Proposed Property Tax Amendment

The Florida Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment that would make several changes to Florida's property tax system, including:

• Increasing the homestead exemption for qualifying properties.
• Reducing the assessment limitation for non-homestead properties.
• Establishing additional residency-related provisions for certain homestead benefits.

Florida voters will consider the amendment during the November 3, 2026 General Election.

Constitutional amendments in Florida require approval by at least 60% of voters.

If approved by voters, the amendment would take effect January 1, 2027 and would first be reflected on the August 2027 TRIM Notices sent by the Property Appraiser and tax bills mailed by the Tax Collector in November 2027.

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 proposes replacing 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, would 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, would 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 proposal, individuals who establish Florida residency on or after January 1, 2027, would begin with the exemption amount established for new Florida residents ($50,000, adjusted annually by CPI beginning in 2028), which would 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 would 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 proposed amendment, individuals who establish Florida residency on or after January 1, 2027, would begin with the exemption amount established for new Florida residents.

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

No.

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

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

No.

Potential tax savings would 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.

No.

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 would 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.

The amendment proposes reducing the annual assessment limitation from 10% to 5%.

A lower assessment limitation may slow future assessed value growth for qualifying non-homestead property.

Please note this assessment limitation only applies to the assessed value used for non-school taxes. School taxes would continue to be uncapped and based on Just/Market Value.

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 proposed amendment would substantially reduce 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 can explain the amendment as proposed and provide information based on current law and available guidance. However, some administrative details may not be finalized unless and until the amendment is approved and any necessary implementing legislation is enacted.

If approved by the voters, the amendment would require implementing legislation. The Florida Legislature may enact laws governing administration of the amendment, provided those laws are consistent with the Florida Constitution. As a result, some administrative details cannot be determined until implementing legislation is adopted.

It's too soon to know. Some administrative details may not be finalized unless and until the amendment is approved and any necessary implementing legislation is enacted.

If the amendment is approved by the voters, the Leon County Property Appraiser's Office will provide updated information regarding:

• Eligibility requirements
• Exemption administration
• Legislative implementation
• Tax estimator tools
• Frequently asked questions

CS/HJR 1F

For official information regarding the proposed constitutional amendment, please refer to information published by the Florida Legislature, Florida Department of State, Florida Department of Revenue , and other official state sources.