Florida’s New Property Tax Laws became official on June 24, 2026, when Governor Ron DeSantis signed two bills in Bradenton aimed at holding local governments to a tighter standard on spending and property taxes. If you own property in Florida, buy it, sell it, or market it for a living, both laws are worth a few minutes of your time.
Here’s what they actually do.
SB 4-F is the implementation bill that goes with a proposed constitutional amendment called Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes. Florida voters will see that amendment on the ballot in November 2026.
The core change is about how local governments figure out the maximum property tax rate they can adopt with a simple majority vote. Today, they’re allowed to bump the “rolled-back rate” (the rate that would bring in the same revenue as last year) upward based on growth in Florida’s per-capita personal income. SB 4-F removes that adjustment. The ceiling generally becomes the standard rolled-back rate, full stop.
Going above that rate now takes more votes:
The state expects these changes to lower the base millage rate in many jurisdictions and to make it tougher for local governments to collect more in property taxes without broad public backing. The bill also allows longer ballot summary language for the November amendment, so voters get a clearer explanation of what they’re voting on.
HB 1329 is called the Local Government Financial Transparency and Accountability Act. It applies to counties and municipalities, and it’s mostly about visibility.
Local governments will have to publish detailed financial information online, including:
They’ll also need to put out quarterly reports on employee compensation and set annual budget development calendars, so the process is visible year-round instead of only when the final numbers land.
The piece getting the most attention is the budget reduction exercise. Before adopting a final budget, local officials must identify ways to cut proposed spending by 10 percent without touching essential services like law enforcement, fire protection, and legally required functions. The idea is simple: if a city says relief for taxpayers would mean cutting police or fire, residents can see that officials already looked for savings elsewhere.
Property taxes are part of nearly every real estate conversation in Florida. They shape what a buyer can afford each month, how a listing compares to the one down the street, and how investors run their numbers. When the rules for setting local tax rates change, and when the public gets clearer financial data from the governments setting them, the people on the other side of those conversations will have more questions. Agents, brokerages, and property managers who can answer them clearly have an edge.
A caveat on Florida’s New Property Tax Laws: SB 4-F’s companion amendment still needs voter approval in November, and how these laws play out will vary from one county or city to the next. It’s worth watching how your local government responds.
We create and maintain real estate websites — listing pages, neighborhood guides, lead capture, and the ongoing updates that keep your site fast, secure, and current while the market (and the law) keeps moving. If your current site feels stale, or you don’t have one yet, we’d be glad to talk.
MD3 Digital Solutions Inc.
Source: Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Legislation Protecting Taxpayers and Increasing Local Government Accountability, Executive Office of the Governor, June 24, 2026. This post is general information, not legal or tax advice.
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