House Joint Resolution 205

While HJR 201 aims to help all homeowners, HJR 205 focuses its firepower entirely on one demographic: Senior Floridians aged 65 and older. This proposal would exempt their homesteads from all non-school property taxes, regardless of their income or wealth.

The Sponsor: Representative Mike Caruso

• Name: Representative Mike Caruso (Republican)
• District: House District 87
• Region: Palm Beach County (covering Boca Raton and coastal Palm Beach).
• Background: Representative Caruso is a CPA and financial professional. He sits on the Ways and Means Committee, giving him a direct hand in shaping the fiscal impacts of these proposals.
• Political Stance: Caruso argues that seniors on fixed incomes are the most vulnerable to property tax increases and deserve specific constitutional protection. His proposal is intentionally broad, with no income test, to ensure all qualifying seniors benefit.

The Proposal: What is HJR 205?

Official Title: Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Persons Age 65 or Older

The Core Mechanism: HJR 205 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt homestead property owned by persons age 65 or older from all non-school ad valorem taxes.

• Eligibility: You must be 65 years of age or older and the property must be your primary residence (homestead).
• No Income Test: Unlike the current "low-income" senior exemption (which caps at roughly $36,000 household income), HJR 205 has no income limit. A retired billionaire and a retired teacher would both qualify.
• What Gets Eliminated: All non-school ad valorem taxes (city, county, special districts).
• What Remains: School district property taxes at 100%.

Effective Date: If passed and approved by voters, the exemption would take effect January 1, 2027.

Does This Eliminate Property Taxes Completely?

Only for qualifying seniors, and only the non-school portion.

• Partial Elimination: Seniors would still pay school taxes. Their total tax bill would drop by approximately 55-60%, not to zero.
• Non-Seniors Unaffected: If you are under 65, this proposal does nothing for you. Your taxes remain the same.

The "Law Enforcement Protection" Clause

Like HJR 201 and 203, HJR 205 includes the constitutional mandate protecting police funding:

• The Clause: Counties and municipalities cannot reduce law enforcement funding below pre-amendment levels.
• The Consequence: With seniors (a massive portion of Florida's population) removed from the non-school tax base, cities face a severe revenue crunch. The police budget is locked, so cuts must come from parks, libraries, road maintenance, and other services.

Key Takeaways for Voters

• Florida's Demographic Bomb: Florida has one of the highest percentages of residents over 65 in the nation. Exempting this population from taxes would create a massive revenue hole for counties and cities.
• The "Snowbird" Question: Does this benefit long-term Florida residents, or does it primarily benefit wealthy retirees who declare Florida homestead for tax purposes? Critics argue this is a handout to the affluent elderly.
• Current Seniors Already Get Help: Florida already offers several senior-specific property tax exemptions (e.g. the Additional Homestead Exemption for seniors with limited income). HJR 205 would make those existing programs irrelevant by providing a broader, unconditional exemption.

Legislative Status (Current)

• Filed: October 16, 2025
• Committees: Referred to the Select Committee on Property Taxes, State Affairs Committee, and Ways & Means Committee.
• Latest Action: On Thursday, November 20, 2025, the House Select Committee on Property Taxes voted to advance this bill. It has cleared its first legislative hurdle and now moves to the State Affairs Committee.

Sources & Further Reading

• Florida House of Representatives - HJR 205 Official Bill Text
• Representative Mike Caruso - Official Biography

Navigating Florida's Changing Real Estate market

We hope this guide has provided clarity on the complex property tax proposals facing Florida voters in 2026.

We compiled this research because we believe informed homeowners make better decisions. As a firm dedicated to Florida Real Estate Law and Title Closings, our job is to provide stability and ensure your investment is protected, regardless of how the laws evolve.

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