The debate over property taxes in Florida has shifted from campaign rhetoric into concrete legislative action. Governor Ron DeSantis has promoted a multi-step plan that would significantly raise the homestead exemption for primary residences, with changes staged over multiple years. Voters and lawmakers are watching a special session and a proposed constitutional amendment that could appear on the ballot.

This article dissects the proposal’s mechanics, the timeline lawmakers are considering, and the factors that will determine whether homeowners actually stop paying a portion of their property taxes. It draws on public reports and statements circulating in state government and independent research.

What the proposal would do

At its core, the plan seeks to expand the homestead exemption for primary residences in Florida. Under the current proposal, the exemption would increase to $150,000 beginning January 1, 2027, and then to $250,000 on January 1, 2028. The measure also directs the Legislature to create a timetable that could eventually move toward eliminating covered homestead property taxes through general law.

The administration frames these steps as a way to cut or remove property taxes for a large share of homeowners, but implementation depends on multiple legal and procedural stages. Any constitutional amendment would need to be placed on the ballot by the Legislature and then approved by voters — historically a 60% threshold for Florida amendments.

Phased approach and local impacts

Rather than an immediate wipeout of property taxes, the plan uses a phased-in strategy. Officials have said the staged timeline helps local governments handle a reduction in property tax revenue without sudden disruption to public services. The proposal would require that the remaining property tax revenue be reserved for certain essential services, such as schools and first responders.

However, the constitutional language and follow-up statutes would determine the exact mix of protected spending and permitted offsets. For example, the proposal does not place a constitutional cap on other charges that local governments could levy, such as non-ad valorem assessments or fees that might be increased to compensate for lost tax receipts.

Who stands to benefit — and how many?

Supporters say raising the exemption to $250,000 would remove property taxes for a substantial share of homeowners. But independent data complicate that claim. A September 22, 2026 report from the Florida Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research showed that about 28% of homestead properties had a market value of $250,000 or less, while roughly 76% were at $500,000 or less.

These numbers differ from some public statements that suggested a higher share would be relieved. Analysts point out that calculating the number of homeowners who would stop paying property taxes requires accounting for existing programs — such as the Save Our Homes cap on taxable value increases and a variety of exemptions for veterans, seniors, and disabled residents. Once those layers are included, the taxable portion of many properties is already lower than market value.

School levies and the persistent bill

A crucial caveat is the treatment of school district taxes. Several versions of tax-reduction proposals explicitly preserved school funding as a protected category of property tax revenue. If school levies remain excluded from the exemption changes, homeowners will continue to see a school portion on their bills even after other homestead taxes are reduced or eliminated. That distinction means the total property tax bill may not fall to zero for most homeowners unless further legal changes are enacted.

Legislative path and voter approval

The proposed amendment must clear two major hurdles. First, the Florida Legislature must adopt the measure and place it on the ballot. The special session convened in late May and early June has been the vehicle for that work, with proponents seeking to finalize language and referrals. Second, voters will decide whether to approve any constitutional change at the ballot; Florida requires a 60% affirmative vote for amendments to pass.

If placed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, the amendment would join other statewide questions voters must weigh. Lawmakers and analysts have also flagged implementation details that will require separate legislation: exactly which taxes and fees are affected, transitional schedules for local governments, and protections for essential services like education and public safety.

What homeowners should watch next

Homeowners should monitor three things closely: the final ballot language, any follow-up statutes that spell out implementation details, and official impact reports from the Office of Economic and Demographic Research. Those reports will attempt to estimate revenue effects and identify who benefits under existing assessment caps and exemptions. Until those pieces are clear, projected savings vary widely depending on property values, local millage rates, and special assessments.

In short, the proposal represents a significant change in Florida’s approach to property taxation, but real-world outcomes will hinge on legislative follow-through, voter approval, and how existing exemptions and school levies are treated.