TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Since the latest Florida Legislative session kicked off earlier this month, lawmakers have been busy discussing new bills and proposals for state law.
Among the mass of legislation are 24 proposed amendments to the state Constitution. These proposals cover such topics as tax exemptions, election rules, term limits, and more.
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Many of the proposals deal with property tax exemptions specifically, an issue that gained traction after Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed to mitigate — or otherwise remove entirely — these taxes statewide.
“We can’t control private markets, but we can control how much they can tax you. So we’re going to be working over the next year and a half to see what we can present for voters to be able to vote in the next election for some major, major property tax limitations and reliefs,” DeSantis said during a new conference last month.
But if approved by lawmakers, these proposals wouldn’t automatically take effect. Instead, they would go on the ballot for Florida voters to consider in the 2026 general election. To get passed, these measures would need at least 60% of voters to approve them.
News4JAX sister station WKMG compiled a list of the amendments being proposed during this year’s Legislative session:
HJR 163 — Property Taxes for Quadriplegic Spouses
This proposed amendment would allow for a property tax exemption enjoyed by a quadriplegic person to carry over to his/her surviving spouse after the person’s death.
In the House, the bill was filed by state Rep. Allison Tant, R-9, who provided the following statement justifying the proposal:
“I filed this bill on behalf of a constituent with quadriplegia injured in a football game while in high school. He was recently doing end-of-life planning and learned that the homestead exemption he has due to his quadriplegia comes to an end at his death, leaving his wife to immediately come up with the funds to pay the tax bill or leave the home, selling it under pressure.
This bill allows for the surviving spouse of a quadriplegic to stay in his or her home with that tax exemption until remarriage or sale of the home, similarly to the spouses of disabled veterans. Spouses of people with quadriplegia are generally the primary caregivers of their loved ones, the first line of defense when a home health aide does not show up for work, and are always on call.
They are often unable to reliably work themselves, getting passed over for promotions and employment opportunities, making it very hard to come up with the funds to pay a tax bill when their loved one dies. If passed, this exemption must be approved by Florida voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.”
Rep. Allison Tant, "Why I Filed This Bill"
An identical bill was filed in the Senate.
HJR 357 — Property Tax Exemptions
This proposed amendment would establish a $100,000 property tax exemption for homeowners.
The legislation was filed by state Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, R-24, who provided the following statement justifying the proposal:
“Florida’s population has been continuously overburdened by constant increases in property taxes throughout the past several years. The property tax increases are based, unfairly, on unrealized gains for the paper value of our homes.
People we don’t know, place valuations on our homes we don’t always agree with, all while using a complicated system of mill-levys most don’t understand.
Our counties over the past 4 years are averaging more than a 40% increase in Property taxes with no ending in site. Many of those struggling live on fixed incomes.
In Florida, we can never truly own a home while paying property taxes. What we can do, however, is make the burden on Floridians easier. That is why I am introducing a new $100,000 tax exemption for all real properties in the state of Florida.
No Floridian should have to wake up worried about where they are going to sleep or if someone will show up that day and seize your home.
It is my hope that with this property tax exemption, we can start the process of reigning back our property taxes and begin exploring alternative options to how our State collects this revenue.”
Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, "Why I Filed This Bill"
HJR 637 — Term Limits for State Lawmakers
This proposed amendment would prohibit state lawmakers from running for office in the Florida Legislature if they have already served for 16 years.
This rule would kick in on Nov. 3, 2026, and there would be exceptions for state Senators if their term was shortened by apportionment.
Under current rules, state lawmakers are prohibited from reelection if they have served in their role for eight consecutive years.
The legislation was filed by state Rep. Michael Owen, R-70, who provided the following statement justifying the proposal:
“HJR 637 strengthens and clarifies legislative term limits for Florida State Representatives and State Senators, by limiting members’ service to 8 years in both chambers, totaling 16 years.
There is a provision in this bill for Special Elections. I filed this in the hope of ensuring freshness and the rejuvenation of ideas within the legislative process. Being an elected member of the Florida Legislature should never be viewed as a career choice, but as public service for a limited period of time.
With the passage of HJR 637, voters will have the opportunity to decide if they want true term limits within our state government.”
Rep. Michael Owen, "Why I Filed This Bill"
HJR 679 — Term Limits for County Officials
This proposed amendment would provide term limits of eight years for county commissioners and school board members.
The limits for county commissioners would begin on Nov. 3, 2026. Meanwhile, the limits for school board members would apply to terms that began after Nov. 8, 2022.
In fact, school board members are already under an eight-year term limit thanks to a similar law passed in 2023. However, this amendment would make the limit a part of the state’s Constitution, making it tougher to change those rules in the future.
An identical bill was filed in the Senate.
HJR 773 — Property Assessment Revisions
This proposed amendment would revise how properties are assessed for tax purposes.
Under this amendment, homestead properties would be assessed at the most recent purchase price after being sold. In the case of a new home, it would instead be the cost of construction.
