Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is signaling that his long-running push to eliminate property taxes on primary residences could finally move forward this summer, targeting a November ballot measure.
Speaking at a roundtable in Melbourne on Monday, DeSantis urged state lawmakers to finish the state budget so the property tax effort can advance, posting on social media: “Once the legislature completes the budget, this will take center stage. November ballot, here we come!”
The governor has indicated he may call a third special session this year — potentially by the end of July — dedicated to moving a proposed constitutional amendment onto the November ballot.
The proposal focuses exclusively on homesteaded properties — primary residences where Florida residents live full-time. DeSantis has argued that homestead properties represent only a fraction of total property tax revenue, noting that roughly 70% of property tax revenue comes from non-homestead, non-residential, and commercial properties.
“We want you to own that property,” DeSantis said. “Your home shouldn’t be used as an ATM for local government.”
The path forward remains complicated. Any amendment must pass both chambers of the legislature by a three-fifths supermajority before going to voters, who would then need to approve it by 60% in November 2026. The Florida House passed a joint resolution earlier this year along party lines, but the Senate has yet to advance its own version.
Critics have raised concerns about the fiscal impact. According to the Florida Policy Institute, property taxes generate roughly $55 billion annually and provide around 18% of county revenues, 17% of municipal revenues, and up to 60% of school-district funding in many areas. Economists have estimated the state sales tax could need to rise from 6% to as high as 12% to offset lost revenue, though no official replacement plan has been released.
DeSantis has proposed using state budget surpluses to backfill revenue shortfalls in the state’s 32 fiscally constrained rural counties, and his administration’s DOGE-style audit task force has been reviewing local government spending to argue that property tax revenue is not essential for governments to function effectively.
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