TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — State lawmakers are answering Governor Ron DeSantis' call to cut property taxes, and for the first time, the Senate is pitching some ideas of its own.
"What we're hoping is that no matter which proposal they are choosing, that it will help residents in this state, specifically our seniors, who have been on fixed income with so many increases," said State Senator Mack Bernard (D-West Palm Beach).
Bernard has pitched five extra proposals for lawmakers to consider.
SJR 270 would exempt the non-school portion of property tax for Florida seniors who are 65 years of age or older, who have claimed a homestead exemption in the state for a minimum of five years, and whose annual household income does not exceed $350,000.
SJR 274 would provide additional homestead property tax benefits for long-term homeowners.
- Property assessed value cannot increase after 20 years of ownership and residency.
- After 30 years of ownership and residency, homeowners receive an additional homestead exemption equal to 50% of the property’s assessed value.
SJR 278 would cap the assessed value increase of new homestead properties after a change in ownership at 150% of the property’s prior year assessed value, provided the assessed value was under $500,000, for ad valorem tax purposes.
SJR 282 would limit the assessed value of real property to 3% or the percentage change in the consumer price index, whichever is lower, if the property is owned and used for commercial purposes by a small business.
If passed, SJR 270, 274, 278, and 282 would appear on the ballot in November 2026. Amendments to the Florida Constitution must receive 60% of votes to pass.
In addition to the Senate Joint Resolutions, Senator Bernard has filed Senate Bill 286. The bill would allow Florida residents to make changes, additions, or improvements to their homestead without increasing the assessed value of the property if the total just value of changes, additions, or improvements to the homestead property is less than $100,000.
"As the discussion for property taxes are taking place throughout the state of Florida, we don't want to hamper a lot of our small businesses who own their property," said Bernard.
With 13 options now on the table, the House's plan seems to have sweeping reforms, while the Senate's has a more targeted and focused approach.
But no matter the number of options, the governor doesn't seem too impressed, taking to social media to call the proposal political theater.
However, House Speaker Danny Perez fired back at those remarks, "The Governor has not produced a plan on property taxes. Period. It’s unclear what he wants to do. I’ve personally reached out to share with him the House’s proposals, and he has, so far, not wanted to engage in a conversation. So when the Governor says he wants to ‘abolish’ property taxes. How? We don’t have any details. But what the House does have is a proposal that reflects the Governor’s comments in the media and can garner the support of voters in November - the elimination of non-school property taxes on all homesteaded properties, in addition to a range of possible ballot initiatives - some to offer tax cuts, and some to fix broken parts of the system. We offered multiple proposals in good faith because it is unclear to us what - if anything - any other party is willing to do."
So far, House Republicans have put forward their ideas, one Senate Democrat has shared his property tax plan, but the Senate President and his GOP majority have yet to weigh in.