Florida Moves Closer to Major Property Tax Relief Measures Ahead of 2026 Ballot

Florida lawmakers are advancing a series of constitutional amendment proposals that could significantly reduce property taxes for homeowners — but key details remain unresolved as the 2026 election cycle approaches. (Realtor)

With the 2026 legislative session underway, the Florida House has moved three major property tax proposals through committee that would go before voters this fall. These proposals aim to provide homeowners with tax relief in varied ways — from expanding exemptions to adjusting how property values are assessed — but they differ widely in scope and potential cost. (Realtor)

Three Leading Ballot Proposals

Here’s a snapshot of the main proposals under consideration: (Realtor)

• HJR 203 — Phased Elimination of Non-School Property Taxes This resolution proposes to gradually phase out non-school property taxes for homesteaded properties over a 10-year period. Each year, the homestead exemption would increase by $100,000 starting in 2027, with the goal of fully eliminating these taxes by 2037. While school taxes would remain unaffected, this phased approach is intended to give local governments time to adapt to revenue changes. (Realtor)

• HJR 209 — Expanded Exemption for Insured Homeowners Under this plan, homeowners with property insurance would receive an additional exemption of up to $200,000 on nonschool property taxes for their primary residence. This could deliver substantial savings to insured property owners, though eligibility would be tied to maintaining property insurance coverage. (Realtor)

• HJR 213 — Assessment Limit Adjustments This resolution would modify how property values grow for tax purposes. For homesteaded homes, taxable value increases would be capped at 3% over a three-year period (rather than up to 3% each year), and for non-homestead properties the cap would be 15% over three years. This could slow the pace at which taxable values rise, potentially limiting future tax increases. (Realtor)

What’s Not on the Table — Yet

Some advocates, including Governor Ron DeSantis, have called for even deeper tax cuts — including proposals that would nearly eliminate property taxes on homesteads entirely. One such measure, HJR 201, would exempt homestead properties from all non-school levies as early as 2027 but has not advanced alongside the other proposals. (Realtor)

Revenue and Local Impact Considerations

One of the biggest challenges facing lawmakers is how local governments will replace the revenue they currently collect from property taxes. According to official estimates: (Realtor)

• HJR 203 could reduce non-school property tax revenue by an estimated $13.3 billion annually once fully phased in.

• HJR 209 carries an estimated annual revenue impact of $8.6 billion.

• HJR 213 is projected to result in about $5.2 billion in annual revenue losses.

Because property taxes fund essential local services — including fire protection, infrastructure, and parks — lawmakers are debating how significant reductions might affect community budgets. (Realtor)

What Happens Next

Each of the proposed amendments must receive a three-fifths majority vote in both the Florida House and Senate to appear on the November 2026 ballot. If approved by the Legislature, the proposals would then be decided by voters — and would require at least 60% voter approval to be enacted. (Realtor)

Should lawmakers fail to agree on a single measure by the end of the regular session, a special session focused on property tax relief could be called later in the year. (Realtor)

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