Florida legislators approved a constitutional amendment Wednesday that would eliminate property taxes on primary residences, sending the measure to voters for a final decision this November.
The vote came during a special session called last week by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has framed rising property taxes as a mounting burden on Florida homeowners. For the amendment to take effect, it must win approval from at least 60% of voters in the November election.
Under the governor’s proposal, homeowners would receive a $150,000 exemption in the first year, growing to $250,000 in the second year. DeSantis has also proposed creating a state trust fund to offset the financial impact on local governments, which rely heavily on property tax revenue to fund core services.
Lawmakers made several adjustments during the session, including a provision protecting school funding from any cuts and stripping out $5.5 million that DeSantis had sought to help county property appraisers inform voters about the measure.
Several counties, including Orange, Volusia, and Seminole, have been closely watching the session given the potential impact on their budgets.
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