6 States Are Moving to Eliminate Property Taxes in 2026. Here's What It Means for Florida Real Estate.
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There is a number most homeowners have never run. For anyone living in a high-property-tax state — New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, California — it is a number that will change the way you think about where you live.
Over ten years, a homeowner with a $1 million property who stays in New Jersey pays $223,000 in property taxes. That same homeowner who moves to Florida today pays $76,000. And if the legislation currently moving through six state legislatures passes, that number drops below $20,000.
This blog walks through all six states, the exact status of each proposal, the 10-year carrying-cost math for a $1M home, and what buyers considering a relocation to Florida should understand before the November 2026 vote.
What's in This Blog Post
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The two things most coverage gets wrong
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State-by-state breakdown: Florida, Georgia, Indiana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Texas
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The 10-year property tax math nobody runs
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Three things to do before the November 2026 vote
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Frequently asked questions
What Most Coverage of This Story Gets Wrong
1. These Are Not Fringe Proposals
The Florida House bill passed with 80 votes in February 2026. Indiana's HB 1288 — which would abolish property taxes entirely after 2027 — has passed the Indiana House. North Dakota's Governor has already used oil fund revenue to eliminate property taxes for 50,000 households, with a publicly stated goal of full elimination within a decade.
This is real legislation moving through real state houses — not talking points.
2. This Is a Relocation Story, Not Just a Homeowner Story
Most coverage treats this as news for existing homeowners who want their bills cut. That framing misses the most consequential angle:
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The states most aggressively cutting property taxes are overwhelmingly the states people have been moving to for the past five years.
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The states people are leaving — high-tax Northeastern states and California — are not doing this.
For anyone weighing an interstate move, the property tax gap between origin and destination is about to widen meaningfully.
State-by-State Breakdown
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01 |
FLORIDA The Most Active Fight in the Country Right Now |
Florida has moved furthest and fastest of the six states.
What Has Happened:
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February 19, 2026: The Florida House passed HJR 203 by a vote of 80 to 30.
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What the bill does: Places a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot to eliminate all property taxes except school-related levies on homesteaded properties, beginning January 1, 2027.
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March 13, 2026: The regular legislative session ended without Senate action.
What Happens Next:
Senate President Ben Albritton ended the session with a direct public commitment: lawmakers return in a special session in mid-April 2026, specifically to put a property tax relief amendment on the November ballot. This is not a bill dying — it is a negotiation moving to the next round.
The Senate's version is expected to be narrower than the House's. Senate Appropriations Chair Ed Hooper has said that publicly. But the directional commitment is locked in.
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📊 THE PALM BEACH COUNTY DATA POINT Eliminating homestead property taxes would represent an estimated $899 million annual revenue loss for Palm Beach County alone. That figure tells you the scale of what is on the ballot. |
Independent analysis estimates Florida home values could rise between 4.5% and 9% if the amendment passes — because the annual carrying cost of ownership drops materially overnight.
Current polling shows 49% support against a 60% threshold. It is not a certainty. But the House vote and the Senate commitment place the probability well above zero — which is where most financial planning currently treats it.
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02 |
GEORGIA A Phased Elimination Through 2032 |
Republican lawmakers in the Georgia House have proposed phasing out homeowner property taxes entirely by 2032.
The Mechanism:
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$1 billion state investment to reduce current taxes immediately.
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Primary residence homestead exemption phased up in three steps:
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$10,000 exemption from 2026 through 2028
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$30,000 exemption in 2029 through 2030
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$60,000 exemption in 2031 and beyond
The Georgia House and Senate are currently in a standoff over how aggressively to accelerate the timeline. Georgia remains one of the fastest-growing relocation destinations in the Southeast, and this proposal is designed to reinforce that trend.
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03 |
INDIANA The State That Moved Fastest on Paper |
Indiana's HB 1288 would abolish property taxes on tangible property after 2027. It has cleared the Indiana House but has stalled in the Senate since early 2026.
