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Property tax news roundup — May 31, 2026

Last reviewed Sources & methodology

A read of this week's US property-tax coverage. The headline is Florida, where the governor has called a special session on a plan to sharply raise — and eventually eliminate — homestead property taxes. But the same pressure is showing up in Tennessee, Illinois, Kansas and beyond. Here's what's actually being proposed, and what it means for homeowners.

Florida calls a special session on homestead property tax

The biggest story this week is in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a legislative special session — the week of June 1 — to advance a constitutional amendment branded "Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes." It is a proposal, not law: it would need 60% support in both legislative chambers and 60% of voters in November to take effect.

As announced, the plan would raise the homestead exemption from today's $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and then $250,000 in 2028, with lawmakers directed to chart a path toward fully eliminating homestead property taxes over time. By the state's own framing, the $250,000 level would zero out property tax for roughly 60% of Florida homesteads (a figure that has already drawn fact-checking). The proposal also trims the annual assessment-increase cap for non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and adds a five-year residency requirement for people who establish Florida residency after January 1, 2027.

The open question — raised by the county property appraisers and reporters covering it — is how local governments and school districts would replace the lost revenue. That's the part to watch as the session plays out. If you own in Florida, our Florida property tax by ZIP page shows where your area sits today, and the homestead exemption savings calculator lets you model what a larger exemption would do to a bill.

The same pressure, in other states

Florida is the loudest example, but this week's coverage shows the property-tax squeeze surfacing in very different places:

  • Tennessee: Nashville-area coverage followed a petition pushing for a cap on how fast property taxes can rise, as residents weigh moving to lower-cost neighboring counties.
  • Illinois: Chicago-area reporting flagged another school-funding-driven property-tax increase in Cook County — a recurring theme that's fueling resident frustration. Our Illinois property tax by ZIP page has the local context.
  • Kansas: the Secretary of State discussed standardizing how counties value property, after complaints that similar properties are appraised inconsistently across county lines.
  • Vermont: lawmakers wrapped up a budget that carried education and property-tax provisions — a reminder that in many states the school budget is the property-tax story.

What homeowners should actually do

Underneath the political news, several of this week's videos circled the same practical advice: a rising assessment is not the same as a correct one, and homeowners have more leverage than they think. The themes worth acting on:

  • Read your assessment notice when it arrives — don't wait for the tax bill. The window to contest your assessed value is usually short and tied to the notice date, which varies by state and county.
  • Build a simple evidence packet if you appeal: comparable recent sales, price-per-square-foot, and documented condition issues. You can estimate the upside first with our assessment appeal savings calculator.
  • Claim every exemption you qualify for — homestead, senior, and veteran exemptions are generally not automatic and can require annual renewal in some states. Missing a filing window usually forfeits the benefit for that year.

Not sure where your own area stands? Start with property tax by state and drill into your ZIP from there.

Sources

This roundup synthesizes the past day's US property-tax coverage on YouTube. The underlying videos: