Florida's Property Tax Ballot Measure: What Homeowners Should Know Before Nov. 3

A major property tax amendment is headed to Florida voters this November. Here's what it would actually change for homeowners, and what to watch for before you vote.

If you own a home in Florida — or you're planning to buy one soon — there's a ballot measure coming this November that's worth understanding now, not the week before the election. It's a proposed constitutional amendment (originating from HJR 1F) that would significantly increase the homestead property tax exemption, and it could change what you pay in property taxes for years to come.

What's Actually on the Ballot

Florida voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that raises the non-school homestead exemption in phases:

• 2027: The exemption increases to $150,000
• 2028: It increases again to $250,000
• 2029 and beyond: The exemption amount adjusts annually for inflation

To put that in perspective, today's standard homestead exemption is a fraction of that — so this would be one of the largest homestead exemption increases in Florida history if approved.

The Fine Print That Matters

A few details that don't always make the headlines:

• The amendment needs 60% voter approval to pass — a higher bar than a simple majority, so it's not guaranteed.
• New Florida residents who establish homestead in 2027 or later would only qualify for a $50,000 exemption during their first five years, before becoming eligible for the full increased amount.
• The measure also caps annual assessment increases on non-homesteaded properties (like second homes, rentals, and commercial property) at 5%, and restricts how local governments can use property tax revenue going forward.

What This Could Mean for You

If you're a current homeowner with a homestead exemption, this could meaningfully lower your property tax bill starting in 2027 — potentially by thousands of dollars a year depending on your home's assessed value and local millage rates.

If you're planning to buy and homestead a property, timing matters. Buying and establishing homestead before the higher exemptions phase in versus after could affect how quickly you see the benefit, especially with the new-resident phase-in rule.

If you're a landlord, own non-homesteaded property, or you rent, it's worth watching closely — the amendment shifts a larger share of the tax base onto non-homesteaded properties and could influence rents and local government budgets, since some services may see funding restrictions.

What Happens Next

This still has to pass a 60% vote on November 3, 2026. Polling and public opinion on property tax relief measures like this can shift right up to Election Day, so nothing is final yet — but given the scale of the proposed change, it's worth having on your radar regardless of how you plan to vote.

The Bottom Line

Whether this amendment passes or not could meaningfully affect what property ownership costs in Florida over the next several years. If you're weighing when to buy, whether to sell, or how this fits into your bigger financial picture, that's exactly the kind of question worth talking through before decisions have to be made in a hurry.

Have questions about how this could affect your homebuying or selling timeline? Let's talk it through — I'm happy to walk through what this means for your specific situation.