Property tax relief is set to be a priority when Florida lawmakers begin the 2026 legislative session early next year.
A slew of bills, resulting from a committee formed this year by the state House of Representatives to review the current state of property taxes and explore policy solutions, has been filed ahead of the session, scheduled to convene Jan. 13.
Most are joint resolutions which, if approved by the legislature, would require at least 60% voter approval.
Relief for property owners with a homestead exemption is a common theme. So is a condition that taxes for school districts would not be affected by lower property taxes. Additionally, most of the proposed measures prohibit counties and municipalities from reducing law enforcement funding even if property tax revenue declines.
House Joint Resolution 201 would eliminate non-school property taxes for homesteads. House Joint Resolution 203 proposes a 10-year plan to phase out non-school property taxes for homesteads.
House Joint Resolution 205 would eliminate non-school property taxes for owners over 65.
House Joint Resolution 207 would create a new homestead exemption equal to 25% of the home’s assessed value.
House Joint Resolution 209 also addresses homestead exemptions, allowing for a $100,000 exemption for owners who have property insurance.
Several proposals would impact the state’s Save-Our-Homes property tax benefit, which was approved by voters in 1992 and caps how much the assessed value of a homestead property can increase each year.
House Joint Resolution 211 would increase the maximum value of the accrued Save-Our-Homes benefit that can be transferred to a new homestead.
House Bill 215 would allow married couples who previously each had their own separate homestead exemption and want to buy a new homestead to combine their two Save-Our-Homes benefits up to $500,000.
House Joint Resolution 213 would change limitations on assessment increases for both homestead and non-homestead property.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has been outspoken about his goal of eliminating property taxes, but he has been at odds with his own party about the issue.
Earlier this year, DeSantis proposed immediate relief through an average $1,000 rebate for homesteaded property.
“Property taxes effectively require homeowners to pay rent to the government,” said DeSantis. “Constitutional protections for Florida homeowners require approval of the voters in 2026. In the meantime, Floridians need relief.”
But Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Republican, said mailing $1,000 checks from the state treasury would “not solve the property tax problem” and called on a more detailed plan from the governor.
