Florida Weighs Property Tax Overhaul

The Florida legislature is preparing to take up proposals to overhaul the property tax system in the State of Florida. Property taxes in Florida currently fund a wide range of public services, including infrastructure and local operations.  According to the Florida Policy Institute, property taxes generate roughly $55 billion annually and provide around 18% of county revenues, 17% of municipal revenues, and up to 60% of school district funding in many areas.

Florida’s 2026 Regular Legislative Session convenes on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and is scheduled to adjourn on Friday, March 13, 2026.  Before the start of the upcoming session, legislators have been meeting for six weeks of Interim Committee Meetings.  These meetings allow legislators to workshop bills, review agency reports and prepare for the upcoming sessions.

During the Interim Committee Meetings, eight proposals were filed by members in the House.  All the proposals had two distinct components:  first, each had language that specifically prohibits an affected government entity from reducing for law enforcement; and second, they exempt school taxes. 

On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the House State Affairs Committee heard four of the eight proposed bills on the elimination or reduction of property taxes. These bills were previously heard and voted on in the House Select Committee on Property Taxes. In the committee, members asked questions and debated how the bills would impact local government budgets. The four proposed bills that were heard and passed by the committee were: 

• HJR 211 - Accrued Save-Our-Homes Property Tax Benefit for Non-school Property Tax – would allow a homeowner to transfer the entire accumulated Save Our Homes benefit to their new home, even if that home has a lesser value.
• CS/HJR 209 - Property Insurance Relief Homestead Exemption of Non-school Property Tax - would increase homestead exemptions for non-school property taxes by $100,000. However, this change only applies if the property is subject to a comprehensive multiperil insurance policy.
• HJR 205 - Elimination of Non-School Property Tax for Homesteads for Persons Age 65 or Older - would exempt residents ages 65 and over from paying non-school taxes on their homes.
• HJR 201 - Elimination of Non-school Property Tax for Homesteads - would establish a homestead exemption for all non-school property taxes.

Of the four bills above, HJR 201 would have the biggest impact on local governments and would save the most for homeowners who are permanent Florida residents.  Also, the proposals must still move through the full legislative process including committee hearings and votes in the House and Senate, before being placed on the 2026 ballot, where they would require 60% voter approval to be adopted.  Also, the governor does not have veto power over joint resolutions that place constitutional amendments on the ballot.

The bills do not yet have companion bills in the Senate, and the Senate has not announced public plans to address property taxes. The Florida legislature would need to adopt implementing legislation for any ballot measures passed by the voters.

HHM CPAs will provide further updates as the property tax overhaul is debated during the upcoming legislative session.

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