While the full-elimination bill works through the Senate, Indiana has already passed a separate $1.2 billion property tax relief package — with annual credits of up to $300 going directly to homeowners between 2026 and 2028.
The trade-off under debate is replacing property tax revenue with expanded sales taxes. For a homeowner relocating from New Jersey — where both property taxes and state income taxes are substantial — the Indiana direction still represents materially better math.
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04 |
NORTH DAKOTA The Proof of Concept |
North Dakota is the state that demonstrates full property tax elimination is not theoretical.
Governor Kelly Armstrong expanded the state's primary residence tax credit to $1,600 per year. That credit has already:
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Wiped out property taxes entirely for approximately 50,000 North Dakota households.
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Reduced property taxes significantly for nearly 100,000 more households.
Armstrong's stated goal is full elimination for most homeowners within a decade, funded by the state's oil tax savings account. Other states are actively studying the model.
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05 |
WYOMING A 50% Cut on the November 2026 Ballot |
Wyoming is taking a different path. A bill to eliminate property taxes entirely failed in the Wyoming legislature 7 to 24. But a ballot initiative to cut property taxes by 50% is on track for the November 2026 vote.
Wyoming's Legislative Service Office estimates full elimination would cost local governments approximately $644 million per year — which is why the full-elimination push stalled. The debate in Wyoming is about the mechanism, not the direction.
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06 |
TEXAS Going After the Biggest Piece of the Bill |
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is pursuing elimination of school property taxes — the largest single component of a Texas homeowner's property tax bill.
Texas has already passed multiple waves of relief:
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Rate compression
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Homestead exemption increases
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Senate Bills 4 and 23, which would raise the senior exemption to as high as $200,000
Combined with the existing senior tax freeze, that package could effectively zero out the school portion of property taxes for Texas seniors. The mechanism is using state budget surpluses to buy down school property taxes over time. Abbott has publicly stated he wants to take the total to zero.
The 10-Year Property Tax Number Nobody Runs
Most people making a relocation decision never actually run this number. They factor in state income tax. They factor in the cost of the home. They skip this calculation entirely.
Here is what a $1 million home costs in property taxes over 10 years — by state:
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State |
Effective Rate |
Annual Tax ($1M Home) |
10-Year Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
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New Jersey |
2.23% |
$22,300 |
$223,000 |
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Connecticut |
1.92% |
$19,200 |
$192,000 |
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New York |
1.73% |
$17,300 |
$173,000 |
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California |
1.10% |
$11,000 |
$110,000 |
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Florida — Today |
0.76% |
$7,600 |
$76,000 |
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Florida — If Passes |
~0.17% |
< $2,000 |
< $20,000 |
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📊 THE HEADLINE NUMBER A homeowner leaving New Jersey with a $1M home, moving to Palm Beach County today: ★ Saves $14,700 per year in property taxes alone. ★ Saves $147,000 over 10 years — before a single dollar of income tax savings. If the Florida ballot measure passes: that 10-year figure climbs past $200,000. |
What This Table Does Not Include
These figures are property tax only. They do not include:
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Florida's homestead exemption: up to $50,000 off assessed value for qualifying primary residences.
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The Save Our Homes cap: limits annual assessment increases to 3% or CPI, whichever is lower, for homesteaded properties.
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State income tax differential: Florida has no state income tax; New Jersey, New York, California, and Connecticut all do.
For a buyer who locks in a Florida homestead today, the Save Our Homes cap starts accumulating immediately. Every year of delay is a year the cap does not work for you.
The Florida Math Wins Either Way
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💡 THE FLOOR RULE Even if the Florida ballot measure does NOT pass in November 2026 — The floor of Florida's property tax advantage versus New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and California does not change. ★ Still saving $9,700 to $14,700 per year on property taxes. ★ Still paying zero state income tax. ★ Homestead exemption and Save Our Homes cap still apply. The six-state movement pushes that number higher. But the floor already wins. |
Three Things to Do Before November 2026
1. Do Not Wait for the Vote to Act
If the Florida amendment passes, home values are projected to rise 4.5% to 9% as carrying costs drop. That appreciation goes to buyers already in the market — not to buyers waiting on the sidelines.
