Florida lawmakers push new property tax proposal. Here’s what it does

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The latest property tax special session is underway, and state lawmakers have already begun filing legislation to cut down on taxes statewide.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has championed this sort of legislation for a while now, arguing that property taxes are unfairly being levied against many homeowners in the state.

[BELOW: Could Florida eliminate property taxes after all?]

Property taxes are a local issue in Florida, so any changes that lawmakers want to effect would require an amendment to the state’s Constitution.

Furthermore, state lawmakers can’t just pass these sorts of proposals on their own. If they approve an amendment to cut down on property taxes, it will still need to garner at least 60% of support from voters in November.

[RELATED: Here are all the new laws in Florida this year]

On Monday, lawmakers discussed a proposed amendment entitled “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes,” which would implement the property tax cuts that DeSantis has called for.

Per legislative analysts, an overview of that proposal — as well as a linked bill — is below:

HJR 1F — Save Our Homes

This amendment proposes several changes to the state Constitution, primarily to set up a new homestead exemption for Florida residents.

The new provisions are as follows:

• Homestead Exemptions: Homesteads will be exempted for the first $150,000 of assessed value in 2027. This grows to $250,000 in 2028 and thereafter.
• Residency Rules: Homesteads of owners who aren’t permanent Florida residents get an exemption on the first $50,000 of assessed value. These owners receive the same exemption as permanent residents after five years, though.
• Property Assessments: Reduces the non-homestead property assessment increase limitation from 10% to 5% per year.
• Spending Limitations: Limits the use of ad valorem revenue by local governments to the following:
  • Public safety, including law enforcement, EMS and fire services
  • Education and public schools
  • Infrastructure, including roads, bridges and stormwater controls
  • Natural resource projects, including flood control measures
  • Issue local bonds for approved uses or to make debt service payments
  • Meet obligations and retirement benefits of local government employees
  • Fund the operations and administration of county officers and commissioners

That said, lawmakers tweaked the proposal on Monday evening, so the property tax exemptions won’t apply to school district levies.

Meanwhile, a similar version has also been filed in the Senate.

If approved, HJR 1F takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027

HB 3F — Tax Administration

House Bill 3F jumps off of the proposed amendment, implementing a suite of new rules if HJR 1F (or similar legislation) is approved by lawmakers for consideration by voters later this year.

More specifically, these rules are as follows:

• Requires the state to provide a public website, allowing taxpayers to estimate the ad valorem tax savings that could result from the amendment
• Requires property appraisers to send a notice (along with the TRIM notice in August) to property owners to inform them about the proposed amendment
• Provides an exception to the existing 75-word limit for specified ballot summary statements

If approved, HB 3F takes effect immediately.