Florida House Approves Aggressive Property Tax Cut Proposal

But Senate and Governor's Plans Remain Unclear as Legislative Session Nears End

Feb. 20, 2026 at 9:03pm

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The Florida House of Representatives has approved a proposal to eliminate non-school property taxes on primary homes, if approved by voters in 2026. However, the path forward remains uncertain as the Senate and Governor DeSantis pursue their own approaches, and Democratic lawmakers warn the plan could devastate local government budgets.

Why it matters

This proposed property tax cut is one of the most aggressive in Florida's history, with significant implications for state and local finances. The debate highlights the ongoing tensions between Republican efforts to provide tax relief and Democratic concerns about the potential impact on public services.

The details

The House plan would eliminate non-school property taxes on primary homes if approved by voters in 2026. Supporters say it would deliver historic tax relief, but the proposal faces an uncertain future as Senate leaders and Governor DeSantis pursue their own approaches. Senate President Ben Albritton said the upper chamber is still working with the governor to craft a plan that can win broad support, suggesting the House proposal may not be the final product. DeSantis has floated going even further by eliminating homestead property taxes entirely, though details remain unclear. Democratic lawmakers have sharply criticized the proposals, warning they could devastate local government budgets and shift financial burdens to the state.

  • The Florida House of Representatives approved the property tax cut proposal on Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • The legislative session is scheduled to end in the coming weeks, with lawmakers facing a tight timeline to reach an agreement.

The players

Danny Perez

Republican Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.

Toby Overdorf

Republican state representative who helped guide the property tax cut resolution through the House.

Ben Albritton

Republican President of the Florida Senate, who said the upper chamber is still working with the governor to craft a plan that can win broad support.

Ron DeSantis

Republican Governor of Florida, who has floated the idea of eliminating homestead property taxes entirely.

Fentrice Driskell

Democratic House Minority Leader, who warned the proposals could devastate local government budgets.

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What they’re saying

“What happens in the days ahead will decide if we will be here another three weeks or another three months.”

— Danny Perez, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives

“I think that still has yet to be determined. Remember, at the end of the day, what we're looking for, the Senate is looking for is something to build consensus around.”

— Ben Albritton, President of the Florida Senate

“It would effectively turn them into welfare counties where they have to come to the state government and try to get the resources that they need, and where are they going to be getting those funds?”

— Fentrice Driskell, Democratic House Minority Leader

What’s next

The Florida Legislature has until the end of the current legislative session, which is scheduled for the coming weeks, to reach an agreement on the property tax cut proposal. The House plan would need to be approved by the Senate and signed by Governor DeSantis to move forward, or the Senate and governor could pursue their own alternative approaches.

The takeaway

The debate over property tax cuts in Florida highlights the ongoing tensions between Republican efforts to provide tax relief and Democratic concerns about the potential impact on local government budgets and public services. With time running short in the legislative session, lawmakers face a tight timeline to reach a consensus on the path forward.