TAMPA, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis has pledged to place a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot that would eliminate property taxes on personal homes in Florida.
The proposed amendment, which would require approval by at least 60% of voters, could make Florida the first state in the country to eliminate property taxes on owner-occupied homes.
“What we’re going to do is place a question on the ballot that allows Floridians to be able to vote themselves,” DeSantis said at a recent press conference.
“My vision is, if you own your home, to truly own it, you have to own it free and clear. You shouldn’t have to pay rent to the government,” he added.
He mentioned that situations involving investment properties may be handled differently, but personal homes “should not be subject to tax.” DeSantis said, similar to buying a vehicle, homes should be taxed at the point of sale but not continually.
“Why can’t it be done?” said DeSantis.
The proposed amendment paves the way for Florida to be the first potential state without property taxes.
DeSantis cited increased property values and insurance costs as reasons for pushing the new legislation. The Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) conducted audits that flagged expenses such as $800,000 spent on the Rose Bowl. DeSantis warned agencies they will need to tighten their budgets in anticipation of decreased tax revenue.
The House Committee on Property Taxes, established by House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, is scheduled to meet Sept. 22 and Sept. 23 to further review the proposal. The committee previously met twice in May.
Previously, DeSantis proposed a $1,000 credit to homeowners to offset the cost of rising taxes. While that measure did not pass, he signed into law Amendment 5, which was approved by Florida voters in the November 2024 election. The amendment ties the state’s homestead property tax exemption to the annual inflation rate, saving homeowners an average of $20 per year.
Legislative decisions on the new amendment are expected to begin in January 2026.
