Trending Now - Florida Property Tax Reduction Moves to November Vote Amid Concerns
WHO:
Miami Herald - Incoming House Speaker Sam Garrison expressed skepticism about using state dollars to fill the revenue gap for local governments.
WPTV - Florida lawmakers, Governor Ron DeSantis, Senate President Ben Albritton, bill sponsor Sen. Bryan Avila, local government leaders, Florida residents.
Newsweek - Governor Ron DeSantis, Gainesville Commissioner Bryan Eastman, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava, Boca Raton Mayor Andy Thomson, Florida Policy Institute.
WHAT:
Newsweek - The proposed increase to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 would effectively eliminate property taxes for primary homes assessed at these values or less.
Newsweek - The city of Parkland estimated a loss of $27 million in revenue due to the proposed homestead exclusion.
WPTV - Florida lawmakers passed House Joint Resolution (HJR) 1-F, creating a $250,000 homestead exemption on non-school levies for homeowners.
WPTV - The proposed constitutional amendment will appear on the November 2026 General Election Ballot.
Newsweek - DeSantis' proposal aims to increase the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000, potentially eliminating property taxes for about 60% of Florida residents.
Newsweek - The proposal could lead to the abolition of property taxes for more than 90% of Florida homeowners qualifying for the exemption.
Newsweek - The increase to $250,000 would cost school districts an average of $5 billion annually and counties an average of $4.8 billion annually.
Newsweek - An analysis concluded that the bill would result in a loss of more than $8 billion in revenue for local governments in fiscal year 2027-28.
WHERE:
WPTV - Tallahassee, Florida.
Newsweek - Alachua County, Florida; Parkland, Florida; Flagler County, Martin County, Nassau County, St. Johns County, St. Lucie County.
WHEN:
WPTV - The amendment will require approval from at least 60% of voters to become law in November 2026.
Newsweek - The first increase in the homestead exemption is proposed for 2027, with a further increase to $250,000 in 2028.
WHY:
Newsweek - Local leaders warn that the proposed property tax cuts could lead to significant reductions in essential services, including libraries, public safety, and road maintenance.
WPTV - The proposal aims to provide meaningful relief for Florida families and protect businesses from extreme tax increases.
Newsweek - Local leaders warn that drastic cuts to property taxes would leave municipalities without means to support public services.
HOW:
Miami Herald - Lawmakers removed the requirement to create a dedicated trust fund to support local governments amid revenue loss from the property tax proposals.
WPTV - The state unveiled a new website called "Save Our Homes" for residents to calculate potential tax savings.
Newsweek - DeSantis has proposed a schedule to raise the exemption to $500,000 and above, eventually eliminating property taxes on primary homes at any value.
(UPDATED June 3, 2026 14:28 UTC)
Incoming House Speaker Sam Garrison has expressed skepticism about using state dollars to fill the revenue gap for local governments, as local leaders warn that proposed property tax cuts could significantly impact essential services like libraries and public safety. The proposed increase to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 would effectively eliminate property taxes for primary homes assessed at these values or less, but the city of Parkland estimates a loss of $27 million in revenue due to the proposed homestead exclusion. In response to these concerns, lawmakers have removed the requirement to create a dedicated trust fund to support local governments amid the anticipated revenue loss from the property tax proposals.
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(UPDATED June 3, 2026 04:25 UTC)
Florida lawmakers have passed House Joint Resolution 1-F, which creates a $250,000 homestead exemption on non-school levies for homeowners, and this proposed constitutional amendment will be on the ballot for the November 2026 General Election. Governor Ron DeSantis' plan aims to significantly increase the homestead exemption, potentially eliminating property taxes for about 60% of Florida residents, but it could also lead to an annual loss of over $8 billion in revenue for local governments. Local leaders are concerned that such drastic cuts to property taxes may hinder municipalities' ability to support essential public services, while a new website called "Save Our Homes" has been launched to help residents calculate their potential tax savings.