Florida property-tax amendment to appear on ballot, school taxes exempted

The Florida legislature approved a constitutional amendment that would raise the homestead exemption for property taxes, increasing it to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. Lawmakers removed school property taxes from the plan, leaving the exemption for school districts at the current $25,000 level. The measure passed on June 2 and will be placed on the November ballot, requiring at least 60% voter approval to take effect.

Governor Ron DeSantis, who promoted the proposal as “the most transformational property tax proposal in American history,” said the Legislature “took out what I had proposed,” notably omitting a trust fund for local governments and the exemption for school taxes. He expressed optimism that the amendment will still benefit homeowners and that any shortcomings could be addressed after passage. Critics note that shielding school taxes may preserve funding but also raise concerns about long‑term fiscal stability for local governments.