Florida Lawmakers Propose Property Tax Relief Bills

Critics warn the measures could create significant budget shortfalls for local governments.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Florida lawmakers are advancing three bills aimed at providing property tax relief to homeowners, though critics warn the measures could create significant budget shortfalls for local governments. The proposals come as homeowners across the state struggle with rising property taxes and insurance costs.

Why it matters

Property taxes have become a major burden for many Florida homeowners, with some residents considering moving due to the high costs. These legislative proposals aim to provide relief, but there are concerns that the measures could negatively impact local government budgets.

The details

The three bills currently moving through the Florida House include: House Bill 203, which would phase out homestead taxes over 10 years (excluding school taxes); House Bill 209, which would raise the homestead exemption for homeowners who carry insurance; and House Bill 213, which would limit property assessment increases. However, the Florida Policy Institute analyzed the potential impact using state data and found the bills could create substantial budget gaps for local governments, with estimated shortfalls of $80 million for St. Lucie County, $91 million for Martin County, and $1.3 billion for Palm Beach County.

  • The bills are currently moving through the Florida House.

The players

Lisa Riggi

A Coral Springs homeowner who is paying $12,000 annually for both property taxes and insurance combined, prompting her to plan on moving.

Esteban Santis

An analyst with the Florida Policy Institute who warned that the proposed bills do not pay attention to income, homeowners' circumstances, or renters.

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What they’re saying

“Right now, all of these are blanket solutions; they do not pay attention to income, they do not pay attention to homeowners' circumstances, they do not pay attention to renters.”

— Esteban Santis, Analyst, Florida Policy Institute

“Sure, it looks like savings on the front end, but now to maintain those budgets, you either have to increase fees, increase other taxes, sales taxes you may want to look at.”

— Esteban Santis, Analyst, Florida Policy Institute

What’s next

If approved by the legislature, any of these bills would still require voter approval in the fall election.

The takeaway

These legislative proposals aim to provide property tax relief for Florida homeowners, but there are concerns that the measures could create significant budget shortfalls for local governments, potentially leading to increased fees or taxes to make up the difference.