Property taxes, insurance reform, housing affordability and education funding are on Florida lawmakers’ agenda as the 2026 legislative session begins Tuesday.
Four bills that eliminate or reduce property taxes have advanced through a House committee. If approved by the full legislature, they would move to an election ballot for voters to consider.
The proposals include eliminating non-school property taxes for homesteads, allowing a $100,000 exemption for owners with property insurance and increasing the maximum value of the accused Save-Our-Homes benefit that can be transferred to a new homestead.
Local governments have warned the tax reductions would mean a significant loss of revenue that funds essential services. The bills under consideration seek to provide relief for homeowners while maintaining funding for police and schools.
Florida’s corporate tax income structure could be overhauled through Senate Bill 238, which would require combined reporting for businesses.
Florida Policy Institute, an Orlando-based nonprofit that supports the measure, says it would generate nearly $2.4 billion annually.
“Currently, corporations can avoid paying Florida’s corporate income tax by shifting profits off to other entities in tax havens such as Delaware, Ireland or the Cayman Islands,” the group said. “Florida should require these corporations to add together profits of all subsidiaries, regardless of their location, into one combined report.”
Property insurance could also see changes this session. Bills would eliminate sales taxes for impact-resistant windows and doors, limit annual property insurance rate increases and create an Emergency Residential Property Insurance Assistance Trust Fund to offer financial assistance to eligible homeowners with a total household income of $250,000 or less.
The state’s motor vehicle no-fault insurance law is up for debate again. The no-fault system is meant to ensure that costs from an accident are covered regardless of who is at fault. Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed lawmakers’ attempts to scrap the law and replace it with a fault-based one instead.
Twin bills in the House and Senate target housing costs by expanding affordable rental housing and lowering barriers to homeownership through zoning benefit requirements and tax incentives.
Lawmakers also need to nail down a state spending plan. DeSantis has proposed a $117.4 billion budget that includes $9.7 billion in tax relief for residents and businesses, a 2% pay raise for state employees, a, 5% pay increase for law enforcement officers, park rangers, judges, attorneys and IT professionals, plus $30.6 billion for the K-12 public education system.
His proposed education budget would set aside $1.56 billion for teacher pay raises and $1.71 billion for early childhood education, among other things.
The legislative session is the last regular one for DeSantis, who is term-limited.
He has scheduled a special session in April, after the regular session ends, to focus on redistricting. Florida is joining a growing list of Republican-led states looking to redraw congressional maps before the November midterm elections.
