DeSantis\u2019 figures about how many Florida homeowners would benefit from the plan don\u2019t line up with publicly available state data that breaks down the market values of Florida\u2019s primary homes.<\/p>\n
The September 2025 data from the Florida Legislature\u2019s Office of Economic and Demographic Research<\/a> shows that about 28% of Florida\u2019s homestead properties have a just value (or market value) of $250,000 or below.<\/p>\n Screenshot via the Florida Legislature Office of Economic and Demographic Research, Homestead Distribution and Benefits report, September 22, 2025.<\/p>\n About 76% of homestead properties are valued at $500,000 or below, although DeSantis said 92% of homes would be exempt from taxes at that price level.\u00a0<\/p>\n DeSantis\u2019 office did not answer PolitiFact\u2019s request for comment or details about the source of his figures.<\/p>\n Other factors affect housing values<\/p>\n Amy Baker, coordinator at the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, told PolitiFact that Florida’s existing property tax reduction programs and exemptions have to be considered to accurately calculate which residences would no longer pay property taxes under the plan.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Florida voters approved the Save Our Homes program<\/a> in 1992, which caps annual increases on primary residences’ taxable value at 3%, or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. Florida residents also can qualify for property tax exemptions<\/a> available to military veterans, active-duty military, first responders, low-income senior citizens and disabled people.<\/p>\n After those things are calculated, Baker said, the value that is taxable is “just a fraction of the total” value.<\/p>\n Baker said the Office of Economic and Demographic Research will produce an impact report on the governor\u2019s proposal after the Legislature considers it during its June 1 to 3 special session<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n She said it\u2019s unlikely there is any public data showing how many primary homeowners would see their property taxes eliminated under DeSantis\u2019 proposal.\u00a0<\/p>\n DeSantis\u2019 plan still has to pass the Legislature by a three-fifths majority and then be approved by 60% of Florida voters in November.<\/p>\n The center-left Florida Policy Institute estimated<\/a> that dropping property taxes on all primary homes would cost local governments about $18.5 billion, which breaks down to $7.8 billion for counties, $3 billion for cities and $7.7 billion for school districts.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/FL_EDR_graph_on_Homestead_properties_in_Florida_by_value.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n