(The Center Square) – Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered his annual State of the State speech in Tallahassee, praising lawmakers for passing immigration legislation and asking them to work on possibly reforming property taxes and eliminating the state’s business rent tax.
DeSantis praised lawmakers for devoting more time and effort to addressing insurance reforms, saying automobile insurance rates are going down between 6% and 10.5% for the state’s three largest providers. He also said a new property insurer has entered the state’s market and also said last year that Florida had the lowest increase in rates nationally. He also urged them to appropriate additional money for the My Safe Florida Home, which helps homeowners make their houses more storm-ready and receive property insurance relief.
The second-term Republican governor even got in a dig on a Canadian boycott of the Sunshine State over President Donald Trump’s immigration and tariff policies.
“We continue to set tourism records. 2024 saw more than 142 million visitors to our state,” DeSantis said. “This includes 3.3 million visitors from Canada. Not much of a boycott. Maybe they wanted to get a glimpse of what a Stanley Cup-winning hockey team (the Florida Panthers) looks like.”
After a three-week battle between legislative leaders and DeSantis in January, the governor offered nothing for praise for legislative leaders after they passed legislation in a third special session in as many weeks.
“No state has done more, and no state did it sooner than we did in Florida,” DeSantis said. “Thanks to the recent legislation, it is now a crime to enter Florida illegally, the days of catch and release are over and all state and local law enforcement have a duty to assist in interior immigration enforcement efforts.
“The voters have spoken and Florida has responded. We will be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”
DeSantis made a pitch on reform to the state’s property tax, which was ranked by the nonprofit Tax Foundation 28th nationally. There is already legislation dealing with property taxes, with the biggest being House Joint Resolution 357, which would put a measure on the ballot to exempt up to $100,000 of a home’s value from assessment.
For it to become part of the state’s constitution, it would need 60% or more of voters to approve it if HJR357 is signed into law by DeSantis.
“You buy a home, pay off a mortgage – and yet you still have to write a check to the government every year just to live on your own property?” DeSantis said. “Is the property yours or are you just renting from the government? I know members of the Legislature are studying the issue in anticipation of formulating a proposal to place on the 2026 ballot to provide constitutional protections for Florida property owners.
“Please know you have my support.”
Lawmakers reduced the state’s tax on commercial rentals from 4.5% to 2% this past session, but DeSantis wants them to completely sunset it. He also wants tax holidays for marine fuel and ammunition purchases.
“Florida remains the only state in America to tax business rent – and while we have reduced the rate of the tax it is time to eliminate it,” DeSantis said.
