Voting on the property tax amendment November 3? What it changes for your homestead filing, and what it doesn't

With a property tax measure on the November 3 ballot, a common question at property appraiser counters and in neighborhood groups is whether it is worth waiting to see what happens before dealing with homestead paperwork. Nothing on our Amendment 3 page suggests waiting. This page takes no position on how anyone should vote. It sets out what is on the ballot as described on our Amendment 3 page, and separates the parts that would change from the ones that do not.

What is on the ballot

CS/HJR 1-F, titled "Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes," passed the 2026 special session by 75 to 26 in the House and 30 to 9 in the Senate. Like any constitutional amendment, it needs 60% voter approval. County property appraisers and policy organizations have been calling it Amendment 3, but the final number and ballot summary come from the Secretary of State, so check the official ballot.

What would change if it passes

• The non-school homestead exemption would become $150,000 from January 1, 2027 and $250,000 from January 1, 2028, indexed to inflation from 2029. For the 2026 roll, the exemptions are $25,000 plus an inflation-adjusted $26,411.
• Persons establishing Florida residency on or after January 1, 2027 would receive $50,000 non-school, becoming eligible for the larger exemption from January 1 of the fifth year. Persons who are Florida residents as of December 31, 2026 would qualify immediately.
• The cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead property would drop from 10% to 5%, beginning 2027.

The first change would apply to the 2027 tax roll. Nothing about your 2026 bill changes on November 3.

What stays the same either way

1. School district taxes. Under the measure as described, only the first $25,000 of the exemption applies to school district levies. That is unchanged.
2. The January 1 test. Section 196.031(1)(a), Florida Statutes, asks whether on January 1 you hold title and make the property your permanent residence in good faith. Our application page covers the proof a property appraiser looks at.
3. The March 1 deadline and the form. The application is Form DR-501, filed with the county property appraiser by March 1. As described, nothing in it removes the need to apply.
4. Save Our Homes and portability. The 3% cap and the $500,000 portability limit described on our Save Our Homes page are not part of what the measure is described as changing.
5. The reset on sale. A change of ownership still reassesses the property at full just value effective January 1 of the following year.

The part that is easy to get wrong: new residents

The residency provision means the date you establish Florida residency could matter if the measure passes. Someone who moves to Florida in December 2026 and someone who moves in January 2027 would be on different sides of the line described on the Amendment 3 page. We cannot tell you how the Department or a property appraiser would apply that to a particular move, and the Amendment 3 page flags implementing legislation, referenced as SB 4-F, as something to watch. If you are planning a move around the new year, ask your county property appraiser how they read it.

What to do between now and election day

• Read the actual ballot summary on your sample ballot, not a summary from a campaign.
• If you are a homeowner who has not filed, do not wait for the outcome. The fall preparation checklist in our earlier post applies whatever happens.
• If you are considering a purchase or sale that closes near year-end, read the January 1 post.
• After November 3, check the official results and whether implementing legislation is enacted before changing any plans.

The published fiscal estimates differ, with a Revenue Estimating Conference figure of $12 billion recurring and legislative analysis cited at $4.6 billion in year one and $8.4 billion in year two. They estimate lost local government revenue and say nothing about any individual homeowner's bill. This is general information drawn from the measure's text and published analyses, not advice.