Amendment 3: Florida Property Tax Changes

Amendment 3 is a constitutional amendment approved by Florida voters on November 3, 2026. It makes several changes to Florida's property tax system, including:

• Increasing the homestead exemption for qualifying properties.
• Reducing the annual limitation for non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%.
• Establishing additional residency-related provisions for certain homestead benefits.

Amendment 3 takes effect January 1, 2027. Its changes will first be reflected on the August 2027 Notices of Proposed Property Taxes (TRIM notices) and the property tax bills mailed in November 2027.

No. Amendment 3 does not affect 2026 property tax bills. The changes approved by voters will first apply to the 2027 tax year.

Under current law, qualifying Florida homeowners may receive up to a $51,411 homestead exemption for the 2026 tax year. This is comprised of:

• A $25,000 exemption applied to all millages, including school taxes.
• An additional $26,411 exemption applied to non-school millages. This amount reflects CPI adjustments as certified by the Florida Department of Revenue.

The amendment replaces the current homestead exemption structure for qualifying homestead property with:

• A $25,000 exemption applied to school millages.
• Up to $150,000 beginning January 1, 2027 to non-school millages.
• Up to $250,000 beginning January 1, 2028 to non-school millages.
• Annual CPI adjustments to the maximum exemption amount beginning January 1, 2029.

Residential property owners who are permanent Florida residents as of December 31, 2026, will be eligible for the larger exemption amounts beginning in 2027, subject to the requirements of the Florida Constitution.

Those that establish Florida residency by December 31, 2026, will be eligible for the higher exemption amount when they do choose to purchase a residential property and apply for homestead.

The amendment establishes a different exemption structure for individuals who become Florida residents on or after January 1, 2027.

Under the amendment, individuals who establish Florida residency on or after January 1, 2027, will begin with the exemption amount established for new Florida residents ($50,000, adjusted annually by CPI beginning in 2028), which will apply to the first $50,000 of assessed value for non-school taxes.

After maintaining a Florida homestead exemption for four years, the property owner will become eligible for the larger homestead exemption beginning January 1 of the fifth year.

Additional administrative procedures may be established through implementing legislation.

No.

Under the amendment's language, individuals who establish Florida residency on or after January 1, 2027, will begin with the exemption amount established for new Florida residents.

The larger exemption will become available after maintaining a Florida homestead exemption for four years and will first apply beginning January 1 of the fifth year.

No.

Only the first $25,000 of assessed value of a homestead property remains exempt from school taxes, consistent with current law.

Therefore, most property owners will continue to receive a tax bill that includes school taxes.

No.

Potential tax savings will vary depending on:

• Assessed value
• Taxable value
• Existing exemptions
• Save Our Homes benefit
• Local millage rates

No.

Actual savings cannot be determined until implementing legislation is finalized and future tax rates are established.

The amendment establishes exemption amounts of up to $150,000 beginning in 2027 and up to $250,000 beginning in 2028. It also directs the Florida Legislature to establish a schedule for future increases in the exemption amount.

The amendment authorizes future increases that could ultimately exempt up to the remaining assessed value of a qualifying homestead property. The timing, structure, and implementation of any future increases would be determined by the Florida Legislature through general law rather than having to go before the voters as a constitutional amendment.

Because future exemption increases would depend on legislative action, the exact timing and amount of increases beyond those specified in the amendment cannot be determined today.

The amendment does not eliminate or replace Save Our Homes.

Annual assessed value increases for qualifying homestead property will continue to be limited to 3% or CPI, whichever is less, as provided by law.

The amendment does not change Florida's portability provisions.

The amendment does not change existing personal exemptions.

A non-homestead property is any property that does not receive a homestead exemption.

Examples include rental property, commercial property, second homes, and vacant land.

Amendment 3 reduces the annual assessment increase limitation for qualifying non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%, beginning with the 2027 tax year.

This limitation applies only to assessed values used for non-school property taxes. School taxes will continue to be based on just (market) value without this assessment limitation.

The lower limitation may slow future assessed value growth but does not guarantee a reduction in property taxes.

Not necessarily.

A reduction in the assessment limitation affects assessed value increases, not tax rates.

Future tax bills would still depend on millage rates established by taxing authorities.

No.

Property taxes would continue to be levied by local governments, school districts, and other taxing authorities.

Yes.

School district taxes would continue.

No.

The amendment does not guarantee any specific funding level for law enforcement, fire protection, EMS, or other governmental services. Funding decisions would continue to be made through the annual budget processes of the applicable taxing authorities.

Impacts to Leon County, the City of Tallahassee and other taxing authorities will vary based on taxable values, percent of homestead versus non-homestead properties, and whether millage rates change or not. If interested in learning more, we recommend contacting your local taxing authorities The Leon County Property Appraiser's Office has prepared estimates of the potential impacts for individual taxing authorities in Leon County and has provided them upon request.

Yes.

Taxing authorities establish millage rates annually through the budget process. Future millage rates are determined by those taxing authorities in accordance with Florida law.

Yes.

Future assessments may increase, decrease, expire, or be newly adopted depending on actions taken by the governmental entities that impose them.

No.

Homestead exemptions reduce taxable value for ad valorem taxation but do not reduce non-ad valorem assessments.

A “rolled-back rate” is the tax rate that would generate approximately the same property tax revenue as the prior year. The amendment substantially reduces taxable value for many homestead properties. As a result, that calculation would instead produce what is effectively a "rolled-up rate." This would represent the highest millage rate a taxing authority could adopt without exceeding the prior year's property tax revenue (excluding new construction) and would remain subject to the voting requirements established by Florida law.

Recent legislation has changed the votes required to adopt a millage rate. A governing board may adopt a rate up to the rolled-back rate by majority vote; a rate above the rolled-back rate and up to 110 percent of it requires a two-thirds vote of the membership; and a rate above 110 percent requires a unanimous vote or approval by referendum.

Whether a taxing authority ultimately adopts the rolled-up rate, a lower millage rate, or another rate permitted by law will depend on the fiscal impacts of the amendment and the budget decisions made by its elected or appointed governing board.

Please visit The Role of the Property Appraiser to learn more about the duties of the state’s 67 elected Property Appraisers and the role they play within Florida’s property tax system.

The Leon County Property Appraiser's Office is reviewing the amendment and its potential impacts on property owners. We are awaiting additional guidance from the State of Florida regarding implementation, including eligibility verification, exemption administration, and other procedural requirements.

Additional guidance may be necessary to determine whether property owners will need to provide documentation or take other steps to establish eligibility for the increased exemption. We will share information about any new requirements as it becomes available.

Not at this time. Actual savings will depend on individual property values, exemption eligibility, and the millage rates adopted by local taxing authorities for the applicable tax year.

We are reviewing how Amendment 3 may affect the information presented on future TRIM notices. Any necessary changes will be made in accordance with state requirements and guidance.

The Leon County Property Appraiser's Office will continue updating this webpage as additional information becomes available from the State of Florida. Property owners are encouraged to check back periodically for updates regarding eligibility requirements, exemption administration, and implementation.

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For additional information about Amendment 3 and its implementation, please refer to official resources published by the Florida Legislature, Florida Department of State, Florida Department of Revenue, and other state agencies.