Florida Lawmakers Could Return for Special Session on Newly-Passed Property Tax Amendment

Governor Ron DeSantis said that the Florida Legislature has to return to Tallahassee before January 1 to address the newly passed Amendment 3, as reported by WCTV.

Voters approved the measure with 62% of the vote, clearing the 60% threshold required to change the state constitution. Backed by the Florida Realtors, the amendment raises the homestead property tax exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, while explicitly excluding school district taxes.

Florida lawmakers split on when to implement Amendment 3, aimed at lowering property taxes — Gulf Coast News

The push for a special session arrives during a politically delicate transition. DeSantis told reporters he wants lawmakers to pass a taxpayer bill of rights during the upcoming session to prevent local municipalities from raising fees to offset their budget shortfalls.

“What it’ll do is it’ll set the schedule for further homestead exemption, because we want people to get that,” DeSantis said, according to the Florida Realtors. “But also limiting local governments from just doing an end run around the amendment and taxing them in other ways.”

With Florida Amendment 3’s victory, Gov. DeSantis eyes a special session — WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando

Local officials fear tax cuts harm essential services

Cities and counties now face difficult choices on how to balance their ledgers. Critics of the amendment, including emergency services, firefighters, and local government officials, argued during the election season that rural counties would struggle to absorb the tax cuts without harming essential services.

University of North Florida Associate Professor Sean Freeder said that the political timing complicates the legislative agenda. Byron Donalds will soon step into the governor’s office.

Florida Lawmakers Could Return for Special Session on Newly-Passed Property Tax Amendment — Photo: wctv.tv

“Donalds is just getting in and I’m not sure that he immediately wants to make his signature issue to be all these really difficult cuts that have to happen, said Freeder to WCTV.”

Polling data indicates that approximately 15% of voters may not have fully understood Amendment 3 before casting their ballots. Freeder suggested that ballot language helped secure the outcome, though municipalities are only now seeing the trade-offs.

Next steps for the legislature

Lawmakers are already scheduled to return to the state Capitol next week for an organizational session to swear in new members and select leadership. Convening a special session concurrently could offer administrative efficiency.

DeSantis calls Florida lawmakers back to work for special session

While the governor intends to call the legislature back before his second term concludes in early January, lawmakers are not legally required to pass implementing legislation during that window.

“Had Amendment 3 not been on the ballot, I don’t know that we’d turn out the voters that we ended up turning out,” DeSantis said, as reported by the Florida Realtors.