purposes of s. 373.4598.(b) Payment of debt service or funding of debt service reserve funds, rebate obligations, or other amounts due with respect to Everglades restoration bonds issued pursuant to s. 215.619. Taxes distributed under paragraph (a) and this paragraph must be collectively distributed on a pro rata basis when the available moneys under this subsection are not sufficient to cover the amounts required under paragraph (a) and this paragraph. Bonds issued pursuant to s. 215.618 or s. 215.619 are equally and ratably secured by moneys distributable to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund.

# (4)

After the required distributions to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund pursuant to subsections (1) and (2), the lesser of 8 percent of the remainder or $150 million in each fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Housing Trust Fund and shall be expended pursuant to s. 420.50871. If 8 percent of the remainder is greater than $150 million in any fiscal year, the difference between 8 percent of the remainder and $150 million shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the General Revenue Fund. The remainder shall be distributed as follows:(a) The lesser of 20.5453 percent of the remainder or $466.75 million in each fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Transportation Trust Fund. Notwithstanding any other law, the amount credited to the State Transportation Trust Fund shall be used for:1. Capital funding for the New Starts Transit Program, authorized by Title 49, U.S.C. s. 5309 and specified in s. 341.051, in the amount of 10 percent of the funds;2. The Small County Outreach Program specified in s. 339.2818, in the amount of 10 percent of the funds;3. The Strategic Intermodal System specified in ss. 339.61, 339.62, 339.63, and 339.64, in the amount of 75 percent of the funds after deduction of the payments required pursuant to subparagraphs 1. and 2.; and4. The Transportation Regional Incentive Program specified in s. 339.2819, in the amount of 25 percent of the funds after deduction of the payments required pursuant to subparagraphs 1. and 2. The first $60 million of the funds allocated pursuant to this subparagraph shall be allocated annually to the Florida Rail Enterprise for the purposes established in s. 341.303(5).(b) The lesser of 0.1456 percent of the remainder or $3.25 million in each fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the Grants and Donations Trust Fund in the Department of Commerce to fund technical assistance to local governments. Moneys distributed pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) may not be pledged for debt service unless such pledge is approved by referendum of the voters.(c) An amount equaling 4.5 percent of the remainder in each fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Housing Trust Fund. The funds shall be used as follows:1. Half of that amount shall be used for the purposes for which the State Housing Trust Fund was created and exists by law.2. Half of that amount shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the Local Government Housing Trust Fund and used for the purposes for which the Local Government Housing Trust Fund was created and exists by law.(d) An amount equaling 5.20254 percent of the remainder in each fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Housing Trust Fund. Of such funds:1. Twelve and one-half percent of that amount shall be deposited into the State Housing Trust Fund and expended by the Department of Commerce and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation for the purposes for which the State Housing Trust Fund was created and exists by law.2. Eighty-seven and one-half percent of that amount shall be distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund and used for the purposes for which the Local Government Housing Trust Fund was created and exists by law. Funds from this category may also be used to provide for state and local services to assist the homeless.(e) The lesser of 0.017 percent of the remainder or $300,000 in each fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the General Inspection Trust Fund to be used to fund oyster management and restoration programs as provided in s. 379.362(3).(f) A total of $75 million shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Economic Enhancement and Development Trust Fund within the Department of Commerce.(g) An amount equaling 5.4175 percent of the remainder shall be paid into the Resilient Florida Trust Fund to be used for the purposes for which the Resilient Florida Trust Fund was created and exists by law. Funds may be used for planning and project grants.(h) An amount equaling 5.4175 percent of the remainder shall be paid into the Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund to be used to fund water quality improvement grants as specified in s. 403.0673.

# (5)

Notwithstanding s. 215.32(2)(b)4.a., funds distributed to the State Housing Trust Fund and expended pursuant to s. 420.50871 and funds distributed to the State Housing Trust Fund and the Local Government Housing Trust Fund pursuant to paragraphs (4)(c) and (d) may not be transferred to the General Revenue Fund in the General Appropriations Act.

# (6)

After the distributions provided in the preceding subsections, any remaining taxes shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the General Revenue Fund.

