Florida's property tax revolution off to slow start

Politico

21-05-2025

Good morning and welcome to Wednesday.
For months now Gov. RON DESANTIS has been talking about the need to give homeowners relief on property taxes. It's gotten plenty of coverage from media outlets and led to much online banter.
There's also been finger-pointing between the governor and House Speaker DANIEL PEREZ because of how it plays into the ongoing stalemate over tax cuts and the budget that has paralyzed the Legislature.
Here's the bottom line though: There is no master plan yet. And there are no firm details. It's also highly unlikely — despite some speculation — that Florida will eliminate all property taxes.
The governor has offered some general concepts — including suggesting a sizable $1,000 rebate this year to homeowners who are eligible for a homestead exemption (which shields part of the value of their home from taxes.) But he hasn't rolled out his own legislation, something he and his staff have done on countless other topics.
DeSantis has continued to question how much money local governments are spending. And during a Tampa event on Tuesday, DeSantis again touted the idea that Florida residents with a homestead exemption should not pay taxes at all.
'To say that you buy a home and then every year for the rest of your life they're just going to keep sending you a bill … that's not the American way,' said DeSantis.
The governor on Tuesday also posted a lengthy discussion on social media with state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, during which he again mentioned wiping out taxes for those with homestead exemption and said it would only cost the state $300 million to assist small and rural counties with the cost of such of a move.
The state Senate this spring called for an in-depth study of potential impacts, but that idea has gone nowhere amid the budget dust-up. Perez did create a select committee, but that panel has just started its work.
DeSantis has already called the committee a 'dog and pony' show and suggested its real goal is to undermine the push to cut property taxes. And when the committee asked DeSantis to come testify, he brushed that aside and said 'that's not the role of the chief executive.'
Any major changes on how property taxes are charged and collected would need to go to voters, which could be done during the November 2026 elections. But if lawmakers really, really wanted it sooner, they could decide to hold a special election. Back in 2007 the Republican-controlled Legislature also passed a bill that forced local governments to roll back their tax rates.
Through it all, Florida continues to have an affordability crisis and signs point to it being a major issue for next year's elections. How long before frustration in this arena prompts decisive action? And who is supposed to take the lead?
Former Lt. Gov. CARLOS LOPEZ-CANTERA, a former state legislator and former Miami-Dade property appraiser involved in the last big property tax overhaul effort nearly 20 years ago, said lots of ideas were in the works at the time. But in the end, he said then-GOV. CHARLIE CRIST 'took the oxygen out of the room.'
'He wanted a bumper sticker approach but he had the biggest microphone,' Lopez-Cantera recalled. Crist's big idea was to create a way for people to transfer or 'port' their tax savings from their old home to a new home since people with a homestead exemption have a cap on how much the value of their home can increase each year.
Lopez-Cantera suggested that if DeSantis came out with his own detailed proposal now, 'that would be the defining moment' that many legislators would follow.
Senate President BEN ALBRITTON previously suggested a methodical deliberative approach to property taxes, noting the complexity of how cuts would impact cities, counties and school districts. KATIE BETTA, a spokesperson for Albritton, says that chamber still has an 'all of the above' approach about how to get a final product. She added that 'if the governor has any ideas, the president would be open to those as well.'
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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...
THE DESANTIS HOUR — Is Gov. Ron DeSantis moving more firmly into podcast host territory?
For the second time in recent weeks, the governor sat down for an extended conversation with a political ally and posted it on social media. DeSantis on Tuesday evening dropped an hourlong chat with state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia and discussed many of his usual suspects in talking points, including immigration and his push for congressional term limits.
But he and Ingoglia also veered into a conversation about sports, including how DeSantis isn't too keen on the transfer portal in college sports. DeSantis also revealed he's having commemorative bats made out of the huge oak tree that used to be in front of the governor's mansion and which was split in half due to Hurricane Idalia.
The governor predicted the University of Florida may beat the University of Georgia this year and speculated on whether the Gators can win up to 10 games this upcoming season. He was a tad more skeptical about the prospects of Florida State University.
WHAT LAND PROPOSAL — 'While Gov. Ron DeSantis sidestepped the issue, state Rep. Kim Kendall said Tuesday she will work to close 'loopholes' in state law that allowed a proposed land swap in St. Johns County to proceed within less than a week's notice,' reports POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie. 'DeSantis, during a press conference in Tampa, deflected a question about the proposal, which was supported by the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of State Lands.'
NO DEFENSE FOR THIS STATE LAW — DeSantis said during a press conference Tuesday he supports Florida Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER's position to remain on the sidelines in the legal battle over a Florida law passed in the aftermath of the Parkland massacre. The National Rifle Association challenged the part of the law that bans the sale of rifles to adults under 21 years old and recently appealed the case up to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Although the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld the constitutionality of the ban earlier this year, DeSantis said he considers the law to be unconstitutional. Most GOP members of the Florida House agree. During this year's legislative session, the House passed a bill to repeal the ban for the third time, but it ultimately failed to move in the Senate. Senate President BEN ALBRITTON declared the legislation 'dead' in late April.
