State legislators were expected to convene April 20-24 for a special session to consider redrawing the congressional districts ahead of the November election. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a proclamation last week delaying the session’s start to April 28, when the House and Senate will also consider legislation on consumer protections on artificial intelligence and vaccine mandates.
Members in the House and Senate must also pass a spending plan for the coming fiscal year by June 30. It’s unknown when they’ll convene to discuss that.
There’s also the issue of eliminating property tax looming over the state capital, and whether and when DeSantis will reconvene the Legislature to consider a proposed constitutional amendment for voters to consider.
In the Florida House, members considered various proposals to phase out property tax or give certain groups of Floridians a break on their property tax bills. Before the regular 60-day session concluded in March, the House passed a proposed constitutional amendment eliminating non-school property taxes on homesteaded properties. The bill originally came to the floor as a 10-year phase-out, but it was later amended to an immediate repeal.
The legislation died, however, after the Senate never considered the House proposal and didn’t produce its own. It remains to be seen whether DeSantis will call the Legislature back to a special session to consider a proposal.
DeSantis, who spoke during a March 25 event at Palm Beach Atlantic University, provided insight to steps he’s seeking to take to potentially phase out property taxes on homesteaded properties and the rationale behind such a move.
“We have to work through the House and Senate,” he said. “Personally I think these guys (in the Legislature) don’t want to do anything on it. I don’t think you can be a Republican and not put something on the ballot and face voters this year.”
DeSantis noted how property tax revenue for local governments across the state jumped from $32 billion in 2019 to $56 billion by 2025.
Monroe County adopted a fiscal year 2022 budget that brought in $105,905,439 in property taxes. By fiscal year 2026, that revenue rose to $167,225,277.
An adopted 2025-26 spending plan in the Village of Islamorada brought $18.2 million in property tax revenue, up from the 2021-22 adopted budget when the village received $12.5 million in revenue through property tax.
While DeSantis acknowledged inflation and population growth as factors, he said higher property tax valuations are bringing in more money for local governments to spend.
“I realize you can’t get rid of every form of property tax,” he said during the forum. “What we’re saying is your homesteaded property should be excluded from tax.”
He also acknowledged his willingness to provide grants for local governments to deal with losses in property tax revenue for day-to-day operations, if the phase-out clears all the hurdles.
A constitutional amendment needs three-fifths affirmative vote by the state Legislature in order to reach the November ballot. And 60% of Florida voters would need to approve the proposed constitutional amendment for it to take effect.
In his remarks, DeSantis said 70% of property tax revenue comes from secondary homes and commercial properties. Homesteaded properties are protected by the Save Our Homes amendment, which limits the annual increase of a home’s assessed value to 3% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.
“I’m good with you taxing someone with 20 Airbnbs,” DeSantis said.
The governor and Senate President Ben Albritton have said the property tax issue would be considered in a special session, but the question remains as to when. During a recent interview, state Rep. Jim Mooney told Keys Weekly there’s no proposal on the table related to property tax.
Kate DeLoach, Tavernier resident and lobbyist with the Southern Group, said legislators have a few more months to convene and consider a proposed constitutional amendment. She, too, said hasn’t seen any dates set for a special on property tax.
DeSantis said if the Legislature does nothing on property tax, local governments will take in $80 billion in three years.
The Florida League of Counties said most Florida counties have kept their tax rates either steady or lower. The league also said primary residences of full-time Floridians are shielded from excessive property tax increases via the Save Our Homes amendment.
“If the goal is to make Florida more affordable, the focus should be on what’s actually driving costs higher — rising insurance premiums — not the basic services that communities rely on every day,” the league said.