¹Note.—A. Section 11, ch. 2023-17, provides that “[t]he amendments made by this act to s. 201.15, Florida Statutes, expire on July 1, 2033, and the text of that section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2023, except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act must be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions of the text which expire pursuant to this section.” Effective July 1, 2033, s. 201.15, as amended by s. 11, ch. 2023-17, and ss. 44, 45, ch. 2024-6, will read:201.15 Distribution of taxes collected.—All taxes collected under this chapter are hereby pledged and shall be first made available to make payments when due on bonds issued pursuant to s. 215.618 or s. 215.619, or any other bonds authorized to be issued on a parity basis with such bonds. Such pledge and availability for the payment of these bonds shall have priority over any requirement for the payment of service charges or costs of collection and enforcement under this section. All taxes collected under this chapter, except taxes distributed to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund pursuant to subsections (1) and (2), are subject to the service charge imposed in s. 215.20(1). Before distribution pursuant to this section, the Department of Revenue shall deduct amounts necessary to pay the costs of the collection and enforcement of the tax levied by this chapter. The costs and service charge may not be levied against any portion of taxes pledged to debt service on bonds to the extent that the costs and service charge are required to pay any amounts relating to the bonds. All of the costs of the collection and enforcement of the tax levied by this chapter and the service charge shall be available and transferred to the extent necessary to pay debt service and any other amounts payable with respect to bonds authorized before January 1, 2017, secured by revenues distributed pursuant to this section. All taxes remaining after deduction of costs shall be distributed as follows:(1) Amounts necessary to make payments on bonds issued pursuant to s. 215.618 or s. 215.619, as provided under paragraphs (3)(a) and (b), or on any other bonds authorized to be issued on a parity basis with such bonds shall be deposited into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund.(2) If the amounts deposited pursuant to subsection (1) are less than 33 percent of all taxes collected after first deducting the costs of collection, an amount equal to 33 percent of all taxes collected after first deducting the costs of collection, minus the amounts deposited pursuant to subsection (1), shall be deposited into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund.(3) Amounts on deposit in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund shall be used in the following order:(a) Payment of debt service or funding of debt service reserve funds, rebate obligations, or other amounts payable with respect to Florida Forever bonds issued pursuant to s. 215.618. The amount used for such purposes may not exceed $300 million in each fiscal year. It is the intent of the Legislature that all bonds issued to fund the Florida Forever Act be retired by December 31, 2040. Except for bonds issued to refund previously issued bonds, no series of bonds may be issued pursuant to this paragraph unless such bonds are approved and the debt service for the remainder of the fiscal year in which the bonds are issued is specifically appropriated in the General Appropriations Act or other law with respect to bonds issued for the purposes of s. 373.4598.(b) Payment of debt service or funding of debt service reserve funds, rebate obligations, or other amounts due with respect to Everglades restoration bonds issued pursuant to s. 215.619. Taxes distributed under paragraph (a) and this paragraph must be collectively distributed on a pro rata basis when the available moneys under this subsection are not sufficient to cover the amounts required under paragraph (a) and this paragraph. Bonds issued pursuant to s. 215.618 or s. 215.619 are equally and ratably secured by moneys distributable to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund.(4) After the required distributions to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund pursuant to subsections (1) and (2) and deduction of the service charge imposed pursuant to s. 215.20(1), the remainder shall be distributed as follows:(a) The lesser of 20.5453 percent of the remainder or $466.75 million in each fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Transportation Trust Fund. Notwithstanding any other law, the amount credited to the State Transportation Trust Fund shall be used for:1. Capital funding for the New Starts Transit Program, authorized by Title 49, U.S.C. s. 5309 and specified in s. 341.051, in the amount of 10 percent of the funds;2. The Small County Outreach Program specified in s. 339.2818, in the amount of 10 percent of the funds;3. The Strategic Intermodal System specified in ss. 339.61, 339.62, 339.63, and 339.64, in the amount of 75 percent of the funds after deduction of the payments required pursuant to subparagraphs 1. and 2.; and4. The Transportation Regional Incentive Program specified in s. 339.2819, in the amount of 25 percent of the funds after deduction of the payments required pursuant to subparagraphs 1. and 2. The first $60 million of the funds allocated pursuant to this subparagraph shall be allocated annually to the Florida Rail Enterprise for the purposes established in s. 341.303(5).(b) The lesser of 0.1456 percent of the remainder or $3.25 million in each fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the Grants and Donations Trust Fund in the Department of Commerce to fund technical assistance to local governments. Moneys distributed pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) may not be pledged for debt service unless such pledge is approved by referendum of the voters.(c) An amount equaling 4.5 percent of the remainder in each fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Housing Trust Fund. The funds shall be used as follows:1. Half of that amount shall be used for the purposes for which the State Housing Trust Fund was created and exists by law.2. Half of that amount shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the Local Government Housing Trust Fund and used for the purposes for which the Local Government Housing Trust Fund was created and exists by law.(d) An amount equaling 5.20254 percent of the remainder in each fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Housing Trust Fund. Of such funds:1. Twelve and one-half percent of that amount shall be deposited into the State Housing Trust Fund and expended by the Department of Commerce and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation for the purposes for which the State Housing Trust Fund was created and exists by law.2. Eighty-seven and one-half percent of that amount shall be distributed to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund and used for the purposes for which the Local Government Housing Trust Fund was created and exists by law. Funds from this category may also be used to provide for state and local services to assist the homeless.(e) The lesser of 0.017 percent of the remainder or $300,000 in each fiscal year shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the General Inspection Trust Fund to be used to fund oyster management and restoration programs as provided in s. 379.362(3).(f) A total of $75 million shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Economic Enhancement and Development Trust Fund within the Department of Commerce.(g) An amount equaling 5.4175 percent of the remainder shall be paid into the Resilient Florida Trust Fund to be used for the purposes for which the Resilient Florida Trust Fund was created and exists by law. Funds may be used for planning and project grants.(h) An amount equaling 5.4175 percent of the remainder shall be paid into the Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund to be used to fund wastewater grants as specified in s. 403.0673.(5) Notwithstanding s. 215.32(2)(b)4.a., funds distributed to the State Housing Trust Fund and the Local Government Housing Trust Fund pursuant to paragraph (4)(c) may not be transferred to the General Revenue Fund in the General Appropriations Act.(6) After the distributions provided in the preceding subsections, any remaining taxes shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the General Revenue Fund.B. Section 43, ch. 2023-17, provides:“(1) The Department of Revenue is authorized, and all conditions are deemed met, to adopt emergency rules under s. 120.54(4), Florida Statutes, for the purpose of implementing provisions related to the Live Local Program created by this act. Notwithstanding any other law, emergency rules adopted under this section are effective for 6 months after adoption and may be renewed during the pendency of procedures to adopt permanent rules addressing the subject of the emergency rules.“(2) This section expires July 1, 2026.”