Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Sunday he will call a special legislative session beginning Monday to push a major property tax relief measure that would dramatically expand the state’s homestead exemption and put more money back in the pockets of Florida homeowners.

The proposed constitutional amendment would raise the current $50,000 homestead exemption to $250,000, adjusted for inflation. If approved by lawmakers and then voters in November, DeSantis said the change would immediately eliminate property taxes for about 60% of homesteaded properties, with the potential to reach up to 92% of homeowners if the exemption is later increased to $500,000.

“This is really an historic opportunity to have more money in people’s pockets and to actually have their home be their private property that the government just can’t use as a piggybank,” DeSantis said.

The governor highlighted the explosive growth in local government property tax collections, rising from $32 billion in 2019 to roughly $60 billion today, as a key reason for the reform. He warned that without relief, collections could hit $83 billion by 2032. The plan includes a state grant fund to help local governments adjust, particularly for essential services like public safety and education.

DeSantis pointed to Florida’s strong fiscal health, no state income tax, four consecutive years of spending reductions, and significant debt paydown as making the tax relief possible. He also noted Florida continues to attract residents and wealth from high-tax states like California and New York.

The special session reflects DeSantis’s ongoing push to keep Florida affordable and competitive as the state solidifies its position as a Republican stronghold with 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats.