Ron DeSantis promised Florida voters massive property tax cuts.
The Legislature has been dragging its feet for months.
And the former House Speaker just delivered this brutal message that has Florida legislators squirming.
Former Speaker Blasts Lawmakers for Breaking Promise to Floridians
Paul Renner didn't hold back when he called out his former colleagues in Tallahassee.
The former House Speaker and current gubernatorial candidate went nuclear on the Florida Legislature for failing to deliver the property tax relief DeSantis has been demanding.
"The House has proposed conflicting plans that give only marginal relief. The Senate has not taken up anything," Renner said. "Local governments are lobbying heavily to stop property tax reform. The legislature needs to stop dragging their feet and do their job — deliver real affordability reforms with property tax cuts now!"
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Then Renner dropped the hammer.
"And if this does not happen, every legislator and local elected official that lobbied against property tax cuts should be recalled or voted out of office. This is dereliction of duty of the worst kind."
That's not political positioning — that's a former Speaker calling out the system he used to run.
DeSantis Wants Action While Legislature Fiddles
DeSantis laid out his vision back in February 2025 when he called for eliminating homestead property taxes.
Property taxes generate roughly $55 billion annually in Florida and fund everything from police departments to schools.
DeSantis has been pushing for a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot that would phase out these taxes for primary residences.
But the Legislature has responded with seven different proposals — none of which go as far as DeSantis wants.
Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch described the 2026 session as historically unproductive.
"Nothing is happening. And that's the story out of Tallahassee," Schorsch said on The Ryan Gorman Show.
The House and Senate aren't just moving slowly — they're actively fighting each other.
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"The House literally wants nothing," Schorsch explained. "You need a willing partner here. And there just isn't any trust between the House and the Senate at this point."
Local Government Lobbyists Block Reform
Local government associations are running a full-court press lobbying campaign to kill any meaningful reform.
Cities and counties rely on property taxes for 17-18% of their budgets, and they're terrified of losing that revenue stream.
Eliminating just the non-school portion of homestead property taxes would cost local governments $18.3 billion annually according to legislative analysis.
So mayors and county commissioners are leaning on their Republican allies in the Legislature to protect the status quo.
Renner called them out directly for putting special interests ahead of Florida families.
"Florida's economy cannot survive if only the wealthy can afford to live here," Renner explained. "Teachers, first responders, service workers, retirees, and young families are being forced out by inaction. The Legislature must choose: protect Floridians or protect a broken system that rewards runaway taxation."
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The Florida League of Cities has been working overtime behind closed doors to water down proposals.
That's who's really calling the shots in Tallahassee right now.
Why This Matters for November
Property tax reform was supposed to be the signature Republican achievement heading into the 2026 elections.
But if the Legislature fails to act, Florida Republicans will face angry voters in November with nothing to show for their promises.
Renner knows that better than anyone — he was House Speaker when property tax proposals started getting serious attention.
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Now he's watching his former colleagues blow the opportunity because they're more worried about local government lobbyists than Florida homeowners.
The Legislative Session runs through March 13, giving lawmakers roughly one month to get their act together.
DeSantis has suggested he might call a Special Session if the regular session fails to produce results.
But every day of delay makes it less likely Florida voters will see real property tax reform on their November ballot.
Sources:
- A.G. Gancarski, "Paul Renner prods Legislature on property tax relief," Florida Politics, February 11, 2026.
- Michael Costeines, "Paul Renner Lays Out Property Tax, Insurance, and Energy Plan in Governor Bid," The Floridian, February 9, 2026.
- Chris Gorman, "Property Tax Reform, DeSantis Priorities, 'Going Nowhere' In Tallahassee," Florida News, February 11, 2026.
