horizonpost.com — A sweeping new proposal from Governor Ron DeSantis could make Florida the first state in America where most primary homeowners never pay a dime in property tax again—if voters and lawmakers let it happen.
Story Snapshot
- DeSantis proposes raising the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000 as the first step toward eliminating property taxes on primary homes.[1][2][3]
- Roughly 60% of Florida homesteaded homeowners would see their property tax bill drop to zero under the initial change, with a path to 92% if the exemption later reaches $500,000.[1][2][3][7]
- The plan keeps taxes on non-homestead and commercial property, earmarking that revenue only for core services like schools, police, and fire.[2][3][7]
- A new state trust fund would send grants to local governments to help cover budget gaps, but critics warn key fiscal details are still missing.[1][3][5][9]
DeSantis Launches “Save Our Homes” Property Tax Revolt
Governor Ron DeSantis has rolled out his “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” plan, calling a special legislative session to put a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would make homestead property effectively tax-free for most Florida residents.[3][5][8] The proposal centers on raising the homestead exemption on owner-occupied homes from today’s $50,000 level to $250,000, wiping out property tax bills entirely for about 60% of Florida homeowners if voters approve.[1][2][3][7]
According to DeSantis and supportive coverage, this would be just the opening move in a phased strategy to eliminate property taxes on primary residences for roughly 92% of Floridians by eventually lifting the exemption to $500,000.[1][2][3][7][9] Rather than a one-time stunt, the amendment would require the legislature to enact a schedule for “full elimination” of homestead property taxes, locking in an ongoing rollback instead of leaving families at the mercy of future tax hikes.[2][3][7]
How the Plan Works: Big Relief, Guardrails, and a Trust Fund
Under the plan, the first $250,000 of a homesteaded property’s value would be exempt from taxation, compared with just $50,000 today.[1][3][5] DeSantis argues that this shift is aimed squarely at working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and younger buyers being squeezed by rising insurance, higher interest rates, and growing local tax bills, giving them more room to stay in their homes and build generational wealth instead of renting forever.[1][2][3][6]
The proposal would also cut the cap on annual assessment increases for small businesses from 10% down to 5%, offering broader property tax relief to job creators who often pass rising costs on to customers.[3][5][7] To discourage pure tax migration and protect longtime Floridians from being crowded out, the plan includes a five-year residency requirement before new arrivals can benefit from the full homestead tax elimination, a move meant to reward those who have invested in the state rather than speculators looking for a quick loophole.[1][3][5]
Protecting Core Services While Ending “Anything Goes” Local Spending
One of the most politically explosive parts of the proposal is what it does to the remaining property tax base: local governments would still collect property taxes on non-homestead residences and commercial properties, but that revenue could be used only for core functions like schools, police, firefighters, infrastructure, and other essential public needs.[2][3][5][7] DeSantis frames this as a way to stop local officials from using homeowner tax bills as a slush fund for pet projects, vanity spending, and bloated bureaucracies.[1][2][7]
To manage the shortfall from eliminating taxes on many homesteads, the plan calls for a multibillion-dollar state trust fund that would provide grants to counties and municipalities, with special concern for smaller rural areas that lack large commercial tax bases.[1][3][5][9] However, available materials do not yet include a detailed revenue model, appropriation schedule, or audited backfill formula, meaning voters cannot currently see—line by line—whether every school district, sheriff’s office, and fire department would be fully covered or merely cushioned.[3][5][9]
Political Fight Ahead: Relief for Homeowners vs. Warnings of Service Cuts
Despite the bold promises, nothing is guaranteed: the measure must clear the Florida Legislature with a 60% supermajority before it even appears on the ballot, and then it needs 60% voter approval statewide to become law.[1][2][3][5] That two-step gauntlet gives establishment lawmakers and local-government allies multiple chances to water down, stall, or block the proposal, especially as budget offices warn about multibillion-dollar hits to local revenue under similar homestead measures.[3][6][9]
🔥 BREAKING: Florida is abolishing property taxes
Gov. DeSantis confirmed a historic ballot measure for primary residents: 🔹 $250k exemption = 60% of homes TAX-FREE 🔹 $500k exemption = 92% of homes TAX-FREE
Your home shouldn't be a government piggy bank 🇺🇸#Florida #DeSantis pic.twitter.com/r6guKTh6wP— Alina (@Genevie86637726) May 31, 2026
Critics are already framing the idea as a threat to funding for schools, parks, libraries, and local services, leaning heavily on fear of cuts even though they have not yet produced county-by-county fiscal models or an alternative plan to protect homeowners from rising property taxes.[4][6][9] Supporters, meanwhile, insist that with non-homestead and commercial property staying on the rolls, plus a state trust fund and constitutional limits tying local spending to essentials, the reform is a long-overdue correction that finally puts Florida families ahead of government growth.[1][2][3][5]
Sources:
[1] Web – JUST IN: Governor DeSantis leads the charge to eliminate property …
[2] YouTube – DeSantis ignites TAX REVOLT with ‘radical’ homeowner relief plan
[3] Web – DeSantis pushes plan to sharply cut Florida property taxes
[4] Web – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Unveils His Plan To Eliminate Property …
[5] YouTube – DeSantis Proposes Axing Taxes on Homes in Florida
[6] Web – Florida Property Tax Elimination: DeSantis Plan 2026
[7] YouTube – Gov. Desantis unveils new property tax plan
[8] Web – Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Special Session on Property …
[9] Web – In one of his final acts, DeSantis calls for vote on sweeping Florida …
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