TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida lawmakers fast-tracked Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to put property tax cuts on the November ballot, with both the House and Senate passing it early Tuesday afternoon.

The plan would raise the state’s $50,000 homestead exemptions to $250,000.

The governor is not getting everything that he wanted as the bill heads to his desk: The biggest change is that school funding is protected, meaning property taxes will not go away entirely.

Changes also include removing a trust fund for struggling smaller counties, which had no funding source to begin with and taking away money earmarked for the state to sell the plan to voters.

DeSantis faced scrutiny in 2024 for using taxpayer funds to campaign against ballot measures legalizing marijuana and protecting abortion rights.

“Voters deserve to know what they’re voting on without bias,” State Sen. Lori Berman, D-Boca Raton, said Tuesday.

And the elephant in the room: Why this? Why now, with so many details left open?

“Why the rush? Why three days? Why not ask for actual numbers?” State Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, asked.

State Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Martin County, responded, “We have been working on this issue for over a year and a half. We have met with people from Pensacola to Key West. However, we currently have a proposal from the governor, and that’s what we’re hearing during this special session.”

Skeptics have raised concerns about shortfalls for critical government services.

But Republicans have criticized how local governments spend taxpayer funds.

As with any amendment to the state constitution, it would require 60% of the vote to pass in November.

Florida lawmakers pass plan to put property tax cuts on November ballot

But state won’t be able to use taxpayer funds to sell plan to voters

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Glenna Milberg

Chris Gothner