Ron DeSantis signs bills tightening property tax limits and expanding homestead exemption in Florida

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed two bills in Bradenton aimed at limiting local property‑tax increases and increasing fiscal transparency. SB 4F removes the ability of cities and counties to factor rising per‑capita personal income into the maximum millage they can approve, thereby making it harder to raise property taxes, and it allows a longer ballot summary for the proposed constitutional amendment.

HB 1329, championed by Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, requires local governments to publish quarterly reports on employee compensation, post detailed budget information online, and conduct a yearly “budget‑reduction exercise” to identify potential 10% spending cuts. The bill takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

Both measures are part of DeSantis’s push for a November ballot amendment that would dramatically expand Florida’s homestead property‑tax exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, reduce the assessed growth cap on non‑homesteaded properties, and create a path toward eliminating non‑school property taxes on homesteads. The governor frames the proposals as affordable‑housing solutions, while critics warn they could slash local‑government revenue and limit funding for services.