Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that he intends to call a special legislative session before the end of 2026 to implement the property tax reduction approved by voters and to prevent local governments from offsetting the loss of revenue with new fees.
The initiative comes after Amendment 3 received approximately 62% of the votes in the elections on Tuesday, November 3, surpassing the 60% needed to amend the state constitution.
According to NBC Miami, DeSantis stated on Wednesday, during a press conference in Tallahassee, that he intends to complete the legislative work before January 1, 2027, when the reform will take effect.
"That must be done before January 1st, and we will do it before January 1st," he stated.
The governor explained that he wants to establish the rules for future expansions of the tax exemption known as homestead and to approve a “taxpayer bill of rights” that would prevent cities and counties from recouping lost revenue through new fees or other mechanisms.
However, the call is not yet agreed upon. Before the elections, the future leaders of both legislative chambers had expressed reservations about the need to hold an extraordinary session before January.
The future Senate President, Jim Boyd, believes that the matter can wait until January, while the incoming House of Representatives President, Sam Garrison, cautioned that this is not a measure that can be implemented in just three days.
"I prefer to do it well rather than do it quickly," Garrison stated.
Former state senator Jeff Brandes also questioned the urgency of the call and warned that local governments are facing a complicated financial situation due to reduced revenue.
When will the tax reduction be reflected?
For homeowners in Miami-Dade, including those residing in Hialeah, Kendall, and Doral, the new exemption will apply to the 2027 tax year. The savings will not appear on the 2026 bills, but rather on those issued in November 2027.
Amendment 3 increases the tax exemption for homes from approximately $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, exclusively for taxes that do not fund public schools.
The amounts for those first two expansions are already established in the state constitution. Additional legislation will need to develop other aspects of the reform, including the procedures for future exemptions.
According to estimates from Miami-Dade property appraiser Tomás Regalado, reported by Axios, homeowners could save an average of $1,700 in 2027 and $2,700 in 2028, although the benefit will depend on the value of each home and the tax rates.
Not all property owners will receive the same benefit. Those who establish their residence in Florida after December 31, 2026, will have to wait until their fifth year of eligibility to access the expanded exemption, subject to applicable constitutional limits.
The reform also raises concerns among local governments. According to a report by CBS News, state economists estimate that the reform could reduce local government revenues by approximately $12 billion annually by 2031, potentially impacting the funding of public services.
DeSantis, whose term ends in January, has stated that he wants to ensure the implementation of the amendment is on track. However, it is still up to the Legislature to decide whether to hold a special session before the newly elected governor, Byron Donalds, takes office on January 5th.
Related videos:
Filed under: