TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A select committee studying the potential elimination of property taxes will meet Thursday for the first time.
State Rep. Daniel Perez, the Republican Speaker of the House, announced the committee earlier this week.
[Watch video below for property tax reform explanation]
“This is about bringing the very best proposals before the people of Florida, so that they have an opportunity to decide their own fate,” he said.
Removing property taxes would require an amendment to the state constitution, which could be on the ballot in 2026.
Among the property tax reforms the committee will consider are:
- Eliminating foreclosures on homestead properties due to property tax liens
- Requiring a referendum on eliminating property taxes on homestead properties
- Introducing a new $500,000 homestead exemption, which would increase to $1 million for residents aged 65 and older
- Authorizing the Legislature to increase the homestead exemption to any value by general law
- Modifying the assessment-increase limitations on property values
- For homestead properties — Changing the cap from 10% annually to 15% over any three-year period for all taxes
- For non-homestead properties — Changing the cap from 10% annually to 15% over any three-year period for all non-school taxes
However, concerns remain regarding funding for local governments as they rely on billions of dollars from property taxes to fund essential services like police and fire departments. Perez acknowledged the potential impact on municipalities when he announced the committee.
“I’m not oblivious to the impact that property tax reform would have on local governments,” he said. “But we, as a House, have a unique credibility in this front as we propose to do something neither the Senate nor the governor were willing to do: apply the same revenue restrictions on ourselves that we are asking local governments to endure.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis has expressed support for the idea of eliminating property taxes. Perez mentioned that the committee will consider any plans proposed by DeSantis or others.
Last month, DeSantis shared his desire for Florida to redirect $5 billion toward property tax relief, which would save the average homeowner about $1,000.
“People have seen, even with the homestead exemption, it has not been enough to protect people against these rising assessments,” DeSantis said.
The committee plans to continue its work until the fall, aiming for the full House to address the issue at the start of the 2026 legislative session.