Florida homeowners and agricultural operators could see significant property tax relief if several proposed constitutional amendments make their way through the Legislature and are approved by voters.
Lawmakers are currently considering multiple joint resolutions aimed at placing initiatives on the 2026 ballot that would offer additional homestead exemptions, limit assessment increases, disregard flood mitigation efforts in property valuations, and exempt personal property used in agriculture from taxation.
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House Joint Resolution (HJR) 1257 and Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 1510 represent a key policy priority of Governor Ron DeSantis: delivering property tax relief directly to Floridians through voter-approved constitutional amendments.
These similar bills propose two significant changes to the state’s property tax structure. Firstly, they would allow voters to decide whether to authorize the Legislature to provide two separate $25,000 ad valorem tax exemptions.
Secondly, the initiatives would empower voters to limit the annual increase in property assessments to the lesser of 3% of the previous year’s assessment or the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Notably, these potential changes would apply to properties under a residential lease of at least six months, even if the owner holds another homestead exemption within the state, provided the leased property could qualify as a homestead if it were the owner’s primary residence.
HJR 1257 has already cleared a significant hurdle, passing the House on Friday with an 80-28 vote. Its counterpart, SJR 1510, is currently under review by the Senate Finance and Tax Committee.
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In addition to these broad homeowner relief measures, lawmakers are also targeting specific property tax burdens. Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 174 aims to incentivize flood mitigation efforts by proposing a constitutional amendment that would allow the Legislature to prohibit the consideration of any flood damage mitigation measures when determining a property’s assessed value. This bill has gained unanimous approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee on April 17 and is now awaiting a floor vote in the Senate.
Furthermore, the agricultural sector could see substantial tax relief through Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 318, sponsored by Senator Keith Truenow (R-Tavares). This resolution seeks to place an initiative on the ballot that would exempt personal property used in agricultural production or agritourism activities from taxation.
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This exemption would apply to property located on land classified as agricultural and owned by either the landowner or the leaseholder. SJR 318 was passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday and is now on the Senate calendar. An identical House bill, HJR 1215, also saw strong support, passing the House with a 110-1 vote on Friday.
The passage of these joint resolutions through their respective chambers marks a significant step towards placing these potential tax relief measures before Florida voters in the 2026 general election.
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