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DeSantis Calls Special Session Hoping To End Homestead Property Taxes; Gaetz Will Support
May 28, 2026
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a special session that would lead to a constitutional amendment to overhaul Florida’s property tax structure.
The proposal, titled “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes,” provides for the immediate increase in the homestead exemption and calls for a schedule for full elimination through general law.
Northwest Florida Sen. Don Gaetz says he will vote for the governor’s tax reform plan.
“I believe that property taxes amount to renting your property from the government. If you don’t pay what the government charges, you lose your property. Property taxes are especially hard on families with fixed incomes. The soaring increase in assessed property values and, consequently, increased property taxes isn’t keeping up with pensions and Social Security, for example. While I believe that Northwest Florida local governments have been good stewards of tax dollars, the substantial increases in many local government budgets is far outpacing population growth and inflation.,” Gaetz said.
“I will vote for Governor DeSantis’ plan when it is presented to the Senate next week,” Gaetz said in a statement released on Wednesday night.
“Property tax revenue collected by local governments has nearly doubled in the past seven years and is expected to reach an astounding $83 billion by 2032. Florida homeowners need relief. Now is the time to stand up for taxpayers, enact a historic reform, and save the home of every Floridian,” DeSantis said.
As proposed by Governor DeSantis, the Save Our Homes proposal includes five major components to provide immediate and permanent relief:
- Exempt Homestead Properties From Taxation.
Exempts the first $250,000 of a homestead’s value from taxation and requiring, through law, a schedule for full elimination.
- Ensure Funding For Core Services.
Requires local governments to use remaining property taxes solely for core public needs including public safety, education and schools, infrastructure, and natural resources.
- Protect Small Businesses.
Limits future property tax assessments on businesses and creates a more stable tax environment for local businesses.
- Ensure Fairness For Florida Residents.
Requires any person who establishes Florida residency after January 1, 2027, to maintain Florida residency for up to five years prior to receiving the increased homestead exemption.
- Create A State Trust Fund To Assist With Core Local Services.
Establishes a trust fund to provide grants to local governments to assist with the continuation of core local services.
The governor’s proposal will be considered during the upcoming special session beginning June 1, with the goal of placing the constitutional amendment on the ballot for Florida voters this fall.
Comments
21 Responses to “DeSantis Calls Special Session Hoping To End Homestead Property Taxes; Gaetz Will Support”
It’s great to see most regional politicians making statements regarding that Schools budgets , services for the elderly, law enforcement will be underfunded, the politicians are just protecting their piggy bank and discretionary power .protecting their access to millions of dollars . Only a small percent comes from taxes collected from homestead properties . The rest comes from businesses, out of state owners , investors. Finally we have a governor in office who wants to do something about it . Yet in a Red state like ours unfortunately we have some hiding their blue ideologies. Give homeowners a tax brake and take the piggy bank away from some politicians.
@Ken,
Apartment owners pay property taxes and pass that cost on to their renters.
Per an internet search for Escambia County Fl 62% of residents own homes either outright or through mortgage and 50% claim homestead. How does the rest of of the
population contribute to schools and services ? And how is 50-62% carrying the lions share of the burden fair?
This is a money grab. Property taxes in Florida are a dedicated funding source that helps pay for schools, streetlights, roads, police & fire services, libraries and a variety of other things.
Desantis and his cronies are sitting on millions in real estate, investment properties, condos, hotels, multiple vacation homes along the beach and want to get out of paying their share. They do this by convincing the poorest guy that owns .0000000001 acre that he has an interest that aligns with their hundreds and millions in real estate.
Take away that and we start looking like Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama: dirt poor, last in education, a decline in emergency services pot holes in the streets and a boost in crime. Take a drive over there and look at that possible future.
Desantis has access to private schools for kids, a security team (has been discussing extending his protection after he leaves office) and is sitting on a treasure chest. Don’t be fooled!
Im all for paying fair share of property tax. Unless your house is paid off like mine. If you worked hard and paid off your house then you shouldnt pay property tax regardless of what you do with the house or whether you stay in it. The problem with the Republican method is that they’ll make it sound good then jack up everything else to compensate for it. Smh
@Bigblock
That flies in the face of capitalism. The value of your property increases or decreases due to the demand for that property. By your logic, if you did want to sell that old homestead, you could only get what you paid for it, regardless of the increase in demand.
I understand your argument, but you don’t get to have the cake and eat it when you want to.
If you own property that receives services, like roads, lights, schools, etc– you have an obligation through tax dollars to maintain those amenities. You never paid them off.
This reform should also be evaluated for the exemption from property taxes by religious institutions and churches. Megachurches that own large properties and engage in politics should be taxed just like a business.
