The Florida Veterans of Foreign Wars at its mid-winter conference in Lake Buena Vista over the weekend gave state Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, its 2010 Legislative Achievement Award.

VFW officials said Horner received the award for his efforts in passing House Joint Resolution 833 during the 2009 legislative session.

The resolution provides a credit against future ad valorem taxes owed on property for members of the U.S. military or military reserves, the U.S. Coast Guard or its reserves or the Florida National Guard. To be eligible, the individual must have received the homestead exemption at the time of the deployment on active duty outside of the continental United States, Alaska or Hawaii. The credit is based on property taxes paid and the number of days deployed outside the country for military operations.

Sponsored by Horner and state Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, the resolution will be placed on the November general election ballot where it must pass with 60 percent or more of the vote in order to amend the state constitution.

"It is extremely humbling to receive an award from an organization made up of America's greatest heroes," Horner said at the VFW conference. "From their active duty years in the military, to their exceptional community service and undying devotion to our nation's veterans, the members of the VFW stand among our community's greatest examples of service and sacrifice."

Former award winners include Congressman Vern Buchanan, state Rep. Maria Sachs, state Sen. Mike Fasano, Congressman Jeff Miller and former Congressman Mike Bilirakis.

Upon passage of the measure during the 2009 legislative session, Horner stated: "With all that our citizen-soldiers have to deal with, the last thing our deployed military personnel and their families need is to worry about whether or not they will be able to remain in their homes."