If the amendment fails, the national conversation about Florida tax advantage reignites another wave of inbound demand, and values move on demand pressure alone. There is no scenario in which waiting costs nothing.
2. Factor the Probability Into Your Planning
Current polling shows 49% support against a 60% threshold. That is not a sure thing. But this is a bill that cleared the Florida House with 80 votes, in an environment where six states are pushing the same direction simultaneously. Assigning it zero probability is not sound financial planning.
3. Model Your Actual 10-Year Carrying Cost
The right questions at this point are not whether to move. They are:
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Where specifically does your budget go the furthest in Florida?
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How do you time your homestead filing to maximize the Save Our Homes cap?
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What does your actual 10-year carrying cost model look like — with your specific home value, income, and tax situation?
Those answers are specific. They require a real conversation — not a spreadsheet template.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states are eliminating property taxes in 2026?
Six states are actively advancing property tax elimination or major reduction legislation: Florida, Georgia, Indiana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Texas. Each is at a different stage — Florida's House has passed HJR 203, Indiana's HB 1288 has cleared the House, North Dakota has already eliminated property taxes for 50,000 households, and Wyoming has a 50% reduction ballot initiative scheduled for November 2026.
What is Florida HJR 203?
HJR 203 is a joint resolution passed by the Florida House on February 19, 2026, by a vote of 80 to 30. It would place a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot to eliminate all property taxes except school-related levies on homesteaded properties, beginning January 1, 2027. The Florida Senate has committed to a mid-April 2026 special session to finalize ballot language.
Will Florida actually eliminate property taxes in 2026?
A constitutional amendment requires 60% voter approval in Florida. Current polling shows approximately 49% support. The amendment is not guaranteed to pass, but it is a live ballot item with a credible path — the House has passed it, the Senate President has publicly committed to placing it on the ballot, and Governor DeSantis has endorsed it. A final Senate version is expected to be narrower than the House version.
How much would a Florida homeowner save if property taxes were eliminated?
For a homesteaded $1 million primary residence, Florida property taxes would drop from roughly $7,600 per year (0.76% effective rate) to under $2,000 per year (school-only levies at approximately 0.17%). Over 10 years, that represents savings of more than $55,000 on a $1M home — in addition to the existing Florida-versus-Northeast tax advantage.
How does Florida property tax compare to New Jersey?
New Jersey has the highest effective property tax rate in the United States at approximately 2.23%. Florida's statewide effective rate is approximately 0.76%. On a $1 million home, that translates to $22,300 per year in New Jersey versus $7,600 per year in Florida — a $14,700 annual difference, or $147,000 over 10 years. This is before factoring in Florida's zero state income tax.
What is the Save Our Homes cap?
The Save Our Homes cap is a Florida constitutional provision that limits annual increases in the assessed value of a homesteaded primary residence to 3% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. The cap begins accumulating in the first full year of homestead status, which is why timing a Florida purchase and homestead filing matters for long-term carrying cost.
What is the Florida homestead exemption?
Florida's homestead exemption reduces the assessed value of a qualifying primary residence by up to $50,000 for property tax purposes. To qualify, the property must be the owner's permanent primary residence as of January 1 of the tax year, and the homeowner must file for the exemption by March 1.
Should I buy in Florida before the November 2026 vote?
The answer depends on your specific situation — but the floor-rule logic is straightforward: if the amendment passes, values are projected to rise 4.5% to 9%, meaning buyers already in the market capture that appreciation. If it fails, the Florida advantage versus the Northeast remains substantial on its own. Waiting does not eliminate risk; it transfers the risk to higher entry prices. A market clarity call can model your specific scenario.
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This article is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional before making relocation or real estate decisions.
