TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Florida Capital Bureau) – The Florida House approved a proposed constitutional amendment Thursday that would cut non-school property taxes on homesteaded properties across the state.
The vote fell along party lines and represents a major step toward getting property tax reform on the November ballot. House Speaker Daniel Perez called it a turning point in this year’s legislative session.
“This may well be the most aggressive legislation ever passed by a legislative chamber on property taxes in the history of the United States,” Perez said.
The amendment is currently the only property tax reform plan that has advanced through either chamber of the Legislature.
Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized the House plan on social media before the vote, saying he is working with the Senate on a different approach that does not need to be rushed.
“It can’t be voted on by the people before November; it’s better to do it right than do it quick,” DeSantis said.
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Perez defended the House timeline, saying the actions were neither sudden nor quick.
“Our actions today are not sudden, nor do they meet any reasonable definition of quick. The Governor pushed this topic into the forefront of our political conversation one year ago,” Perez said.
DeSantis and Senate President Ben Albritton have been leaning toward putting property taxes on the ballot during a special session.
“We’re still doing what we’ve been committed to the entire time. We’re still looking very closely at this,” Albritton said.
The Florida Constitution requires property taxes as a way to fund local government and requires voters to approve changes through a constitutional amendment with 60% support.
Many counties and local governments worry about how they will provide essential services under the proposed changes.
“This is an unbalancing of the equation on how we’re going to fund local government, including the discretionary services. Once we get past those required core essential services, which include public safety, it includes senior services,” said Jeff Scala of the Florida Association of Counties.
The proposed amendment would prevent local governments from maintaining current law enforcement and fire service spending levels amid rising costs.
Rep. Monique Miller, R-Palm Bay, suggested smaller cities could consolidate services with sheriff’s offices to create efficiencies and reduce spending.
Some lawmakers, like Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland, raised concerns that the proposal could be unconstitutional.
“This should be about the local communities, the people in those communities deciding what levels of service they have for public safety and who provides them that public safety,” Hunschofsky said.
Republican lawmakers have promoted cutting property taxes as their response to Florida’s affordability crisis this year.
“This is absolutely the most conservative that we have, and it puts the most money back into the pockets of Floridians,” said Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Palm City.
GOP leaders remain at odds over the approach, but they want only one proposal before voters in November.
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