Bill
HJR 203
HJR 203 would phase out nearly all local non‑school property taxes on homesteads over ten years, while preserving school taxes and guaranteeing a minimum law enforcement funding ba
Status and Procedural Posture
- Introduced: March 14, 2025.
- Sponsor: Rep. Miller (primary). Companion: SJR 62.
- Committee actions: Reported favorably by the Select Committee on Property Taxes (24–10) on 11/20/2025; now in the State Affairs Committee.
- Type: Joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment (not subject to the Governor’s veto).
- Voter approval required: 60% in the 2026 general election. If approved, the amendment would take effect January 1, 2027.
Purpose / Intent
- To phase out nearly all local non‑school ad valorem (property) taxation on owner‑occupied homestead property over a ten‑year period and to lock a minimum funding baseline for local law enforcement.
Key provisions
1. Expansion of homestead exemption (Article VII, Section 6 amendment)
- Current structure: a first homestead exemption on the first $25,000 of assessed value (applies to all ad valorem taxes including school taxes) and an additional exemption for assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) that does not apply to school taxes.
- Change proposed: for 10 years beginning on January 1, 2027, increase the "second" homestead exemption by adding $100,000 per year to that exemption.
- Result after the 10‑year phase: beginning in 2037, the entire assessed value of homestead property would be exempt from all ad valorem taxes except school district taxes (i.e., local county, municipal, and most special‑district property taxes would be eliminated on homesteads).
Who is affected
- Beneficiaries: Owners of qualifying homestead property — lower local non‑school property tax burdens over the phase‑in and eventual full non‑school exemption.
- Adversely affected: Local governments (counties, municipalities, special districts) that rely on non‑school ad valorem revenues; potential pressure on local services and budgets.
- Neutral/no change: School district property tax revenues remain subject to existing taxation (school taxes are excluded from the homestead phase‑out).
Fiscal impact
- Revenue Estimating Conference (REC): until voter approval the impact is “zero or negative indeterminate.” If approved, the REC estimated (assuming current millage rates) a negative cash impact of $4.4 billion and a negative recurring impact of $13.3 billion on local non‑school property tax revenues in FY 2027–28.
- Staff notes: the cash impact will grow each year during the 10‑year phase‑out and will be larger after the full exemption takes effect in 2037; county‑level impacts are available from the Office of Economic and Demographic Research.
Timing highlights
- Voter referendum planned for the 2026 general election (60% approval threshold).
- If approved, amendment effective January 1, 2027; ten‑year $100,000 per‑year increase to the second exemption through 2036; full non‑school exemption for homesteads begins in 2037.
Summary
HJR 203 would amend the Florida Constitution to remove most local property taxation on homestead residences over a decade while preserving school property taxes, and would require local governments to maintain law enforcement funding at a specified baseline. The measure would substantially reduce non‑school local property tax revenue if approved by voters, with significant budgetary implications for counties, cities, and special districts.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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