Despite opposition from his predecessor, Sen. RICK SCOTT (R-Fla.), who told POLITICO it was a 'good bill' in the aftermath of the Florida State University shooting, DeSantis has continued to advocate for the repeal of the law.
'I understand why [the Legislature] did it because it was an emotional time, but I don't think that that's consistent with the state Constitution,' the governor added.
— Isa Domínguez
— 'Pride lights no longer allowed on Florida bridges, and most other colors too,' by Sharon Kennedy Wynne of the Tampa Bay Times.
— 'Gov. DeSantis signs legislation allowing digital record-keeping in Florida pawn shops,' by Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics.
— 'Proposed law now awaiting governor's approval could make planning harder for local governments,' by Central Florida Public Media's Molly Duerig.
— 'Pasco-Hernando State College picks DeSantis ally as interim president,' by Ian Hodgson of the Tampa Bay Times.
PENINSULA AND BEYOND
BEAR HUNT DEBATE — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission plans to consider approving black bear hunting later this year at their meeting in Ocala. Bear hunting opponents are calling on the panel to delay a decision. The last bear hunt in 2015 led to protests across the state and was cut short after the first weekend, when 304 bears were killed.
At a meeting last December, commissioners received a briefing on the status of the bear population and asked agency staff to return in May with hunting options. Final rules for a hunt could be approved in August.
Agency staff describe the Florida black bear as a conservation 'success story' with more than 4,000 now compared to about 300 in 1974. In a memo, staff said it 'is important to balance species numbers with suitable habitat and maintain a healthy population.'
Some opponents say people are moving into bear habitat and creating nuisance encounters. They say a hunt should not be held until a thorough population study is completed.
The commission agenda says the discussion could be postponed until Thursday or until a later date. Public comment will be limited to two hours. The Florida Channel will livestream the meeting.
— Bruce Ritchie
STATEWIDE TOUR LAUNCH — The progressive group Equal Ground announced a statewide legislative debrief tour to point out the Legislature's failure to pass a budget on time or pass legislation the organization contends would protect citizens' constitutional rights. The group will make 15 stops starting in June until August.
'Florida lawmakers have once again failed to address the pressing needs of Floridians, instead allowing in-fighting to derail the 2025 Legislative Session and using their power to silence Florida voters by attacking the citizen-led ballot initiative process,' Executive Director GENESIS ROBINSON said.
— Isa Domínguez
— 'These school cops in Florida ordered to help ICE arrest immigrants, records show,' by The 74's Mark Keierleber.
— 'Attorneys battling over shielding 2 plaintiffs' names in case over Florida's immigration law,' by Jim Saunders of News Service of Florida.
— 'New salmonella outbreak tied to same Florida grower with tainted cucumbers last year,' by JoNel Aleccia of the Associated Press.
CAMPAIGN MODE
GETTING CROWDED? Republican state Sen. Jay Collins is considering a run for governor in 2026, reports Javier Manjarres of The Floridian. 'Sen. Collins, who supports President Trump and is also a staunch ally of Governor Ron DeSantis, has been testing the waters and has spoken to several donors and supporters of both Rep. Donalds and Governor Ron DeSantis about the job.'
— 'Casey DeSantis in no hurry to launch run for Governor, says people are 'tired of politics,'' by A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics.
DATELINE D.C.
WELCOME BACK — Secretary of State and former Sen. Marco Rubio got quite the homecoming on Capitol Hill, where he clashed with Democrats who just a few months ago supported his nomination for the post, reports Abigail Hauslohner and Adam Taylor of the Washington Post. Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said he regretted voting to confirm him, while Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen said, 'I don't recognize you.'
AND ON DOGE CUTS — Rubio defended 'decisions including major budget cuts and the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing,' a committee which he was once a part of, reports NPR's Michele Kelemen.
— 'Congressional Democrats push Trump to restore $2.5B in public health grants,' by Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix.
WHO WILL SHAPE FEMA — The Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council met for the first time on Tuesday, 'with the future of the nation's disaster agency on the line,' reports E&E News' Thomas Frank. Among the people who will 'shape the agency's future' are some notable Floridians, including Tampa Mayor JANE CASTOR, Miami-Dade County Sheriff ROSIE CORDERO-STUTZ and Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director KEVIN GUTHRIE.
— 'US set to extend Chevron Venezuela waiver by another 60 days,' reports Bloomberg news.
TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP
MAR-A-LAGONE FOR THE SEASON — 'With Mar-a-Lago's club closed for the season, it appears President Donald Trump is beginning to make his annual summer sojourns to his property in New Jersey,' reports Palm Beach Daily News' Kristina Webb. 'Trump will be at his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, from May 23-25, according to a notice posted by the Federal Aviation Administration that said presidential-level temporary flight restrictions are forthcoming for that area.'
ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN
— 'Travis Kelce is officially a Florida man. What we know about his current situation,' by Madeleine Marr of the Miami Herald.
BIRTHDAYS: Former Sen. George LeMieux … Former Rep. and Florida House Speaker Tom Feeney.