‘Save our homes’: Gov. DeSantis calls ‘historic’ Special Session that could lead to end of homestead property taxes

Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling a Special Session starting Monday, June 1, that could lead to meaningful changes in Florida’s homestead property tax structure.

Speaking in Tampa behind a placard calling to “save our homes,” DeSantis unveiled a formal plan that he has been previewing for months for the “historic” plan to “make your homestead property tax free.”

“I want to get something done,” he said. “And the way to do this is to focus on homestead property owners.”

He provided a path forward for voters to decide in November, as work on the state budget is finally complete except for the ultimate vote on Friday.

Sen. Bryan Avila will carry the legislation as Senate Joint Resolution 2-F and Senate Bill 4-F. It will go to the Appropriations Committee Monday and could be on the floor as soon as the next day.

DeSantis had initially suggested that relief would be instantaneous, but as revealed in recent months, a more “phased-in” approach will be introduced to the Legislature to allow local governments to prepare for the revenue decline with a “smooth transition.”

Property taxes would be required to be used for “core services” like schools and first responders, he said, under his proposal.

DeSantis anticipates that foreigners and “snowbirds” would be taxation targets for local governments, but the proposal would limit small business value appreciation to 5% year over year.

He doubts the Legislature or voters would be willing to go “cold turkey” in eliminating homestead property taxes, so he is moving forward with a “bottom-up approach” to give them more comfort.

The initial break for taxpayers would be a raising of the homestead limit to $150,000 under this plan beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Then by the beginning of 2028, the limit would be raised to $250,000.

From there, the Legislature would be “commanded” to create a schedule to eliminate homestead property taxes entirely, moving toward potentially full elimination of the duty for residents of the state before November 2026.

People who move to Florida after the amendment passes would have to pay homestead taxes for five years, DeSantis said, which is intended to “mitigate” undue benefits for newcomers.

At least 3/5 of members of the Senate and the House will have to approve the proposal.

The Special Session, which is expected to run until June 3, will not include a call for new taxes to offset the decrease in collections local governments can count on.

“We think there’s too much revenue going from taxpayers to local governments,” he said.

DeSantis had also promised that the state would subsidize fiscally-constrained counties from its budget surplus. A version of that proposal emerged Wednesday.

While prominent Republicans such as House Speaker-designate Sam Garrison frown on that redistributionist wrinkle, the plan unveiled Wednesday includes a “trust fund” to help local governments pay for core services.

An implementing session after the General Election would firm up the mechanics of the trust fund and the schedule of expanding the homestead exemption, should the amendment make the ballot and pass.

DeSantis, who previously worried that “entrenched interests” would attempt to sandbag his capstone policy proposal, appears to have voters on his side according to a poll conducted this Spring by Stetson University. That survey showed 77% support for the concept, with 85% of Republicans and 68% of Democrats on board.

Senate President Ben Albritton is on board.

“At the grocery store, gas station, church on Sundays, and everywhere in between, Floridians I speak with are clear in their support for reducing property taxes. I suspect we are all hearing the same things in our home communities. We trust our constituents and they deserve a chance to change the system and decide for themselves what role property taxes should have in our state,” he said Wednesday.

“Since the Governor first introduced this issue, my goal has been for the Senate to pass an amendment that gives voters the opportunity to reduce their property taxes in a straightforward and substantial way. In my view, the proposal the Governor explained today does that. I can’t think of a more meaningful way to celebrate America’s 250 then the passage of $250,000 in tax relief for every Florida homeowner. I believe this amendment will provide meaningful relief for Florida families, while protecting businesses from extreme tax increases and safeguarding local funding for public safety, education and our clean water infrastructure,” he added.

Potential successors to DeSantis indicated support after the press conference, including U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and former House Speaker Paul Renner.

“I stand with Gov. DeSantis on property tax relief, which is why I outlined a bold proposal on the issue. This is a big step in the right direction,” Renner said.