TAMPA BAY — Gov. Ron DeSantis told the press he intends to pursue a constitutional measure to restrict property taxation of homesteaded primary residences and to place that proposal on the November 2026 ballot.

DeSantis said the Florida Constitution limits the state’s ability to change local millage rates directly and that a constitutional amendment is the appropriate route to provide broad relief. “If you're a Florida resident and you have a primary residence here, you're homesteaded property, I think you should be able to own that free and clear of the government,” DeSantis said.

The governor described a package of administration efforts that include audits of local government budgets and outreach to the legislature. He cited recent increases in local budgets and property tax bills in parts of the state and said some local jurisdictions have increased spending despite flat or modest population changes. DeSantis said the administration will continue reviewing local budgets and is working on concrete ballot language and fiscal numbers.

DeSantis said he had proposed a smaller, interim rebate for homestead owners in 2025—an idea he said did not secure sufficient support—and that the administration is now focusing on the constitutional path for 2026. He also said the state would consider backfilling revenue for some rural counties if a homestead exemption were enacted to avoid harming essential local services.

The governor framed the proposal as targeted relief for homestead property owners and said he expects rank‑and‑file legislators to support placing the question before voters. He did not provide final ballot language, an exact fiscal model or an enacted statutory plan and said details remain subject to negotiation.

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Provenance: topicintro — excerpt where DeSantis introduces the limits of state authority over property tax and the plan for a 2026 ballot item (transcript time ~2085–2126). topicfinish — excerpt where governor reiterates timeline and campaign intent for November 2026 (transcript time ~2869–2881).