Florida property tax cut plan backed by Gov. DeSantis heads to November ballot after legislative approval

Florida lawmakers on Tuesday approved a sweeping property tax relief proposal backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, sending a constitutional amendment to the November ballot that would dramatically expand homestead exemptions while shielding school district funding from the plan's impact.

The measure would increase Florida's current $50,000 homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, though the expanded exemption would not apply to school district property tax levies.

Voters will have the final say in November, and the constitutional amendment will require at least 60% support to take effect.

Lawmakers amended the proposal ahead of the final votes after concerns from local governments, firefighters and Democrats that the original plan could significantly reduce revenue used to fund local services. A House staff analysis estimated the proposal would reduce annual revenue to non-school governments by $4.6 billion initially, growing to $8.4 billion per year. The legislation also lowers the cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead properties and limits property tax revenues to core government services such as public safety, infrastructure, stormwater management and education.

Supporters argued the measure gives homeowners relief from rising property tax bills and allows voters to decide whether local governments should receive less revenue.

Opponents warned the proposal could force cities and counties to cut services or shift costs to businesses, renters and owners of non-homesteaded properties. Some lawmakers also expressed concerns about the speed of the process and the potential long-term impact on local governments.