Update, 12:31 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026: Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a Capitol news conference Wednesday that he'll call a special session to carry out Amendment 3 and let lawmakers propose the dates, WWSB reported. He said the amendment has to be in place by Jan. 1 and that he wants grants for local governments' core needs, including rural sheriffs, with a transition period. Read our full story.

TALLAHASSEE, FL, Nov. 4, 2026 — Florida voters approved a large homestead property tax cut Tuesday and rejected the other two constitutional amendments on the ballot, according to unofficial results from the Florida Department of State.

Every constitutional amendment in Florida needs at least 60% of the vote to pass. Here's how the three did, per the state's Election Watch amendments page, read about 8 a.m. Wednesday with 100% of precincts reporting:

  • Amendment 3 (homestead exemption, assessment caps): PASSED. Yes 4,917,482 (61.99%), No 3,015,840 (38.01%).
  • Amendment 2 (farm property tax exemption): FAILED. Yes 4,542,595 (58.22%), No 3,260,445 (41.78%).
  • Amendment 1 (Budget Stabilization Fund): FAILED. Yes 3,170,324 (40.9%), No 4,580,564 (59.1%).

These are unofficial results. The state certifies the election Nov. 16.

What Amendment 3 does

The amendment raises the homestead exemption for all non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, and then adjusts it for inflation starting in 2029, according to Ballotpedia's summary of the ballot measure. School property taxes keep the existing $25,000 exemption.

It also:

  • lowers the yearly cap on assessment increases for non-homestead property, such as rentals, second homes and commercial buildings, from 10% to 5%, except for school taxes;
  • gives people who move to Florida after Dec. 31, 2026, a smaller exemption until they've lived in the state for five years; and
  • limits what counties and cities can spend property tax money on, including public safety, education, infrastructure, flood control and government operations.

The proposal was crafted by DeSantis's office and passed by the Legislature in a June special session, NBC 6 South Florida reported. DeSantis first wanted an immediate $250,000 exemption, but lawmakers carved out school taxes. It went straight to the ballot without needing his signature.

"Big win on Amendment 3 for Florida homeowners!" DeSantis posted on X Tuesday night, NBC 6 reported.

Who opposed it, and why

Groups of firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians joined local government officials in opposing the measure, saying rural counties couldn't absorb the cut without hitting essential services, NBC 6 reported. The Florida Sheriffs Association also raised concerns, The Independent Florida Alligator reported. The Republican Party of Florida and Florida Realtors backed it.

Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, and former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, both opposed it. "My concern is that the amendment is a one-size-fits-all amendment, and every community is different," Passidomo told the News Service of Florida last month, NBC 6 reported.

"Florida passed Amendment 3. The governor and the Legislature own what comes next. They have the responsibility to manage the fallout," former Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes wrote on X.

In the governor's race, Republican Byron Donalds supported Amendment 3 and Democrat David Jolly said he planned to vote against it, the Alligator reported.

One local example: Alachua County is projected to lose nearly $49 million in property tax revenue and has discussed raising fees for county services, the Alligator reported. "It's going to be an immediate change in the way cities and countries are run," said Alachua County commissioner-elect Tina Certain.

Amendment 2: 58%, close but short

Amendment 2 would have exempted tangible personal property on agricultural land, such as farm equipment, from property taxes. NBC 6 reported it would have meant a $30 million to $40 million tax cut across all 67 counties for agriculture interests.

Amendment 1: a split among Republicans

Amendment 1 would have raised the cap on the state's rainy-day reserve, the Budget Stabilization Fund, from 10% to 25% of the prior year's general revenue, the Alligator and NBC 6 reported. The Republican Party of Florida endorsed it, and DeSantis called it "foolish."

"Amendment 1 — a testament to our failed former speaker of the House — is deservedly going down in flames. Good riddance," DeSantis posted on X Tuesday night, referring to former House Speaker Daniel Perez, NBC 6 reported.

What's next

Amendment 3 takes effect in January, the Alligator reported. The new $150,000 level applies starting in 2027. County and city governments will now build budgets around the smaller tax base, and the Legislature must set up a process for local governments that want to raise their own homestead exemptions above the new minimum, according to Ballotpedia's summary.

Launchpad's results page has the latest counts. We'll report on how your county plans to handle the change as budgets come together.

Sources: Florida Department of State Election Watch, Amendments (unofficial, read ~8 AM ET Nov. 4); NBC 6 South Florida/News Service of Florida; The Independent Florida Alligator; Ballotpedia.

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