Florida voters will decide the future of their property taxes this November after state lawmakers approved a revised constitutional amendment. The measure, known as HJR 1F, aims to significantly alter how property is taxed across the state, sparking a direct public clarification from Governor Ron DeSantis regarding his role in the process and how the final proposal differs from his initial vision.
The decision now rests entirely with the public. Because property taxes are governed locally under the Florida Constitution, the governor does not sign off on joint resolutions. Instead, the legislature must vote to place amendments on the ballot, which then require at least 60% voter approval to pass.
DeSantis emphasized this distinction on social media, correcting an online post that claimed he had signed the measure. “Uh, the Legislature put a measure on the ballot,” DeSantis wrote. “It wasn’t ‘signed’ by me because it does not require the approval of the governor per the Florida Constitution.”
The final ballot measure looks quite different from the “Save Our Homes” Act that DeSantis originally championed. The governor’s initial plan pushed for a complete phase-out and total elimination of property taxes on homesteaded properties, backed by a state-funded grant program to help local governments cover core services during the transition. Lawmakers opted for a scaled-back approach instead.
If approved by voters, HJR 1F will introduce several key changes starting January 1, 2027. It establishes a new homestead exemption for non-school taxes on the first $150,000 of assessed value in 2027, which jumps to $250,000 in 2028. It also introduces a temporary five-year exemption for out-of-state homeowners who are not permanent residents by the end of 2026, allowing them to eventually qualify for full permanent resident exemptions after five years.
Furthermore, the amendment caps annual non-homestead property assessment increases at 5%, down from the current 10% limit, and strictly restricts how local governments can spend ad valorem revenue, limiting funds to essential areas like public safety, infrastructure, education, and employee retirement benefits.
The proposal has drawn sharp debate from both sides. Proponents argue that homeowners urgently need relief from a crushing cost of living. Even though the legislature altered his original plan, DeSantis voiced strong support for the final version. “That said, the proposal will increase constitutional protection against taxes for homestead properties and will be the biggest property tax cut in Florida history,” DeSantis stated. “Floridians looking for help with affordability will have a great opportunity to vote for it.”
Conversely, critics warn that the massive tax cuts will starve municipal budgets and gut essential public services. Local officials are already sounding the alarm over the potential fallout. The mayor of Sanford, for instance, warned that the hiked homestead exemption could cost that single city up to $15 million in property tax revenue, threatening funding for everything from libraries to law enforcement.
Floridians will cast their final votes on the amendment during the general election on Tuesday, November 3.
READ: Voters In Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, And South Carolina Decide The Path To November
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