A new proposal in the Florida Legislature could significantly reduce property tax bills for homeowners aged 65 and older. If passed, the measure would exempt qualifying seniors from paying most local property taxes, keeping only the portion that funds school districts.
House Joint Resolution 205, introduced by State Representative Juan Carlos Porras, aims to offer financial relief to seniors struggling with rising living costs. The proposed constitutional amendment would apply to homestead properties owned by those 65 or older. Aligning with the state’s ongoing focus on property tax reform, the bill would go before voters in November 2026 if it secures approval in both legislative chambers.
“We have to have trust in our elected leaders that they need to prioritize the needs and not just the wants — that is public education, law enforcement, that is firefighters,” Porras said.
The financial toll of rising taxes has become more pressing for retirees like Carmen and Jose Calleiro, a couple living on a fixed income. “We live on a fixed income, and if everything keeps going up and up for us, we won’t be able to live,” said Carmen Calleiro. Her husband, Jose, added, “Fortunately, we can pay the taxes on this house now,” but expressed concern that the financial weight may eventually become too much.
Under the legislative proposal, counties and municipalities would also be prohibited from reducing law enforcement funding below current fiscal levels. This provision is meant to preserve core public safety budgets even as local tax revenue could see a potential dip.
According to the bill’s analysis, the key provisions include:
– Seniors 65 and older with homesteaded properties would be exempt from all property taxes except those earmarked for school funding.
– Law enforcement funding at the local level could not fall below the amount set for fiscal year 2025–26 or 2026–27, whichever is higher.
If voters approve the amendment via the 2026 ballot — requiring a 60 percent majority — the changes would take effect on January 1, 2027.
Doral Mayor Christi Fraga expressed cautious support for the plan but acknowledged its broader implications. “I think the issue with the state is that they haven’t addressed the criteria in a very long time,” she said. Fraga also suggested extending the exemption to include school-related taxes, which make up a significant share of property tax bills.
In Miami-Dade County, where more than 60 percent of property tax revenue goes toward municipal and county services, the potential impact is greater. Porras admitted, “You’d have to have difficult conversations.”
The proposal has yet to pass through the full legislature and would still need to meet the supermajority threshold in a statewide vote. But for many South Florida seniors feeling the squeeze of fixed incomes and escalating costs, the effort represents a necessary shift.
If enacted, the measure could ease the burden for thousands of older homeowners while opening up new questions for city and county leaders facing budget pressures of their own. For now, the debate continues in Tallahassee, but the ballot box awaits in 2026.