Agree with you about insurance, Buford T. It is HANDS DOWN our number one expense.
What I fear is the state turns around and goes up on sales taxes. It won’t be noticed at the consumer staples level too much. But it will slam people on durable goods like appliances and vehicles, big ticket items that are must haves. It could also chase tourism off (bed /tourist taxes are already really high). Once the tourists go to other states and not Florida, more of the burden will be on the residents.
Even with what I spoke of below with exemption boundaries, I’m not sure I can back this. Instead, cap millage rates if taxes are out of control.
“Has anyone ever heard of a county or local government not spending every dollar collected? “ per Derek
Actually, yes. The funds can be rolled over to the next fiscal year and millage is kept the same (for inflation). But I have seen millage lowered slightly, too.
In agreement with you Jason.
Everyone should pay something.
My thought is exempt the first $25k, tax the next $25k, then a $225k and exemption.
If it’s just the first $250k, I cannot vote for that. Otherwise, the burden is saddled onto the middle class again and that is simply unfair.
@Jim C, @ Native Floridian. Exactly. Property taxes if any should only be on the value when bought. Not a made up yearly cost increase. Just because other houses in the area sold for $1 Mil. Doesn’t mean my house bought in 1980 for $25,000 is worth and should be taxed at $1Mil. < example.”Not my actual situation.” That’s taxing unrealized capital gains.
Has anyone ever heard of a county or local government not spending every dollar collected? Just last week Santa Rosa County Commissioners voted against a christian school BECAUSE it would be tax exempt. This is greed 101
Buford if you don’t pay homeowners insurance the government will not take your house but just try not paying those property taxes. And while I am happy you have no issues paying your taxes there are a lot of people who can’t and this would be a life saver for them.
With that said this still smacks of grandstanding and hopeful wishes I will believe it when I see it.
Please please, Governor ,,,,,,,,,,,,stop the homestead exemption tax. It is so unfair to tax what is ours. Thank you
I have to ask, with the extreme growth we have had especially in Pine Forest and Beulah area, have not the revenues increased also?
Jim C – you are 100% correct. Buford T, who is alluding to the fact the property taxes are not an issue for those who own their homes, especially the elderly (and aging) populations, is categorically false. I have seen elderly people, without family, lose their homes because they cannot pay the taxes for a home that was bought in the 50s and long paid off. This was decades ago, and I can assure you, it is not any better today. This is much needed legislation.
Is homeowners insurance another issue, it 100% is. Hopefully, they will stop people from building on the beach – right on the shore, because the little people carry the burden when disasters strike. Million dollar homes are destroyed, and everyone (even further inland) have ridiculous spikes in their policy. How about billing according to zip code and the probability of severe property damage from hurricanes. Or, better yet, if you want a multimillion dollar condo or home, you carry direct risk without insurance, because the probability of damage is outrageous and this should not be passed to homeowners who are not building in these areas.
Buford T. – While I agree that homeowners insurance rates are artificially high, I worked hard and paid off my mortgage. I now own my house and the property on which its built. I still have to pay “rent” to the state and county, in the form of property taxes, or I could have my home confiscated. The truth is you never truly own your home, it is never truly “secure”. Government entities have no real reason to tax your home other than “because we can”. Sales taxes, commercial taxes, and other fees can more than cover what our communities need in the way of services and infrastructure.
One last thought, currently, property values are limited to just a 3% increase per year on Homesteaded parcels and a maximum of 10% on all other properties. This increase also needs to be addressed to limit all increases to 2% maximum annual increases on ALL properties. It would be another step in limiting how much money local government can siphon from the wallets if taxpayers.
And why the legislature is at it they could eliminate any additional sales tax imposed by local mandates. Maybe eliminating the use of MSTU’s or Franchise Fees as a source of funding the increasing budget….. there are just so many way to reduce the tax burden on Floridians.
Morons, all of them. Property taxes are not putting a strain on homeowners, homeowners insurance is doing that. Do something about the cost of homeowners insurance. But they will not do that because big insurance companies have them in their back pockets.
IMHO, I believe EVERYONE should pay something towards the operation of local government. If they taxed the first $10,000 in value and then exempted the next $250,000 in value would be a huge start in reining in out of control taxes imposed by BCC.
Applying the current mindset of exempting just homesteaded properties places the taxing burden on the backs of renters and businesses. Far too many people think that renters don’t pay property taxes and that belief is absolutely wrong. While a renter might not directly pay the tax collectors office, their monthly lease payments are calculated to cover the expenses of the property which INCLUDES the cost of property taxes.
This all sounds good on paper and I am all for reduced government and less spending whenever possible however, these articles are also light on details about how all this will work. Where is the money going to come from?