After a long and eventful legislative session, the Florida House and Senate finally reached agreement on the state budget and concluded their extended special session. Lawmakers delivered a $114.5 billion budget to Governor DeSantis, slightly below last year’s adjusted budget of $115.1 billion. The Governor will now spend the next several weeks reviewing the budget and exercising his line-item veto authority before the new fiscal year begins on July 1.
Property taxes:
While budget negotiations dominated much of May, property tax reform once again emerged as one of the most closely watched issues in Florida politics.
For more than a year, Governor DeSantis has advocated for significant property tax relief. During the regular legislative session, the Florida House passed a constitutional amendment proposal addressing property taxes, but the measure was not considered by the Senate. In response, the Governor has called lawmakers back to Tallahassee for a special session beginning June 1 to consider a new constitutional amendment proposal that would place a comprehensive property tax package before Florida voters.
The Governor’s proposal includes:
- A new $250,000 homestead exemption on ad valorem taxes for homestead property owners starting in 2028. In 2027, there will be a $150,000 homestead exemption. These exemptions apply to all County, City, School, and special district ad valorem taxes.
- Directing the Legislature to create a uniform method for local taxing jurisdictions to increase that exemption up to the full amount of the homestead’s value.
- A five-year waiting period before new Florida residents (after 12/31/2026) would become eligible for the enhanced exemption. During this temporary period, they would receive a $50,000 homestead exemption.
- A constitutional requirement that non-homestead property tax revenues be dedicated to “core” local government services such as public safety and emergency response.
- A reduction in the annual assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10 percent to 5 percent, impacting commercial property, rental housing, and second homes.
- A single constitutional amendment appearing on the ballot for voter consideration.
Elections & Congressional Maps
Meanwhile, election season is officially underway.
June 12 marks Florida’s candidate qualifying deadline and will bring an end to months of speculation as candidates make final decisions about which offices they intend to pursue. With Florida’s newly adopted congressional map creating several open seats and significantly redrawing others, a great deal of political movement is expected among local officials, state legislators, and congressional candidates.
The new congressional map has already set off a game of political musical chairs across the state. Open seats created by the departures of Congressmen Byron Donalds, Vern Buchanan, Daniel Webster, and Neal Dunn have attracted interest from numerous local and state officials, while newly configured districts in Central Florida, Tampa Bay, and South Florida are expected to produce some of the most competitive races in the country. Particular attention is being paid to Congressman Darren Soto’s district in Central Florida, Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s Tampa-based district, and several newly created South Florida districts that could trigger highly competitive primaries and general election contests. The retirement announcement by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson has added yet another layer of intrigue, with State Senator Shevrin Jones and several prominent local leaders reportedly evaluating campaigns to succeed her.
At the top of the ticket, Congressman Byron Donalds continues to maintain a commanding position in Republican gubernatorial polling. On the Democratic side, former Congressman David Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings continue to compete for the opportunity to challenge the eventual Republican nominee.
As always, we appreciate your engagement throughout the legislative process. This was a long but productive session, and we secured several important victories for Florida’s RV industry. None of that would be possible without the support of our members and contributors.
As we head into what promises to be an active election season, please consider supporting the PAC. Your investment helps ensure our industry continues to have a strong voice in Tallahassee and throughout Florida.
Andres Malave
Government Relations Dir.
D: 305-632-3207
AMalave@joneswalker.com