State leaders want to reduce property taxes, and soon, but the decision is ultimately up to Florida voters.<\/p>\n
\nGov. Ron DeSantis and legislative Republicans plan to give them the option through a proposed constitutional amendment placed on the 2026 election ballot \u2014 though the tax plan itself hasn’t been decided.<\/p>\n
\nWhile the session starts Tuesday, DeSantis says fleshing out the proposal can wait. He’s floating having a special session after the regular one ends in mid-March.<\/p>\n
\n“You get into a regular session, you know, it’s 60 days. There’s things flying all over the place, and things kind of sneak through at the last minute,” DeSantis said at a press conference last week.<\/p>\n
\n“There’s a lot that goes into [a property tax proposal], because you’ve got to get it passed,” he continued. “So you’ve got to write it in a very clear and concise way where everybody knows what we’re looking to accomplish here.”<\/p>\n
\nAt least 60% of Florida voters need to approve the measure for it to succeed.<\/p>\n
\nIn a memo, Senate President Ben Albritton said he’s “certainly open to addressing property tax relief at a later time.”<\/p>\n
\n“Major revisions to our property tax structure are a big deal,” he said. “We owe it to Floridians to devote the time necessary to get this right. The substance is more important than the timing.”<\/p>\n
\nThe House doesn’t view it as necessary.<\/p>\n
\n“The issue has been under discussion for a year now,” said Amelia Angleton, a spokesperson for House Speaker Daniel Perez, in an email. “The Florida House plans to show up on Tuesday to do our job.”<\/p>\n
\nRepublican Rep. Toby Overdorf of Palm City, chair of the House Select Committee on Property Taxes, said they’re “ready to go.”<\/p>\n
\n“I am not sure why they would like to do it outside of session, when things would move incredibly fast within a three-day session, rather than us focusing on it now and working through that process over a 60-day session,” he said.<\/p>\n
\nHis committee has already pushed forward<\/a> multiple proposals.<\/p>\n