If you’ve been following the news, you know Governor Ron DeSantis just called a special session of the Florida Legislature starting Monday, June 1, 2026, to fast-track a major constitutional amendment on property taxes.

The proposal is officially called “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes.” It would dramatically increase the homestead exemption on primary residences and open the door to eventually eliminating property taxes on homesteads altogether.

Here’s exactly how this constitutional amendment gets on the ballot — and what it means for homeowners and local governments here in Nassau County and across Florida.

Step 1: It Starts as a Joint Resolution in the Legislature

This isn’t a citizen initiative that needs petition signatures. It’s a legislatively referred constitutional amendment.

It has been filed in the Senate as SJR 2-F (“Save our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes”). The resolution proposes changes to Article VII of the Florida Constitution (mainly sections dealing with assessments, homestead exemptions, and how local governments can use property tax revenue). It also creates a new section in Article XII.

The bill includes:

• Raising the homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028

• A path for the Legislature to eventually exempt up to 100% of homestead value

• Tighter assessment growth limits on some non-homestead properties

• Rules requiring counties and cities to spend remaining property taxes only on “core services” (public safety, schools, infrastructure, natural resources)

• A new state trust fund to help local governments backfill core services

• A five-year residency requirement for new Floridians to qualify for the bigger exemptions

Step 2: Special Session (Happening This Week)

Governor DeSantis called lawmakers back to Tallahassee for a special session the week of June 1 specifically to consider this amendment.

Special sessions are limited to the topics the Governor puts in the proclamation — in this case, property tax relief through a constitutional change. That means things can move very quickly.

To pass and reach the ballot, the joint resolution needs a three-fifths (60%) supermajority vote in both the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives.

If it clears both chambers with 60% support during this special session, it’s cleared for the ballot.

Step 3: It Goes on the November 2026 Ballot

Once the Legislature passes the joint resolution, it is filed with the Secretary of State and automatically appears on the ballot for the next general election — November 3, 2026.

Voters will see a clear ballot title and summary (the resolution already includes draft language).

Step 4: Voters Decide — 60% Approval Required

This is the final and most important step.

Florida constitutional amendments require at least 60% “Yes” votes from the people voting on the measure. A simple majority is not enough.

If it passes with 60% or more, the changes become part of the Florida Constitution and begin taking effect according to the timelines written into the amendment (some as early as January 1, 2027).

Current Odds of Passing (as of May 31, 2026)

Here’s my current assessment right before the special session begins:

• Passing the Legislature (getting on the November ballot): 75–85%
Very high probability. Florida has strong Republican majorities in both chambers, and Governor DeSantis is applying significant pressure. The special session is short and narrowly focused on this issue. Senate leadership has already signaled support for letting voters decide.

• Passing with voters in November: 60–70%
The concept of major property tax relief polls strongly with Florida homeowners. Early indications (including some polling on the general idea) show broad support. However, the 60% threshold is steep, and organized opposition from school boards, counties, and some local officials could create headwinds once the full details and revenue impacts become clearer.

• Overall odds of the amendment becoming law: 55–65%
Better than average for a constitutional amendment, but far from a sure thing. The biggest hurdle will be clearing the 60% voter threshold in November, not the Legislature.

These are informed estimates based on current political dynamics, past Florida ballot results on tax issues, and the momentum behind this proposal. Things can shift quickly once the special session starts and the final language is locked in.

What This Means for Nassau County and Amelia Island

Nassau County has relatively high reliance on property tax revenue compared to some other counties. We have a mix of primary homesteads, second homes, vacation rentals, and commercial properties.

• Primary homeowners could see significant savings.

• Schools and county services would see reduced revenue from the homestead exemption increase.

• The new restrictions on how local governments can spend remaining property taxes could limit flexibility.

• The state trust fund is intended to help, but its long-term funding and distribution are still being worked out.

Smaller or tourism-dependent counties have raised similar concerns about revenue stability and future growth.

Current Status (Sunday, May 31, 2026)

• The special session starts tomorrow, Monday, June 1.

• SJR 2-F has already been filed and referred to committee.

• Lawmakers could move it to the floor and vote within a few days.

If it passes both chambers with the required 60%, it heads straight to the November 2026 ballot for you to decide.

Bottom Line

This is the standard, expedited process for a legislatively referred constitutional amendment when the Governor calls a targeted special session. It’s faster than a citizen initiative but still requires strong support in both the Legislature and at the ballot box.

Tax relief for primary homeowners sounds appealing, especially after years of rising values and assessments. At the same time, local governments and schools need stable funding for the roads, public safety, and education we all rely on.

The details matter — and the special session happening right now will determine whether this specific version makes it to voters in November.

I’ll continue following the special session closely and will update as soon as there’s meaningful movement. In the meantime, if you want to weigh in, contact your state representative and senator before they head to Tallahassee this week.

What are your thoughts on this proposal? Drop a comment below — I read every one.

Stay informed. Stay engaged. This is your community.

AI Disclosure: This blog post was drafted with the assistance of AI (Grok by xAI) for research, organization, and initial drafting. All final content, analysis, opinions, and local perspective are my own.