Overview
- Gov. Ron DeSantis has spent this week holding roundtables and public events to sell a plan to eliminate or sharply cut homestead property taxes while still withholding final legislative language.
- He intends to call a special session after lawmakers finish the state budget so a proposed constitutional amendment can meet the late-July/early-August deadline to appear on the November ballot.
- U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and other Republicans have publicly urged DeSantis to produce concrete details and a revenue-replacement plan before endorsing the proposal.
- Policy groups estimate large costs if homestead taxes are eliminated—one analysis put a full removal at about $18.5 billion—and local officials warn cuts could force service reductions unless the state provides targeted backfills.
- The measure faces steep legal and political hurdles because it needs 60% support in both legislative chambers to reach the ballot and more than 60% of voters to amend the constitution, with visible divisions among Republican leaders and county governments.