A Democratic Senator is adding his property tax relief proposals to a series of plans pitched by House Republicans.
West Palm Beach Sen. Mack Bernard[1] filed four proposed constitutional amendments on the 2026 ballot to help lower residents’ bills.
“As property tax bills arrive for families around Florida, living in our state feels more expensive than ever,” Bernard said in a statement. “That’s why I’ve filed these property tax relief proposals — because voters should have a chance to decide on what the best financial relief is for themselves.”
Some of Bernard’s proposals, like focusing on property tax relief for seniors on fixed incomes, are similar to the ideas pitched last week by House Republicans[2].
For instance, Bernard’s SJR 270[3] would exempt people 65 and over from the non-school portion of property tax if they have claimed homestead exemption in the state for at least five years and their annual household income wasn’t more than $350,000.
Rep. Juan Porras[4] filed HRJ 205[5], which is broader and would exempt all Florida seniors from paying non-school homestead property taxes, regardless of how long they lived there or their income.
There are other differences too.
HJR 205 has exceptions for taxes for police and schools. The bill also expressly requires localities to maintain law enforcement funding even if tax revenues decline due to the exemption. SJR 270 includes only a carve-out for schools and includes no such structural requirement for consistent police funding.
Bernard also filed SJR 274[6] to prohibit a homeowner’s assessed value from increasing after 20 years of ownership and residency.
“After 30 years of ownership and residency, homeowners receive an additional homestead exemption equal to 50% of the property’s assessed value,” Bernard added.
In addition, SJR 278[7] “would cap the assessed value increase of new homestead properties after a change in ownership at 150% of the property’s prior year assessed value, provided the assessed value was under $500,000, for ad valorem tax purposes,”
Bernard also is pushing SJR 282[8], which would “limit the assessed value of real property to 3% or the percentage change in the consumer price index, whichever is lower, if the property is owned and used for commercial purposes by a small business.”
Bernard’s bills are the latest proposal in what’s become a hot topic leading into Legislative Session. Gov. Ron DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez are already trading barbs[9].
DeSantis criticized Perez for giving voters too many choices on the ballot.
“Placing more than one property tax measure on the ballot represents an attempt to kill anything on property taxes. It’s a political game, not a serious attempt to get it done for the people,” DeSantis said on X.
Perez challenged DeSantis, arguing the Governor hasn’t put forth a proposal himself.
“So when the Governor says he wants to ‘abolish’ property taxes. How? We don’t have any details,” Perez said.
___
Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics contributed to this report.
References
- ^ Mack Bernard (www.flsenate.gov)
- ^ pitched last week by House Republicans (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ SJR 270 (www.flsenate.gov)
- ^ Juan Porras (www.flhouse.gov)
- ^ HRJ 205 (www.flsenate.gov)
- ^ SJR 274 (www.flsenate.gov)
- ^ SJR 278 (www.flsenate.gov)
- ^ SJR 282 (www.flsenate.gov)
- ^ already trading barbs (floridapolitics.com)