Along party lines, the Florida House of Representatives passed its plan Thursday to give voters the choice to get rid of homestead property taxes that don’t fund public schools. The proposed ballot amendment resolution sponsored by Rep. Monique Miller (R-Palm Bay) also locks in minimum funding for law enforcement and public safety, amid concerns from Democratic lawmakers about how local governments would make up for the loss in revenue that funds police and fire departments. “This may well be the most aggressive legislation ever passed by a legislative chamber on property taxes in the history of the United States,” Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) said.For months, Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for the complete elimination of property taxes.“Regarding a property tax proposal for the 2026 ballot: we’ve been working with members of the Senate who have been great partners,” DeSantis posted on X before the House vote. “Given that it can’t be voted on by the people before November, it’s better to do it right than do it quick.”Perez responded to that post when he said during his remarks, “Our actions today are not sudden, nor do they meet any reasonable definition of quick.” The Florida Senate still needs to approve the proposal before a constitutional amendment would appear on the November ballot.”We are here to address putting money back in people’s pockets,” Rep. Toby Overdorf (R-Palm City) said. “We are also giving our people a choice.”According to the state’s own estimate from the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research, the elimination of non-school property taxes would result in local governments statewide losing $18.3 billion in annual revenue. Orange County could be down more than $1 billion, while the project for Seminole County is $328 million. “Where they get the money from, if they don’t collect it from property tax, is a mystery,” said J.R. Kroll, the Republican tax collector in Seminole County.Kroll told WESH 2 that counties and cities might need to increase the sales tax rate to pay for police, fire and other government services. “Say, well, we’ll do it at a sales tax, I go, well, in a recession or something like COVID, happens,” Kroll said, “what happens when you don’t get the money in because people drop off.”Orlando’s Democratic State Rep. Anna Eskamani said on the House floor she worries wealthier Floridians would benefit the most. “What it’s likely going to do is shift the burden of taxation to renters,” Eskamani said, “who arguably are the folks who are struggling to achieve the American dream of home ownership.”Florida requires 60 percent approval from voters for a constitutional amendment to pass.

, Fla. —

Along party lines, the Florida House of Representatives passed its plan Thursday to give voters the choice to get rid of homestead property taxes that don’t fund public schools.

The proposed ballot amendment resolution sponsored by Rep. Monique Miller (R-Palm Bay) also locks in minimum funding for law enforcement and public safety, amid concerns from Democratic lawmakers about how local governments would make up for the loss in revenue that funds police and fire departments.

“This may well be the most aggressive legislation ever passed by a legislative chamber on property taxes in the history of the United States,” Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) said.

For months, Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for the complete elimination of property taxes.

“Regarding a property tax proposal for the 2026 ballot: we’ve been working with members of the Senate who have been great partners,” DeSantis posted on X before the House vote. “Given that it can’t be voted on by the people before November, it’s better to do it right than do it quick.”

Perez responded to that post when he said during his remarks, “Our actions today are not sudden, nor do they meet any reasonable definition of quick.”

The Florida Senate still needs to approve the proposal before a constitutional amendment would appear on the November ballot.

“We are here to address putting money back in people’s pockets,” Rep. Toby Overdorf (R-Palm City) said. “We are also giving our people a choice.”

According to the state’s own estimate from the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research, the elimination of non-school property taxes would result in local governments statewide losing $18.3 billion in annual revenue.

Orange County could be down more than $1 billion, while the project for Seminole County is $328 million.

“Where they get the money from, if they don’t collect it from property tax, is a mystery,” said J.R. Kroll, the Republican tax collector in Seminole County.

Kroll told WESH 2 that counties and cities might need to increase the sales tax rate to pay for police, fire and other government services.

“Say, well, we’ll do it at a sales tax, I go, well, in a recession or something like COVID, happens,” Kroll said, “what happens when you don’t get the money in because people drop off.”

Orlando’s Democratic State Rep. Anna Eskamani said on the House floor she worries wealthier Floridians would benefit the most.

“What it’s likely going to do is shift the burden of taxation to renters,” Eskamani said, “who arguably are the folks who are struggling to achieve the American dream of home ownership.”

Florida requires 60 percent approval from voters for a constitutional amendment to pass.