Americans have been paying property taxes since before the Revolution – a forced annual tribute to the government just to stay in your own home.
Florida Republicans just voted to end it.
And the moment House Speaker Daniel Perez called it possibly "the most aggressive property tax legislation ever passed by a legislative chamber in U.S. history," Democrats in Tallahassee started screaming about defunding the police – while voting to keep your tax bill exactly where it is.
Florida Homestead Property Tax Elimination Just Passed the House
The Florida House passed HJR 203 Thursday, 80-30, with every Republican voting yes and every Democrat voting no.
The joint resolution sends a constitutional amendment to Florida voters that would eliminate all non-school property taxes on homesteaded properties – effective January 1, 2027, if voters approve it in November.
Rep. Monique Miller of Palm Bay sponsored the final version – scrapping the original 10-year phase-out in favor of immediate elimination starting January 1, 2027.
https://twitter.com/ThePatriotOasis/status/2024678564507898276?s=20
The bill also locks in minimum funding floors for law enforcement, fire departments, and first responders – guaranteeing public safety budgets cannot be cut as a result.
That's the part Democrats conveniently forgot to mention when they spent the day claiming the bill "defunds the police."
Democrats Said Florida Property Tax Relief Would Defund The Police
Democrats rolled out every scare tactic in the book.
Rep. Robin Bartleman of Broward County claimed the bill would leave "over 100 cities" without enough money to maintain local law enforcement.
This was after she voted against a bill that explicitly protects law enforcement funding.
Rep. Anna Eskamani of Orlando claimed the bill would "shift the burden to renters."
The median Florida homeowner pays roughly $5,400 a year in property taxes on a $385,000 home – and the non-school portion that this bill eliminates is more than half that bill.
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/2024675106887270732?s=20
That's roughly $3,000 a year back in your pocket. Every single year. Starting in 2027.
Rep. Rita Harris called it a "ruse" and listed every local service she could think of – garbage, storm cleanup, waste management – while voting to preserve a tax structure that forces working Floridians to keep paying those costs forever.
Here's what Democrats didn't say: local government budgets in Florida have ballooned for years.
Rep. Miller said local governments would simply need to do "more with less."
That's not a crisis – that's how every Florida family already operates.
Texas Cut Property Taxes By $18 Billion In 2023 — And The Sky Didn't Fall
Texas just showed everyone how this works.
In 2023, Texas Republicans passed an $18 billion property tax relief package – the largest in state history – that raised the homestead exemption to $100,000 and slashed school district tax rates.
https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2024541720134733987?s=20
Texas voters approved it by over 80 percent.
The screaming about "gutted services" never materialized.
By 2025, Texas expanded relief again, raising the homestead exemption to $140,000 – leaving tens of thousands of lower-value homeowners paying zero school property taxes.
Florida isn't proposing an exemption increase. Florida is proposing elimination.
That's not a half measure.
That's what DeSantis has been demanding for over a year – and what the House just delivered.
The Florida Property Tax Amendment Still Needs The Senate — And The Clock Is Running
The Florida Senate hasn't produced a single property tax proposal during this entire session.
Senate Appropriations Chair Ed Hooper confirmed his chamber would produce something – but said it "won't be as generous."
"Won't be as generous" is Senate-speak for "we're going to water it down until it means nothing."
Speaker Perez made clear on the House floor that the Senate's silence is not acceptable: "Although this HJR stands as the House's contribution to the property tax conversation, we continue to be open to any of the Senate's ideas – provided those ideas ever materialize as actions."
The session ends March 13.
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/2024859641541271969?s=20
If the Senate doesn't act, a constitutional amendment can't reach the November ballot without a special session.
Perez hinted the session itself might run longer than scheduled – and Governor DeSantis has already floated the idea of an April special session if the regular session doesn't produce results.
DeSantis posted before the House vote that he's "been working with members of the Senate" and that "it's better to do it right than do it quick."
The session ends March 13.
Five million Florida homeowners and roughly $3,000 a year are waiting to find out what "right" means.
Sources:
- Rep. Monique Miller, HJR 203 Floor Proceedings, Florida House of Representatives, February 19, 2026.
- Alexandra Glorioso, "Florida House passes property tax proposal. What happens next?" Tampa Bay Times, February 19, 2026.
- Justin Schecker, "Florida House passes proposed amendment for homestead property tax relief," WESH 2, February 19, 2026.
- Mitch Perry, "Florida House passes proposed amendment to immediately phase out property taxes," Florida Phoenix, February 19, 2026.
- Governor Greg Abbott, "Governor Abbott Signs Largest Property Tax Cut In Texas History," Office of the Texas Governor, August 2023.
- Joshua Fechter and Karen Brooks Harper, "Texas homeowners and businesses get property tax cut," Texas Tribune, November 7, 2023.
- James Madison Institute, "Property Tax Relief in Florida: Challenges, Options, and the Path to True Homeownership," October 15, 2025.
