Amendment 3 Passed. What It Means for Jacksonville Homeowners

Florida voters approved Amendment 3 on November 3, 2026, with 62% of the vote. It needed 60%. Starting with the 2027 tax roll, it raises the homestead exemption from non-school property taxes to $150,000, then to $250,000 in 2028. The exemption from school taxes stays at $25,000.

What Amendment 3 Changes

Here's what the amendment does, according to the Florida Chamber's summary and News4Jax:

• Homestead exemption, non-school taxes: $150,000 for 2027 and $250,000 for 2028, adjusted for inflation after that. The current exemption is $50,000.
• Homestead exemption, school taxes: stays at $25,000.
• Future phase-out: after January 1, 2029, the Legislature must set a schedule to eliminate the remaining non-school property taxes on homesteads.
• Non-homestead property: the yearly cap on assessment increases for rentals, businesses, and other non-homestead property drops from 10% to 5%.
• New residents: people who become Florida residents after January 1, 2027 get the current exemption when they first qualify and must live in Florida five years before the full $250,000 applies. Counties and cities can shorten the wait with a two-thirds vote.
• Local spending: counties and cities are directed to use property tax revenue for specified purposes, including public safety, education, infrastructure, and natural resources.

The Vote

With 99% of precincts reporting, Amendment 3 received 4,917,906 yes votes (62%) and 3,016,273 no votes (38%), per News4Jax. Florida constitutional amendments need 60% to pass.

Two other amendments on the ballot failed. Amendment 1, which would have expanded the state's Budget Stabilization Fund, got 41%. Amendment 2, which would have exempted some agricultural equipment and property from property taxes, got 58%.

What It Means for Jacksonville's Budget

Jacksonville officials estimate Amendment 3 could cost the city more than $300 million a year, according to News4Jax.

Supporters argued the amendment gives homeowners relief as housing costs rise and that local governments should cut unnecessary spending rather than rely on homeowners, according to CBS12. Opponents warned it could reduce funding for police, infrastructure, and other local services. The amendment doesn't automatically require any specific cuts. Those decisions will come through local budgets.

What Homeowners Should Know Now

• Your 2026 property tax bill doesn't change. The new amounts start with the 2027 tax roll.
• The Legislature still has to act. It must pass the laws that carry out the amendment, and the Duval County Property Appraiser will post guidance for 2027.
• The filing deadline stays March 1. If you bought a home this year and lived in it on January 1, 2027, you file for homestead by March 1, 2027.
• Existing exemptions: official guidance on whether current homestead owners need to do anything hasn't been posted yet. We'll update this article when it is.

For what Jacksonville residents pay overall, including sales and property taxes, see our guide to living in Jacksonville and our look at the Jacksonville housing market.