Florida Seniors Could Pay $0 in Property Taxes Under New Proposal

A new plan in Florida aims to provide major property tax relief for seniors, responding to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis caused by rising home values and inflation.

Republican lawmakers have introduced a package of proposals to lower the financial pressure on homeowners, with a key focus on older adults who’ve been hit hardest by escalating property tax bills.

The most significant proposal, HJR 205, would fully exempt seniors from paying non-school homestead property taxes.

If approved, this measure will be put to a statewide vote, giving residents the power to decide on the future of these taxes.

 

What Florida Leaders Are Saying

House Speaker Paul Renner emphasized the importance of letting voters decide:

"What has been lost in this debate is the fact that the final decision on what should happen with property taxes does not belong to elected officials, but to the people of Florida."

Governor Ron DeSantis has also publicly backed the initiative, calling for total abolition of state property taxes to ease seniors’ housing costs and protect fixed-income retirees.

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Overview of the Key Proposals

Beyond HJR 205, other property tax reform proposals include:

• HJR 201 – Eliminate non-school homestead property taxes entirely.

• HJR 203 – Phase out non-school homestead property taxes over 10 years.

• HJR 2 – Exempt homeowners 65 and older from non-school homestead property taxes.

• HJR 207 – Provide a tax exemption equal to 25% of the home’s assessed value.

• HJR 209 – Create a $100,000 exemption for insured homestead residences.

• HJR 211 – Remove the portability cap to transfer tax savings to new homes.

• HJR 213 – Limit tax assessment increases to 3% every three years.

 

What’s Next

If these measures pass the legislature, Florida voters will have the final say through a ballot initiative.

If approved, these changes could begin impacting property tax bills as early as 2026.

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