Opinion

Speaker Danny Perez Admits Defeat, Finally Yields on Property Taxes

By Tracy Caruso 0 Copy Link Print
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Florida House Speaker Danny Perez has finally caved to mounting public pressure and agreed to take a hard look at lowering property taxes. The same Danny Perez who once dismissed Governor DeSantis’s idea as “impractical” has lost the battle and is now letting the Select Committee on Property Taxes have free rein to explore far-reaching proposals that could overhaul the entire structure.

DeSantis X post from March 31, 2025:

But don’t celebrate just yet. The real test is only beginning—and the spotlight is now on committee co-chairs Toby Overdorf (R-Martin County) and Vicki Lopez (R-Miami Dade County). They aren’t just steering a committee; they’re carrying the hopes of millions of Floridians tired of being taxed out of their homes. The pressure is on them to deliver results, not just more talk.

DeSantis X post from April 1, 2025:

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What’s At Stake- The Proposal Floating Around Tallahassee

But before we get into the political drama, let’s look at the proposals being floated by the Speaker. Here’s the full text from the letter circulating in Tallahassee:

FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SELECT COMMITTEE on PROPERTY TAXES

PROPOSALS

The Select Committee on Property Taxes will be tasked with reviewing the current state of property taxes in Florida and exploring policy options for property tax relief for Floridians. Most, if not all, of the policy ideas considered by the Select Committee are expected to require approval by the voters through a constitutional amendment.

The following concepts represent a starting point for the types of ideas that may be explored:

I. Require every city, county and special district to hold a referendum at the next general election on the question of eliminating property taxes on homestead properties.

II. Create a new $500,000 homestead exemption. Increase the exemption to $1 million for residents who are 65 years of age or older or residents who have had a homestead exemption for 30 years or more. These exemptions would apply to all non-school taxes.

III. Authorize the Legislature to increase a homestead exemption up to any value by general law.

IV. Change the existing limitations on assessment increase for homestead and non-homesteaded properties:

  • Homestead from the lower of 3 percent or the increase in CPI each year to 3 percent over any given 3-year period for all taxes.
  • Non-homestead from 10 percent annually to 15 percent over any given 3-year period for all non-school taxes.

V. Eliminate the ability to foreclose on a homestead property due to a property tax lien.

Overdorf and Lopez: The Heat Is On

Let’s be clear: Toby Overdorf and Vicki Lopez aren’t being handed a victory lap-they’re being given a political hot potato. They’re under enormous pressure from the public to ensure these ideas don’t just gather dust in committee folders. The expectation is simple: get these proposals out of committee, onto the House floor, signed by the Governor, and ultimately to the voters. Anything less will be seen as a failure to act at a time when Floridians are desperate for relief.

DeSantis: The Spark that Lit the Fuse

Let’s not forget where these ideas first came from. Governor Ron DeSantis has banged the drum for property tax relief since his first term. Remember when he called out the “unsustainable burden” on Florida homeowners and challenged lawmakers to “get creative” with solutions? Back then, Speaker Perez quickly poured cold water on the Governor’s ideas, calling them “well-intentioned but unrealistic” and warning of “unintended consequences.”

Perez’s Change of Heart

So what changed? Perez has finally relented, facing mounting public outrage and a tidal wave of support for DeSantis-style tax relief. In a recent statement, Perez said, “Floridians deserve real solutions, and this committee will explore every option to provide meaningful property tax relief.” Quite a turnaround from his previous stance, but hey, better late than never.

What’s Next

The Select Committee on Property Taxes will hold hearings, gather public input, and draft proposals for constitutional amendments. If you’re a Florida homeowner, now’s the time to pay attention. The fight over your property taxes is just starting; if all goes well, we might see real change, and the people of Florida will win.

Other stories you may want to read:

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