TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — After months of waiting and several committee meetings, the Florida House is set to offer a slate of ideas for sweeping property tax reform in the next legislative session. The proposed constitutional amendments could significantly reshape how homeowners pay property taxes and how local governments fund essential services.
In a memo released Thursday, House Speaker Danny Perez criticized the Republican plans, labeling them politically motivated and potentially harmful to local communities.
Representative Driskell, speaking earlier this month, echoed these concerns. “The harm that these proposals would cause would not outweigh any potential benefits,” she said. She questioned the practical impact of the reforms, asking, “What firehouse would [Governor DeSantis] close in Tampa? What police station would he close in Orlando? What garbage collection would he stop in South Florida?”
Driskell warned that the proposals could leave small, rural counties struggling to fund basic services. “We’d basically be putting them in a situation where they would be living in a welfare state,” she said. “They would be funded by larger counties.”
Democrats argue that genuine affordability relief should focus on property insurance, healthcare, and overall living costs—not just property taxes. Driskell added, “This all seems to be a distraction. We need to focus on real solutions.”
### What’s Next
The House’s property tax reform proposals will be assigned to committees in the coming weeks, with debates expected to begin early in the 2026 session.
https://www.wptv.com/news/state/florida-house-rolls-out-sweeping-slate-of-property-tax-proposals-for-2026-ballot
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