05/27/2026
Governor Ron DeSantis has called a special legislative session focused on property tax relief for Florida homeowners, primarily targeting homesteaded primary residences
"While states such as California, New York, and Illinois continue to raise taxes and drive up the cost of living for their residents, Governor DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature are once again delivering meaningful tax relief. Together, we will continue finding new and responsible ways to cut taxes, lower costs, and ensure Florida remains the best state in the nation to live, work, and raise a family." ~ Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power
Start Date: Monday, June 1, 2026.
Purpose: To pass a constitutional amendment that would go before Florida voters on the November 2026 ballot. It needs 60% approval in the Legislature and then 60% from voters to pass.
Proposal - "Save Our Homes" Plan
DeSantis unveiled the plan in Tampa earlier today. It's a phased approach to significantly reduce or eliminate property taxes on primary, homesteaded properties, rather than an immediate full repeal.
Initial Step: Raise the homestead exemption from the current $50,000 to $250,000. This would eliminate property taxes for roughly 60% of Florida homeowners.
Next Phase: Gradually increase the exemption further (potentially toward $500,000), which could cover up to 92% of homesteaded homes and move toward full elimination of non-school property taxes over time.
Safeguards:
New residents would need to pay homestead taxes for 5 years before qualifying for full benefits (to prevent easy exploitation by newcomers).
Protections for local government funding, especially for schools, public safety, and essential services. Non-homestead and commercial properties would still contribute.
Caps on assessed value increases for small businesses.
DeSantis described it as "historic" relief aimed at middle-class homeowners facing rising property taxes.
This comes after the regular 2026 legislative session and earlier special sessions (on budget, redistricting, etc.) did not fully resolve broader property tax reform. Earlier proposals, like phasing out non-school taxes on homesteads, passed the House but stalled in the Senate. This special session is narrowly focused on advancing this ballot measure.
