Florida Passes Amendment Supporting Major Property Tax Breaks, But Not All Homeowners Qualify

Some Florida homeowners will get greater property tax breaks.

On Tuesday, November 3, Floridians voted on Amendment 3, and it passed with about 62 percent of the vote, exceeding the 60 percent threshold, CBS 12 reported.

The amendment increases the homestead property tax exemption for all non-school property taxes from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and takes it to $250,000 in 2028, adjusting for inflation after that.

However, people who are not Florida residents by December 31 will begin with the existing homestead exemption, if they qualify, and the increased homestead exemption will begin for them in the fifth year.

To qualify for the homestead property exemption, you must be a resident of the state, the property must be your permanent home and the home cannot be rented, per the Florida Department of Revenue.

Additionally, “This amendment reduces the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead properties from 10 percent to 5 percent,” according to the Florida Department of State.

Supporters of Amendment 3 feel the move will help cut costs as housing continues to get more expensive, CBS 12 explained. Meanwhile, opponents worry that if homeowners pay less in property taxes, it could hurt police protection, infrastructure, and local government, since property taxes help fund these services.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took to X Tuesday to celebrate the amendment’s passage, writing, “Big win on Amendment 3 for Florida homeowners!”

In 2025, DeSantis declared, “My vision is if you own your home, to truly own it, you have to own it free and clear from the government. You shouldn’t have to pay rent to the government … your personal home we really believe should not be subject to tax,” per a clip shared on X.