House select committee advances eight property‑tax constitutional change proposals to ballot process

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House Select Committee on Property Taxes on Nov. 20 advanced seven proposed constitutional amendments and one House bill aimed at reducing or reshaping non‑school ad valorem property taxes, setting the measures on a path that could place some of them before voters in November 2026.

The committee voted to report favorably measures that would, among other changes, slow how often property assessments increase, remove caps on Save Our Homes portability, phase out non‑school property taxes for homesteads over a decade, create targeted exemptions for seniors and for homeowners with property insurance, and permit married couples to combine portability benefits.

Chair Webb Overdorf opened the hearing by saying Speaker Danny Perez directed the panel to examine how property taxes are assessed and collected and to develop proposals ‘‘to permanently put money back in the pockets of Floridians’’ after months of meetings with local officials and state agencies. She reiterated that because ad valorem rules live in the Florida Constitution, fundamental change requires a constitutional amendment and a statewide vote.

Key proposals and what the committee advanced

- HJR 213 (Representative Griffiths): Would move some assessment adjustments to a three‑year cycle. Under the proposal, homestead increases tied to Save Our Homes would be measured every three years (using the lower of 3% or CPI) instead of annually; non‑homestead properties would see an allowable increase capped at 15% over three years instead of 10% each year. The measure also includes language intended to prohibit local governments from reducing current law‑enforcement funding levels. The resolution was presented, drew questions about whether the change would create long‑term structural gaps for local services, and received public testimony from municipal officials and associations opposed to the proposals. The committee reported the resolution favorably (vote tally not specified in the committee record available in the transcript).

- HJR 211 (Representative Overdorf): Would remove the existing $500,000 cap on Save Our Homes portability so homeowners could transfer the full portability benefit to a new homestead, and would allow the full benefit to move with downsizing. The committee reported the resolution favorably (24 yeas, 10 nays).

- HJR 209 (Representative Besada): Would create…