Property taxes will be a big issue on the election ballot in 2026. Our Central Florida Media Collaborative partners at WUCF made it the focal point of its \u201cNewsnight\u201d program Friday, with News 6\u2019s Stephanie Rodriguez appearing to discuss the issue.<\/p>\n
[WATCH: Newsnight from WUCF]<\/p>\n
Florida House lawmakers unveiled a slate of seven potential constitutional amendments, including changes to homestead exemptions, or eliminating some residential property taxes. <\/p>\n
But Gov. Ron DeSantis is dismissing the proposals.<\/a><\/p>\n DeSantis, who is pushing for major property tax changes, criticized the House on X.com<\/a> for potentially placing more than one measure on the ballot, calling it a \u201cpolitical game\u201d and not a serious attempt to tackle the issue. <\/p>\n Placing more than one property tax measure on the ballot represents an attempt to kill anything on property taxes. <\/p>\n It\u2019s a political game, not a serious attempt to get it done for the people. https:\/\/t.co\/qwHDtq3MUs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) October 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n On Thursday, Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez responded to DeSantis\u2019 criticism, defending the plan.<\/p>\n \u201cThe governor has not produced a plan on property taxes. Period,\u201d Perez said. \u201cIt\u2019s unclear what he wants to do. I\u2019ve personally reached out to share with him the House\u2019s proposals and he has, so far, not wanted to engage in a conversation. So when the governor says he wants to \u2018abolish\u2019 property taxes. How? We don\u2019t have any details.\u201d<\/p>\n The seven constitutional amendments proposed would do the following:<\/p>\n HJR 201<\/a> eliminates non-school homestead taxes. Those are property taxes on primary residences.HJR 203<\/a> would phase out non-school homestead property taxes over 10 years.HJR 205<\/a> would exempt people ages 65 and older from paying non-school taxes on their homes.HJR 207<\/a> would create a new non-school homestead exemption equal to 25 percent of the assessed value of homes after other exemptions are applied.HJR 209<\/a> would create an additional $100,000 homestead exemption for people with property insurance.HJR 211<\/a> would allow people to transfer the full value of accumulated \u201cSave Our Homes\u201d benefits to new homes. That would add to what is known as \u201cportability\u201d of Save Our Homes benefits. The Save Our Homes law limits annual increases in the assessed value of homesteaded properties to 3 percent or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.HJR 213<\/a> would change the Save Our Homes caps. It would limit increases in taxable values for homestead property to 3 percent over three years.<\/p>\n Perez says voters should be part of the conversation about what taxes they pay, and should be able to choose some, all or none of the proposals.<\/p>\n Property taxes, which pay for everything from road repairs to sheriff\u2019s deputies, have skyrocketed along with property values and the population in recent years.<\/p>\n [WATCH: Florida\u2019s property tax overhaul: Impact on schools, safety and your county]<\/p>\n Local government leaders agree property tax reform is needed. However, as News 6\u2019s Matt Austin reported earlier this week<\/a>, they also feel taking a chainsaw to property taxes would do more harm than good.<\/p>\n