By Merrilee Gasser, The Center Square
In Summary:
Florida lawmakers are debating multiple property tax relief proposals as the 2026 legislative session gets underway, including one measure that would gradually eliminate non-school property taxes for homesteads over the next decade. Gov. Ron DeSantis and House leaders have signaled they want to narrow the options to one strong ballot proposal for voters to consider in November. Policy analysts warn that eliminating property taxes could strain local government budgets and recommend more targeted relief, such as additional exemptions and changes to assessment caps.
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Property tax relief took another step forward as Florida lawmakers returned to the state Capitol to decide how to whittle down a lengthy list of proposals for voters to consider later this year.
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House Joint Resolution 203 cleared a key committee on Thursday, two days after the 2026 legislative session convened in Tallahassee. The legislation would phase out non-school property taxes over 10 years, with homestead properties fully exempt by 2037.
It’s one of at least six proposals in the House that would reduce or eliminate the taxes, if 60% of voters agree. But while there is plenty of support for the concept, there is no consensus on the approach.
Gov. Ron DeSantis says the list needs to be narrowed to one “strong” proposal for the November ballot, and he has floated a special session to focus on it.
“I don’t know that we’re going to have something passed in the regular session,” DeSantis said during his speech at the Chamber of Commerce Legislative Fly-In event this week. “It may be something that you come back to do, but the reality is you can’t do it before November anyways.”
Florida property taxes have risen rapidly, increasing by nearly 40% in the last three years and more than doubling in the last 10, according to Florida TaxWatch. The taxes totaled $59.2 billion in the most recent fiscal year, the nonprofit said.
In a report examining the tax relief proposals, the group discouraged those that eliminate all property taxes or even non-school taxes on homestead property.
“Local government reliance on property taxes varies significantly, and eliminating them or reducing them drastically will hurt some more than others,” the report said.
Lawmakers should instead focus on lowering the non-homestead assessment cap and creating an additional exemption for new homeowners, the report said. Any new homestead exemptions should tie the size of the exemption to the value of the home, rather than taking a "one size fits all" approach, it said.
House Speaker Daniel Perez said he expects one proposal to appear on the ballot, but it’s unclear which one.
Those still alive at the state Capitol include House Joint Resolution 201, which would fully exempt non-school property taxes.
House Joint Resolution 205 would eliminate property taxes for people 65 or older.
House Joint Resolution 207 would create a new property tax exemption that equals 25% of a property’s remaining assessed value after current exemptions are applied.
House Joint Resolution 209 would increase property tax exemptions for homesteads.
House Joint Resolution 211 would remove the cap on the amount homeowners can transfer the Save-Our-Homes benefit to a new home.
House Bill 215 would allow two people who each have a homestead exemption before getting married to buy a new home and combine their Save-Our-Homes benefits up to $500,000.
Key Points:
- Florida lawmakers are considering several property tax relief proposals that could go to voters in 2026.
- One proposal would phase out non-school property taxes over 10 years and fully exempt homestead properties by 2037.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis wants lawmakers to narrow the list to a single ballot measure and has suggested a special session.
- Florida TaxWatch reports property taxes have risen sharply in recent years and warns that eliminating them could hurt local governments.
- Other proposals include exemptions for seniors, increased homestead exemptions, and expanded Save Our Homes portability.
