Florida Republicans and the Quest to Abolish Property Taxes

72% of Florida voters want property tax reform, according to a recent poll by the James Madison Institute—but House Republicans are split on how to do it.

Their current strategy? Introducing seven constitutional amendments for the November 2026 ballot.

Palm Beach, FL

The plan was revealed by the Select Committee on Property Taxes in October. Property taxes, which are collected by county, fund public services like utilities, libraries, and first responders. 

HJR 201 abolishes property taxes completely; another, HJR 205, phases them out over a period of time. Another still limits the rate at which taxes can be raised. 

All amendments exclude school taxes from cuts and prevent the reduction of law enforcement budgets.

DeSantis voiced his disapproval on X, calling it a “political game” and “an attempt to kill anything on property taxes” – but it’s up to legislators how far each amendment goes.

On the other side of the aisle, Democrat Rep. Anna Eskamani has similar concerns. “It’d be better as legislature to consider ideas that kind of fit together with a little bit more intention versus an array of diverse various concepts,” she told Fox-13.

If an amendment gets three-fifths approval in both the Florida House and Senate, it will move on to the ballot. It will then need a 60% vote from constituents to pass. Republicans hold a decisive majority in both chambers, with 86 out of 120 in the House and 26 out of 40 in the Senate.

If party members fall in line with DeSantis, there’s a chance the amendments will die in the Legislature.