Rep. Ryan Chamberlin (R-Belleview) filed three pieces of legislation in the House to replace property taxes with a sales and use tax, as well as several consumption-based surtaxes this week.
The bills are HB 789 and 791, along with Joint Resolution 787.
“Speaker Danny Perez and House Property Tax Committee Chairman Toby Overdorf have advanced several excellent policy proposals for addressing Florida’s property tax crisis,” Chamberlin said in a statement. “They are providing options that would create relief while balancing the priorities of our other branches of government. But I wanted to file the remainder of my bills to chart a future discussion on fully replacing property tax revenues with other sources of revenue.”
Rep. Chamberlin initially outlined his plan to erase property taxes, known as FREEDOM 1-2-3, in September. If implemented, Florida could become the first state in the country without income tax and property tax.
But how will that work to pay for roads, schools, and municipal services?
In a release, Chamberlin indicated his plan would center on transaction fees and consumption taxes, levying the share on tourists and visitors.
“Until we stop government from owning all property and forcing we the people to rent for the rest of our lives, we will never be free," Chamberlin added. "I want to make permanent home and business ownership part of the free state of Florida story.”
Property taxes have been a hot-button issue for Floridians this year. In response, House Speaker Daniel "Danny" Perez (R-Miami) announced a series of initiatives laid out by his colleagues to address the issue in October.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has also pledged to eliminate property taxes and put it on the ballot for November 2026, albeit in a much simplified way. How it gels with the House's proposals is anyone's guess.
The Florida legislative session begins on Jan. 13.
