Florida property tax cut plan backed by DeSantis heads to November ballot after legislative approval
Florida lawmakers on Tuesday approved a sweeping property tax relief proposal backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, sending a constitutional amendment to the November ballot that would dramatically expand homestead exemptions while shielding school district funding from the plan’s impact.
The vote, according to CBS News Miami’s Joan Murray, was 30-9 in the Florida Senate and 75-26 in the Florida House. According to reporting by the News Service of Florida, the vote mostly followed party lines, except three Democrats voted for the measure and two Republicans voted against.
Three Democratic senators, Mack Bernard of West Palm Beach, Daryl Rouson of St. Petersburg, and Barbara Sharief of Miramar voted for the measure.
Rep. Nathan Boyles, R-Baker, and Patt Maney, R-Shalimar, were the only Republicans voting against the constitutional amendment.
The measure would increase Florida’s current $50,000 homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, though the expanded exemption would not apply to school district property tax levies.
Voters will have the final say in November, and the constitutional amendment will require at least 60% support to take effect.
Lawmakers amended the proposal ahead of the final votes after concerns from local governments, firefighters and Democrats that the original plan could significantly reduce revenue used to fund local services. A House staff analysis estimated the proposal would reduce annual revenue to non-school governments by $4.6 billion initially, growing to $8.4 billion per year. The legislation also lowers the cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead properties and limits property tax revenues to core government services such as public safety, infrastructure, stormwater management and education.
Supporters argued the measure gives homeowners relief from rising property tax bills and allows voters to decide whether local governments should receive less revenue.
Opponents warned the proposal could force cities and counties to cut services or shift costs to businesses, renters and owners of non-homesteaded properties. Some lawmakers also expressed concerns about the speed of the process and the potential long-term impact on local governments.
Rep. Allison Tant, D-Tallahassee, said the change will result in cities and counties cutting back or consolidating public safety and other services.
“They’re worried about loss of autonomy, independence, and losing their identity,” Tant said. “They are worried about becoming wards of the state and essentially be treated like welfare recipients.”
For the second day, Democrats unsuccessfully tried to amend the bill to allow water management districts use property tax revenue, to use state dollars to cover lost revenue for senior programs, law enforcement, corrections and veterans services, and to prohibit the use of public money to advertise the ballot initiative.
The measure would also lower the cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead properties, which include vacation and investment homes and commercial properties, from 10 percent to 5 percent.
Starting after Jan. 1, 2027, first-time homeowners would have to display five years of residency to qualify for the new super exemption. Until they qualify, they would receive the current exemption that lifts local government and school district taxes on the first $25,000 of the appraised values of their primary properties and from non-school taxes on the value between $50,000 and $75,000.
This story includes information from News Service of Florida.
