Florida voters approved Amendment 3 with 62% statewide, unofficial results show. Horizon West homesteads get a $150,000 exemption from non-school taxes in 2027.
Amendment 3 has passed. Florida voters approved the larger homestead exemption with 62% of the statewide vote, according to unofficial results. That clears the 60% a constitutional amendment needs.
The yes side had 4,917,715 votes and the no side 3,016,136. Those figures come from the Florida Division of Elections’ election night results file, with all 5,626 precincts in the state’s 67 counties reporting. Results stay unofficial until they are certified.
Orange County voted much closer. Amendment 3 drew 50.9% yes here, as our results story reported Wednesday.
What Amendment 3 changes
The amendment takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. Under the ballot summary, it:
- raises the homestead exemption for all non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, then adjusts it for inflation
- cuts the yearly cap on assessment increases for non-homestead property from 10% to 5%
- limits what counties and cities can spend property taxes on, such as public safety, schools, infrastructure and bond debt
- requires the Legislature to set a uniform way for counties and cities to raise the exemption further, up to a home’s full assessed value
People who are not Florida residents on Dec. 31, 2026, get the existing exemption when they qualify. They get the larger one from their fifth year of exemption.
School taxes are not part of the change. The ballot summary applies the larger exemption to non-school taxes only.
What it means for Orange County’s budget
Orange County estimated that Amendment 3 could cut its property tax revenue by $165 million in 2027 and $275 million in 2028. The county gave those figures before its final budget hearing on Sept. 24.
“If Amendment 3 is approved, the Board will face difficult decisions about spending, service levels, and pursuing other legally available sources of revenue,” the county said in that announcement.
Property taxes are one of the county’s main sources of money for local services, it said. Public safety takes about 53% of the county’s property tax revenue. The county had not published a statement on the result by Thursday evening.
Because Horizon West is unincorporated, a bill here can carry county levies beyond the countywide rate, such as the Unincorporated Taxing District and the Fire and Emergency Medical Service levy. Our property tax guide explains each one.
The other measures
The state file shows the other two amendments failed:
| Measure | Yes | No | Yes share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1, budget stabilization fund | 3,170,495 | 4,580,908 | 40.9% | Failed |
| Amendment 2, farm equipment tax exemption | 4,542,816 | 3,260,736 | 58.2% | Failed |
| Amendment 3, homestead exemption | 4,917,715 | 3,016,136 | 62.0% | Passed |
Amendment 2 won a majority but fell short of 60%.
Florida Supreme Court Justice Carlos G. Muñiz was retained with 57.7% yes statewide, or 4,296,674 votes to 3,150,878. Retention needs a simple majority. In Orange County, 53.8% of voters said no.
What it means for you
- If you have a homestead exemption, the non-school part of it rises to $150,000 for 2027. Your 2027 TRIM notice, mailed next August, will show the new taxable value.
- If you moved to Florida recently, check your residency date. Someone who becomes a resident after Dec. 31, 2026, waits until the fifth year of exemption for the larger amount.
- If you rent out a home or own a second one, its assessed value can now rise no more than 5% a year, down from 10%.
- No homestead yet? Apply to the Orange County Property Appraiser by March 1, through its online homestead application.
This story reports results only and does not endorse any measure.
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