Florida lawmakers are meeting this week to discuss various proposals for reducing or eliminating property taxes for homestead owners, continuing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push for tax relief that began during the 2025 legislative session.

The Florida House Select Committee on Property Taxes is holding meetings Monday and Tuesday to review multiple reform options. Any major changes to property taxes would require a constitutional amendment approved by voters, with the earliest possible referendum scheduled for November 2026.

Proposed Changes Under Discussion

Several proposals are being considered for homesteaded properties:

• Increasing the homestead exemption to $500,000 for non-school property taxes
• Modifying caps on annual property tax increases
• Prohibiting local governments from foreclosing on homesteaded properties for unpaid taxes

Financial Impact

Property taxes currently generate approximately $55 billion annually for Florida, with homestead property owners contributing $19 billion of that total. Local governments depend heavily on property tax revenue to fund infrastructure, road maintenance, emergency services, and law enforcement.

Alternative Proposals

Florida TaxWatch, an independent nonpartisan organization, has presented additional options for consideration:

• Phasing out property taxes entirely
• Eliminating property taxes for senior citizens
• Removing all taxes except those funding public schools
• Reducing assessed property values while requiring local governments to maintain previous year’s tax rates
• Mandating increased notice periods for local tax rate increases

Concerns About Tax Shifting

Florida TaxWatch has warned that reducing or eliminating property taxes would likely shift the tax burden to other areas, potentially resulting in higher sales taxes or new taxes on property sales.

At a March news conference, DeSantis expressed his preference for having tourists rather than residents bear more of the state’s tax burden, stating he wants visiting tourists to subsidize the state while Florida residents pay less in taxes.

The committee’s discussions this week will help shape potential ballot language for the 2026 referendum.

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