TALLAHASSEE, Fla. \u2013 This week, four proposed constitutional amendments aimed at property tax reform in Florida took another step toward becoming law.<\/p>\n
These proposals \u2014 all filed in October<\/a> \u2014 went before the House\u2019s Republican-majority State Affairs Committee on Tuesday, with lawmakers ultimately voting to approve each of them.<\/p>\n All of the proposed amendments aim to slash property taxes for homeowners, largely by direct exemptions. For example, HJR 201 pushes to exempt all homesteads from non-school property taxes.<\/p>\n However, a common feature among them is that they all prohibit local governments from cutting law enforcement budgets simply due to lower property tax revenue. <\/p>\n In addition, state Rep. Tobin Overdorf, the chairman of the House Select Committee on Property Taxes, said these proposals wouldn\u2019t impact school funding.<\/p>\n The four proposals approved on Tuesday include the following:<\/p>\n HJR 201<\/a> \u2014 Eliminating Property Taxes<\/p>\n House Joint Resolution 201 would establish a homestead exemption for all non-school property taxes.<\/p>\n In addition, the amendment would prohibit local governments from reducing their law enforcement funding.<\/p>\n HJR 205<\/a> \u2014 Property Tax Exemptions (Seniors)<\/p>\n House Joint Resolution 205 would exempt residents ages 65 and over from paying non-school taxes on their homes.<\/p>\n In addition, the amendment would prohibit local governments from reducing their law enforcement funding.<\/p>\n HJR 209<\/a> \u2014 Property Insurance Relief<\/p>\n House Joint Resolution 209 increases homestead exemptions for non-school property taxes by $100,000.<\/p>\n However, this only applies if the property is subject to a comprehensive multiperil insurance policy.<\/p>\n In addition, the amendment would prohibit local governments from reducing their law enforcement funding.<\/p>\n HJR 211<\/a> \u2014 Accrued Tax Benefits<\/p>\n House Joint Resolution 211 would allow the full value of the accrued benefit from special limitations on homestead property tax assessments to be transferred to a new homestead for non-school levies.<\/p>\n In addition, the amendment would prohibit local governments from reducing their law enforcement funding.<\/p>\n Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been a vocal proponent of reducing property taxes<\/a> in the state, calling on lawmakers earlier this year to put a constitutional measure on the ballot in 2026. <\/p>\n Property taxes are local, not state. So we\u2019d need to do a constitutional amendment (requires 60% of voters to approve) to eliminate them (which I would support) or even to reform\/lower them\u2026<\/p>\n We should put the boldest amendment on the ballot that has a chance of getting that\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/WpOQmjNl0X<\/a><\/p>\n