Bryan Avila

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plans to call a special legislative session in fall 2026 to reintroduce portions of his property tax cut proposal if a constitutional amendment passes in November. The amendment, which increases homestead exemptions and limits future tax assessments, was modified by the Legislature to exclude school tax impacts and remove provisions like a $500,000 exemption cap and a state trust fund for local governments.

Florida Legislature approved a constitutional amendment proposal to limit property taxes for cities and counties, excluding public schools. The measure requires 60% voter approval in November. Changes to the original plan include exemptions for school funding and mandatory spending on local government officials and Medicaid programs.

The Florida Legislature approved a property tax cut proposal during a special session, which will appear on the November ballot requiring 60% voter approval. The plan increases homestead exemptions to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, excludes school district levies, and lowers annual assessment caps for non-homestead properties. Lawmakers added protections for public school funding and removed a trust fund for rural areas, while Democrats criticized the measure as a threat to local governments.

Florida's Legislature passed a tax cut bill (HB 7031E) reducing sales taxes on guns, fishing gear, and tennis tournament tickets, projected to cost $272.2 million in state and local revenue. The bill includes a hunting, fishing, and camping tax holiday and military property tax exemptions, with supporters highlighting tax relief for specific groups and critics arguing it neglects broader affordability issues.

Gov. Ron DeSantis' property tax proposal, which includes increasing homestead exemptions to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, differs from the $500,000 exemption he described. The legislation, Senate Joint Resolution 2F, caps assessed value increases for non-homestead properties but does not address small businesses as DeSantis claimed. The Florida Education Association raised concerns about potential impacts on school funding.