DeSantis calls for tax relief; House unveils 8 proposals

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida’s House Speaker Danny Perez dropped eight new property tax proposals for the legislature to consider next session.

As of now, House members are leading the charge for property tax relief. But that responsibility will shift to the upper chamber to either pass all eight proposals or narrow them down.

Back in March of this year, Governor Ron DeSantis pushed for a property tax proposal to make its way to Florida voters.

“I know members of the legislature are studying the issue in anticipation of formulating a proposal to place on the 2026 ballot,” DeSantis said.

Since then, it’s been a string of house committee meetings, back and forth between the legislature and the governor, and months of conversations with constituents and local governments.

“We’re really putting this back to the voters, and you know, we trust our voters. They got us into office. They’re now telling us which way they want to go,” said State Rep. Toby Overdorf (R-Palm City).

In an effort to craft the best options for voters to consider in 2026, Speaker Perez released his members’ eight new proposals ranging from exemptions, eliminations, and reforms.

Pointing out two distinct components, No. 1: schools are off limits, and No. 2: police and fire will maintain their needed funding.

CATEGORICAL ELIMINATIONS:

HB 215 by Rep. Albert makes various statutory changes including requiring a 2/3 vote
for any increase in the millage rate and allowing newly married couples to combine their
accumulated Save Our Homes benefits.

HJR 201 by Rep. Steele eliminates non-school homestead property taxes.

HJR 203 by Rep. Miller phases out non-school homestead property taxes over a 10-year period. Each year homeowners would receive an additional $100,000 exemption.
After 10 years, all non-school homestead property taxes would be eliminated.

HJR 205 by Rep. Porras exempts Florida residents over the age of 65 from paying non-school homestead property taxes.

ADDITIONAL EXEMPTIONS:

HJR 207 by Rep. Abbott creates a new homestead exemption for non-school property
taxes equal to 25% of the assessed value of the house. In addition to providing relief to
current homeowners, it would also benefit first-time homebuyers.

HJR 209 by Rep. Busatta creates a new property insurance relief homestead tax
exemption. Homestead property owners who have property insurance will be entitled to
an additional $100,000 exemption on non-school property taxes.

REFORMS:

HJR 211 by Rep. Overdorf eliminates the cap on portability, allowing a homeowner to
transfer their entire accumulated Save Our Homes benefit to their new home, even if
that home has a lesser value.

HJR 213 by Rep. Griffitts limits the growth in assessed value of non-school homestead
property taxes to 3% over three years for homestead property (currently it is 3% per
year) and 15% over three years for non-homestead property (currently it is 10% per
year).

“If you noticed, we did not provide implementing language for any of these bills, primarily because we’re waiting for the voters to tell us what to do and implementing language can follow right afterwards,” said Rep. Overdorf.

Governor DeSantis however has already expressed doubts with the legislature, threatening a summer special session if they lose momentum.

And it’s notable to mention, the governor’s property tax rebate proposal that made its way into separate legislation was excluded from the House speaker’s package.

Also absent from the package? Democratic sponsored bills, who continue to stress fears of funding implications for public services.

House members plan to debate the eight proposals in November, as all eyes now turn to the Senate on whether they will adopt or trim the list.