Gov. Ron DeSantis wants a special legislative session before year’s end to implement Amendment 3, Florida’s voter-approved property tax measure.

No date was set, Spectrum Bay News 9 reported. DeSantis also proposed limits on replacement fees and state grants for local governments’ core needs.

For Apollo Beach and Ruskin homeowners, eligibility and timing determine how the amendment applies. The larger exemption removes part of a home’s assessed value from non-school property taxation; it is not a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the tax bill.

According to the Florida Senate’s summary, qualifying residents established in Florida by Dec. 31, 2026, receive an exemption of up to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.

The larger exemption rises with positive inflation beginning in 2029. People establishing Florida residency from 2027 generally start with a smaller exemption and become eligible for the larger amount in their fifth exemption year.

The measure also lowers the annual assessment-growth cap for non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. That limits growth in assessed value, rather than capping the total tax bill at 5%.

The Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s guide says the November 2026 bill covers the 2026 tax year and is unaffected. The first effects begin in the 2027 tax year.

School taxes and separate assessments, such as stormwater, garbage collection and community development district charges, remain on bills. Savings vary with taxable value, exemptions, tax rates and other assessments.

Residents who already have a homestead exemption do not need to file a new application for the larger exemption. First-time applicants apply through the county Property Appraiser’s Office, which determines values and exemption eligibility; the Tax Collector collects and distributes payments.