Full Breakdown
DeSantis Pushes to Eliminate Property Taxes for Most Floridians
5/29/2026, 4:54:59 AM
Proposal Overview
Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a plan to raise Florida’s homestead exemption from the current $50,000 to $250,000 immediately, with a later increase to $500,000 that would “completely eliminate property taxes for the majority of homeowners.” The governor says the $250,000 exemption would wipe out taxes for roughly 60 % of current homestead owners, and the $500,000 level would cover about 92 % of all homeowners. The measure must win 60 % approval in both the state House and Senate and then secure at least 60 % of the vote in the November ballot. New residents would need to live in Florida for five years before qualifying for the expanded exemption.
Background & Context
Florida’s property-tax revenue has risen from $32 billion in 2019 to $60 billion today and is projected to reach $83 billion by 2032. Earlier attempts to curb non-school homestead taxes stalled: a February House joint resolution (HJR 203) passed the lower chamber but died in the Senate. The state’s “Save Our Homes” cap limits annual increases in taxable values to 3 %. DeSantis framed the proposal as a “bottom-up” solution to what he called “the worst way to do taxation.”
Data & Statistics
- Current exemption ($50,000) applies to only 0.5 % of homestead parcels.
- Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research finds 47 % of homesteaded properties are valued at $250,000 or less; 75-80 % fall below $500,000.
- A separate state analysis reports only 28 % of parcels have a median assessed value at or below $250,000.
- Median home sale price (Redfin, March) = $416,800.
- UBS estimates average annual tax savings of $1,800 in Broward County and $1,500 in Miami-Dade County.
- Projected local-government revenue loss: $4.4 billion the first year, rising to $13.3 billion annually; Broward could lose more than $330 million in 2028.
Official Statements & Responses
DeSantis argued that “taxing something that you own repeatedly… is the worst way to do taxation” and pledged a state-level trust fund, financed with surplus revenue, to offset losses for rural counties. Senate President Ben Albritton called the amendment “a meaningful way to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary” and said it would protect businesses while safeguarding public-safety funding. House Speaker Daniel Perez expressed willingness to review the proposal once the language is received.
Criticism & Opposition
House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell warned that “any cut… could be devastating” and noted the absence of a plan to make local governments whole. Former Senator Jeff Brandes questioned the fiscal impact on schools, police and fire services. Cragin Mosteller of the Florida Association of Counties cautioned that lost tax revenue would shift to businesses, renters and working families, especially in smaller counties lacking a broad tax base.
On-the-Ground Reports
Homeowner Robert McCreary (Boynton Beach) asked, “what’s the impact going to be?” while Janet Lockwood (Sunrise) said the relief would be “tremendous” given recent escrow shortages. Broward Property Appraiser Marty Kiar estimated that more than 400,000 residents could save thousands annually but warned of a $330 million county-wide shortfall.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
DeSantis’s claim that 60 % of homeowners would be tax-free contrasts with state data showing only 47 % (or 28 % by median assessment) meet the $250,000 threshold. The trust-fund size, financing mechanism and long-term sustainability remain undefined.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Taxing something that you own repeatedly, which is a property tax, is the worst way to do taxation,” — Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida
- “If some billionaire from Brazil is buying, tax them, good, that’s fine with me,” — Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida
- “This is the one thing that we can do that is gonna make a really big difference in the lives of people,” — Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida
- “Any cut, even though it might seem small in the grand scheme of things, could be devastating.” — Fentrice Driskell, House Minority Leader (D-Tampa)
What’s Next
The special legislative session convenes Monday, giving lawmakers a few days to draft language, assess fiscal impacts and debate the trust-fund proposal. If the amendment clears the 60 % legislative threshold, it will appear on the November ballot, where a 60 % voter majority is required for adoption.