HJR 1025 — Assessed Value Freeze
This proposed amendment would allow state lawmakers to “freeze” the assessed value of a property where the homeowner is at least 65 years old and has an income limitation.
Such a prohibition would prevent the assessed value from going any higher than in the year when the homeowner turned 65 years old.
HJR 1039 — Flood Improvement Exemptions
This proposed amendment would create exemptions for certain home improvements from being considered as part of the property’s assessed value.
The proposal refers to any improvements that help to mitigate the property’s susceptibility to flood damage.
An identical bill was filed in the Senate, as well as a very similar bill that would allow lawmakers to create this change themselves.
HJR 1215 — Agricultural Tax Exemption
This proposed amendment would allow state lawmakers to establish a property tax exemption for “tangible personal property” located on agricultural lands in the state.
To qualify, the property must be used for agritourism or to make agricultural products.
The legislation was filed by state Rep. Daniel Alvarez, R-69, who provided the following statement justifying the proposal:
“Farmers are the lifeblood of our State and removing barriers to their survival and therefore our own is essential to making sure we have a safe and secure food supply.
The Tangible Personal Property tax literally handicaps a struggling sector of our society that we so desperately rely on. Getting rid of it allows Farmers and Ranchers the chance to reinvest their money in themselves in order to insurer we all have a better tomorrow.”
Rep. Michael Owen, "Why I Filed This Bill"
An identical bill was filed in the Senate.
HJR 1257 — Rental Tax Exemptions
This proposed amendment would allow state lawmakers to extend exemptions for homestead properties to other properties under a long-term lease.
More specifically, the proposal would grant those exemptions to properties that are rented out for at least six months.
An identical bill was filed in the Senate.
HJR 1263 — County Elections
This proposed amendment would require that the membership composition of a county commission be based on the population of each commissioner’s district.
Under current rules, county commissions are required to be made up of 5-7 members. However, the proposal would get rid of that portion of the state Constitution.
The amendment would also mandate that a county commissioner be nominated and elected to office only by qualified electors who live in the commissioner’s district.
Furthermore, the amendment would require that the superintendent of a school district be elected every four years during a general election, taking power away from school boards to decide the position.
A nearly identical bill was filed in the Senate.
HJR 1325 — Government Efficiency
This proposed amendment would get rid of the position of lieutenant governor, as well as the Government Efficiency Task Force.
The lieutenant governor position has remained vacant after Jeanette Nuñez was given a post at Florida International University last month. Typically, the lieutenant governor is the first in line to become governor if the previous governor dies in office or is otherwise removed.
In addition, the amendment aims to create a new cabinet-level role: commissioner of government efficiency. This commissioner would be responsible for auditing the state and local governments to dig up potential fraud, waste and abuse.
An identical bill was filed in the Senate.
HJR 1625 — Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
This proposed amendment would change up appointments to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Under this amendment, there would be nine members of the commission, rather than seven. In addition, they would no longer all be appointed by the governor.
Instead, only four positions would be appointed by the governor, with the remaining picks belonging to state agencies. The amendment would require that members meet certain criteria, such as being an experienced rancher or agricultural scientist.
SJR 326 — Senior Citizen Exemptions
This proposed amendment would apply to people 65 years of age or older who qualify for a homestead exemption under state law.
Under this amendment, the assessed value of such a home may not exceed the market value at the time that the homeowner reaches 65 years old.
SJR 536 — Term Limits for State Lawmakers
This proposed amendment would make term limits for state lawmakers cumulative instead of consecutive.
Under current rules, state lawmakers are prohibited from reelection if they have served in their role for eight consecutive years.
However, the proposal would make that limit consecutive, meaning that a lawmaker could only serve up to 16 years in total — eight years each for the state Senate and House of Representatives. If the amendment takes effect, the rule will kick in on Nov. 3, 2026.
SJR 864 — Amendment Vote Changes
This proposed amendment would reduce the threshold needed for voters to approve an amendment to the state Constitution.
Under this amendment, only 50% of voters — rather than 60% — would have to approve such an amendment for it to take effect.
SJR 1016 — Homestead Exemption Boost
This proposed amendment would drastically cut down on how much homeowners pay in property taxes each year.
Under current rules, the state exempts homeowners from property taxes up to a certain level of the property’s assessed value. It works as follows:
- The first $25,000 of assessed value — Exempt from all property taxes
- Between $25,000 and $50,000 of assessed value — Taxable
- Between $50,000 and $75,000 — Exempt from non-school taxes
- Over $75,000 — Taxable
However, this proposal would boost the exemption threshold, making it so that a property is exempt from all property taxes up to $75,000 — a three-fold jump from the existing $25,000 threshold. This includes getting rid of the non-school taxes exemption between $50,000 and $75,000 in assessed value.
The legislation was filed by state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-11, who claimed that the changes would help “make housing affordable again.”
“In 1990, your homestead accounted for 32% of the value of your home,” Ingoglia wrote after filing the bill. “Today, your current homestead exemption accounts for LESS THAN 10% of the value of your home! Floridians are demanding property tax relief!”
