![\"Florida](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MIA_1_Florida_Legislation_Session_2026_MJO.JPG\" "\\"Florida")
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis arrives to deliver his State of the State address during the first day of the legislative session at the Florida State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Tallahassee, Fla.<\/p>\n
Photo by Matias J. Ocner<\/p>\n
mocner@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
Tallahassee<\/p>\n
In less than 24 hours, Florida lawmakers questioned, debated and added to the November ballot what could become the most sweeping restructuring of the state\u2019s tax system \u2014 and city and county governments \u2014 in a generation.<\/p>\n
Now it\u2019s up to voters.<\/p>\n
Legislators voted largely along party lines Tuesday to approve a constitutional amendment proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis<\/a> that would raise the state\u2019s homestead exemption to $250,000. It will save millions of Floridians thousands of dollars on their property taxes in 2028, if voters approve it in November.<\/p>\n The rushed process \u2014 DeSantis\u2019 plan was introduced less than a week ago, giving lawmakers no time to analyze its effects \u2014 now leaves plenty of questions and kicks off a five-month campaign to persuade voters which way to vote.<\/p>\n City managers this week warned that parks, summer camps and other non-essential local services will be on the chopping block if it passes. Firefighters said their budgets will be slashed. Anti-tax advocates warn it will force local governments to raise assessments and fees, shifting the tax burden to others.<\/p>\n Rep. Toby Overdorf, the Palm City Republican who sponsored the amendment in the House, didn\u2019t downplay the amendment\u2019s potential effects. He said Tuesday that cities that rely heavily on property taxes could have to make \u201chard choices<\/a>,\u201d such as giving up their police departments to local sheriffs or dissolving their cities entirely.<\/p>\n \u201cThese are real decisions that we all have to make on a day-to-day basis,\u201d Overdorf said.<\/p>\n If approved by 60% of Florida voters, the proposed constitutional amendment \u201cSave Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes\u201d would:<\/p>\n Raise the $50,000 homestead exemption on primary residences to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028Increase the homestead exemption by the Consumer Price Index starting in 2028Prohibit people who move to Florida after Dec. 31 from receiving the tax benefit for five yearsCap annual assessment increases on non-homestead property, such as corporations and second homes, from the current 10% to 5%<\/p>\n DeSantis has been talking about eliminating property taxes for more than a year<\/a>, pointing to ballooning tax rolls thanks to soaring home values. In many cities and counties, those rolls have outpaced population growth and inflation.<\/p>\n He also touted that his proposed amendment would create a state trust fund to help local communities weather the shortfall.<\/p>\n