Florida Lawmakers Approve Modified Property Tax Amendment for November Ballot
Governor DeSantis’ property tax restriction plan heads to voters after lawmakers exempt schools from proposed limits, setting up November ballot fight.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Florida voters will decide in November whether to approve a constitutional amendment that would restrict how local governments can use property tax revenue, after the state Legislature passed a modified version of Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposal on Tuesday.
The proposed constitutional amendment requires approval from 60% of voters in the November election to become law. Republican supporters argued the measure would provide relief to homeowners facing rising tax bills.
However, lawmakers altered DeSantis’ original proposal before sending it to voters, exempting public school funding from the property tax restrictions. House Speaker Designate Sam Garrison led the effort to protect school funding in the House, while Sen. Jay Trumbull spearheaded the exemption in the Senate.
Original Proposal Included School Funding Limits
DeSantis initially proposed limiting property tax spending to six specific areas, including education and public schools. The governor defended this position on Monday, stating the state has “increased funding every year for them” and noted that some districts have seen “massive” increases in funding despite declining student enrollment.
Under the governor’s original framework, property tax dollars could only be spent on education and public schools, public safety, infrastructure including road and bridge construction and maintenance and stormwater control, natural resource projects including flood control, issuing bonds and making debt service payments for existing obligations, and retirement benefits of local government employees.
The Legislature’s decision to exempt schools from these restrictions represented a departure from DeSantis’ vision, with legislative leaders from both chambers pushing back against the governor’s approach.
Governor Remains Silent After Legislative Vote
Following the supermajority vote approving the modified amendment, DeSantis remained quiet. The governor, typically known for lengthy press conferences highlighting his accomplishments and maintaining a strong social media presence, did not immediately respond to the legislative action.
Sen. Bryan Avila sponsored the resolution that emerged from the special legislative session held on June 2. The measure passed with the required supermajority support needed to place constitutional amendments on the ballot.
Amendment Heads to November Ballot
The constitutional amendment will appear before Florida voters in the November 2026 election, requiring a 60% approval threshold to take effect. If passed, the measure would reshape how cities and counties across Florida can utilize property tax revenue.
Republican lawmakers argued the restrictions are necessary to provide homeowners with relief from increasing property tax burdens. The amendment represents one of the most significant proposed changes to local government financing in recent Florida history.
Trumbull, who is in line to become Senate president in two years, worked alongside Garrison to ensure public education funding remained outside the scope of the property tax limitations. Garrison is scheduled to assume leadership of the House in November.
