Florida's Legislative Proposals to Eliminate Property Taxes

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In 2025, Florida's legislative landscape has seen several ambitious proposals to reduce or even eliminate property taxes, particularly for homesteaded property owners. This reflects a growing political push to ease financial pressure amid soaring home values and insurance costs, which are crucial coastal issues affecting many residents.

Key Legislative Proposals & Initiatives

House Bill 357 (HJR 357) aimed to amend the state constitution, proposing a $100,000 exemption from assessed property value for all properties. However, this measure died in committee and did not advance.

In the Senate, SB 1016 sought to increase the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $75,000, effectively reducing property tax burdens for primary homeowners.

SB 852 proposed a statewide study on eliminating property taxes outright, investigating alternative revenue sources (like sales or consumption taxes) and evaluating the potential impacts on public services, housing, the economy, and more, highlighting important coastal news relevant to property owners.

Executive Vision & Political Push

Governor Ron DeSantis has been vocal: calling property taxes “oppressive,” arguing they prevent true ownership, and asserting that tax relief should prioritize Florida residents. He proposed a one-time $1,000 rebate for homesteaded properties—an urgent, near-term relief measure.

DeSantis also pushed for a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot aimed at eventually abolishing property taxes, although he offered little detail on how to replace the substantial revenue this would eliminate.

Meanwhile, the Florida House has formed a special committee to explore property tax repeal and other relief measures, with recommendations expected in the next legislative session.

Ballot Reform & Current Relief Measures

Florida voters passed Amendment 5 last November, which ties the homestead exemption to inflation. Homeowners currently enjoy about $50,000 in exemption. This link to the Consumer Price Index helps provide incremental relief, though critics argue the impact is minimal (averaging just $20 per household over five years) and erodes local revenue.

Financial Risks & Concerns

Florida doesn’t have a personal income tax, so property taxes are a vital funding source—accounting for $50–55 billion annually—supporting schools, law enforcement, utilities, and local services, which are essential community stories for many Floridians.

Analysts and lawmakers warn that eliminating or significantly reducing property taxes could lead to huge funding gaps. For instance, the Florida Policy Institute estimates sales taxes would need to double—from 6% to 12%—to cover the shortfall.

Many economists argue property taxes are an efficient, benefits-based mechanism: your property’s value roughly aligns with the services you demand, making it a fair system, unlike more regressive consumption taxes.

Lawmakers such as Sen. Shevrin Jones emphasize that emergency services, schools, and other essential functions rely heavily on property tax revenue, and unless there's a viable replacement, property tax abolition could destabilize local governance.

Florida is undergoing serious debate over property tax reform, from immediate relief like rebates and raising homestead exemptions to long-term visions of full repeal via constitutional amendments. While these proposals resonate with taxpayers feeling financial strain, the fundamental challenge remains: significant revenue replacement. Without viable substitutes or careful fiscal planning, cutting property taxes threatens the stability of public services and local governance.