TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis helped launch the 2025 legislative session on Tuesday by calling for curbing property taxes, among other changes.
DeSantis largely stuck to broad ideas, rather than detailed plans, during his annual State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature in the House chamber.
The 60-day session will include myriad issues, including the House and Senate negotiating a budget that likely will exceed $115 billion.
DeSantis and other Republicans recently have floated the idea of eliminating or reducing local-government property taxes. While the governor did not provide a detailed proposal Tuesday, he again expressed support for the issue.
Voters would have to approve changes to property taxes through a constitutional amendment.
Lawmakers would need to approve a proposal to go on the 2026 ballot, though DeSantis indicated later Tuesday to reporters that such legislation might not pass until next year’s session.
As property values have increased, DeSantis said higher assessments have created a “gusher of revenue” for local governments.
“Taxpayers need relief,” he said. “You buy a home, you pay off the mortgage, and yet you still have to write a check to the government every year just for the privilege of living on your own private property. Is the property yours, or are you just renting it from the government?”
DeSantis emphasized that even if property taxes are eliminated, “this body will not pass tax increases and this governor will not sign any tax increases.”
But in a statement issued in anticipation of DeSantis’ address, House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said the governor “conveniently fails to explain how our communities would be harmed as a consequence” of ending property taxes.
“He wants the headlines and attention, but he doesn’t mention that property tax dollars fund our local public schools, police, firefighters, sanitation workers, and all the other things our local governments do every day,” Driskell said.