Overview
- State lawmakers approved HJR 1‑F during a June special session and placed a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot that would raise the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028.
- The Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research released projections on June 12 showing local governments could lose roughly $5 billion in the first year the change takes effect and nearly $12 billion annually by year five if voters approve the amendment.
- A group called Save Our Voters from Misleading Ballot Language filed suit in Leon County accusing the ballot title and summary of being biased and misleading; plaintiffs named two former mayors and asked a judge to order a rewrite before ballots are printed.
- County and city budget offices have produced local impact estimates and warnings: Hillsborough officials say the plan could create about a $343 million hole in county funds and Tampa’s mayor warned of at least $35 million in lost revenue in 2028 and larger shortfalls the following year that could affect public safety.
- The amendment carves out school levies, adds a five‑year residency rule for newcomers, lowers the non‑homestead assessment cap to 5%, and ties future homestead increases to CPI, but critics say those changes still leave uncertain funding gaps that could force cuts, higher fees, tax shifts to renters or businesses, or pressure on municipal bond ratings.