Florida lawmakers and taxpayer advocates are intensifying efforts to eliminate or dramatically reduce real estate taxes on homesteaded properties. The latest proposals being considered include raising the homestead exemption to $250,000 immediately — a move Gov. Ron DeSantis says could eliminate property taxes for roughly 60% of Florida homeowners — with a phased plan that could eventually increase the exemption to $500,000 or fully eliminate homestead property taxes altogether. Other ideas under discussion include phased reductions over several years, limiting taxes only to core services, and allowing local voters to decide whether to opt into reductions in their communities.
Gov. DeSantis has now called a special legislative session beginning the week of June 1 to push a constitutional amendment onto the November 2026 ballot. Supporters argue the reforms would provide major relief as home values and tax bills continue to rise across Florida. Critics, however, warn that cities, counties, schools, and public safety agencies rely heavily on property tax revenue and could face significant funding gaps without a replacement source. The debate is shaping up to be one of the most consequential tax policy fights in modern Florida history.