Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is moving forward with his plan to eliminate property taxes for full-time homeowners, an initiative that he has pledged to put before voters next year.
“Home ownership should mean you fully own your home, not be forced to pay rent to the government in the form of property taxes,” DeSantis said Wednesday on X.
The DeSantis measure comes amid a push by members of the Florida House of Representatives to introduce seven property tax relief measures targeting specific groups. DeSantis, who has made cutting property taxes a centerpiece of his 2026 election agenda, criticized the lawmakers' piecemeal approach.
"Placing more than one property tax measure on the ballot represents an attempt to kill anything on property taxes," DeSantis said on X. "It's a political game, not a serious attempt to get it done for the people."
DeSantis' comment was in response to a social media post made by a former congressional candidate, who called the House's proposals “half measures” and “confusing.”
While real estate experts assert that the proposals would harm local services, DeSantis has not provided details on how the proposal would function or how local communities would compensate for the property tax losses.
Multiple amendments to cut property taxes
Lawmakers have introduced several constitutional proposals aimed at slashing property taxes for homeowners, setting the stage for a ballot fight next year.
The House’s plans would cut taxes on homesteaded properties (primary residences) without impacting funding for schools and law enforcement.
“If we have faith in the voters to elect us, we should not be afraid to let them be a part of the conversation about the taxes they pay,” House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Republican, wrote in a memorandum to House members on Oct. 16. “It is our position that the House does not need to limit itself in presenting one single plan but instead allow the people of Florida the ability to choose some, all, or none of the proposals on the 2026 ballot.”
Some proposals under consideration include eliminating non-school property taxes for full-time residents, gradually phasing out these taxes over 10 years, increasing the homestead exemption by $100,000 each year, taxing only 25% of the assessed value, or providing exemptions to seniors (65 years and older) from paying non-school taxes on their homes.
Currently, homeowners receive exemptions on the first $25,000 of their property’s taxable value, as well as additional exemptions between $50,000 and $75,000.
While lawmakers say the proposals are meant to help homeowners, some Floridians remain skeptical.
“The DeSantis property tax break is just another way to cater to the rich, while the working class is suffering to survive day to day,” Erica Morse, a homeowner in DeLand, Florida, told Homes.com.
“It’s giving people who own multiple properties worth millions of dollars more money in their pockets, while renters can’t afford to save up to buy property because they can barely afford the ballooning cost of rent. It’s disgusting,” she added.
Tax reforms spark debate
The debate over property tax reform in Florida is complex, sparking major questions about funding, significant impacts on homeowners, local governments and the broader housing market.
“Good luck getting it done that quickly, even with a Republican House and Senate in Florida. It’s going to be very difficult,” Jack McCabe, owner of McCabe Research and Consulting, told Homes.com. “It would require a two-thirds majority or super majority… I don’t think they’ve got the votes.”
McCabe points out that eliminating property taxes would leave a major revenue gap for local governments that rely on these funds for schools, police, fire and other essential services.
Other experts, such as Gay Cororaton, chief economist at the Miami Association of Realtors, questioned whether increased tourism or sales taxes could realistically fill the gap.
“The impact of eliminating property taxes is about, in my estimate, $25 billion, so obviously you have to replace that with another type of tax,” Cororaton told Homes.com.
The Florida Policy Institute estimates that the state would need to double the sales tax rate to 12%, the highest in the nation, to replace property taxes fully. Additionally, sales taxes tend to be a less reliable revenue source during economic downturns, the report said.
Cororaton sees targeted property tax relief for seniors as both logical and timely. With the U.S. population aging and more retirees living on fixed incomes, she says, exempting homeowners aged 65 and older from property taxes could make Florida more attractive to retirees and boost the housing market.
“There is an economic logic to proposing the elimination of property taxes for at least this age group, 65 and over, because they’re living on a fixed income,” Cororaton said. “It’s something that will provide some financial relief to them.”
The Florida Senate has not put forward any official property tax proposals or amendments for consideration. The legislative session is scheduled to begin on Jan. 13.