Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license./Author: Aerra Carnicom
On Thursday, the Florida State House voted for a constitutional amendment to abolish all non-school property taxes for Florida homeowners. The bill will now move to the Senate and, if passed, will be placed on the ballot for voters in 2026.
CS/CS/HJR 203, sponsored by State Rep. Monique Miller (R-Palm Bay, District 33), reads:
Joint Resolution by Ways & Means Committee and State Affairs Committee and Miller (CO-SPONSORS) Barnaby.
Elimination of Non-school Property for Homesteads: Proposes amendment to State Constitution to make homestead property exempt from all ad valorem taxation other than school district levies beginning in a specified year, to prohibit local governments from reducing total funding for services provided by law enforcement, firefighters, and other first responders, and provide an effective date.
Why I Filed This Bill(by Representative Miller): I filed HJR 203 to give meaningful Property Tax relief to Floridians. This bill proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution that gradually increases the homestead exemption from all ad valorem taxes—except school district levies—by $100,000 each year for ten years, beginning in 2027.
By 2037, all homestead property will be exempt from non-school ad valorem taxes. This gradual approach ensures that homeowners see consistent tax relief while giving local governments time to plan and adjust for revenue changes.
At the same time, HJR 203 establishes a constitutional protection for public safety by prohibiting counties and municipalities from reducing total funding for law enforcement below their 2024 or 2025 levels.
This ensures that essential public safety services remain unaffected. Within 3 years, non-school property taxes will be completely removed from the average priced Florida home.
Florida’s Voice reports:
The House spent significant time debating HJR 203. Multiple Democratic amendments aimed at mitigating potential budget impacts, including proposals to require the state to backfill lost local revenue, delay implementation for further study, or create state funds to replace local property tax losses, all failed on votes. An amendment by Rep. Monique Miller to speed up the phase-out, eliminating non-school property taxes immediately rather than over 10 years, was adopted.
During structured floor debate, supporters argued the amendment would return billions of dollars to homeowners and allow voters to decide on historic tax relief. Opponents warned it could blow holes in local budgets, shift costs to fees and sales taxes, hurt renters and small businesses, and strain essential services.
Specifically, the amendment would:
Homestead Exemption Increase: Starting January 1, 2027, it would raise the homestead exemption from non-school taxes by $100,000 annually for 10 years, leading to full exemption from such taxes by January 1, 2037 (while keeping school district levies intact).
Funding Protections: Prohibits counties and municipalities from reducing total funding for law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders below the higher of their 2025-26 or 2026-27 fiscal year budgets, despite potential revenue losses.
Afterward, the amendment makes all homestead properties exempt from non-school property taxes beginning on Jan. 1, 2037.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) shared on X, “Regarding a property tax proposal for the 2026 ballot: we’ve been working with members of the Senate who have been great partners.”
“Given that it can’t be voted on by the people before November, it’s better to do it right than do it quick!”
Regarding a property tax proposal for the 2026 ballot: we’ve been working with members of the Senate who have been great partners.
Given that it can’t be voted on by the people before November, it’s better to do it right than do it quick!
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) February 19, 2026
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