STATE REP. RYAN CHAMBERLIN FILES BILL PROVIDING NEW $100,000 PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR ALL FLORIDA PROPERTIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2025
 
Contact: Katie Connell
Phone: (850) 222-8156
Email: katie@thefrontlineagency.com

Tallahassee, Fla. — This week, State Representative Ryan Chamberlin filed HB 359, a bill to provide a new $100,000 tax exemption for all real properties in Florida. This is a follow up to a bill he filed in the 2024 legislative session that called for funding a study on how best to phase out property taxation in Florida. Addressing oppressive property taxes was a campaign promise Rep. Chamberlin made when he first ran for the Florida House, and he has a deep desire to see all property taxation ended and replaced with other types of consumption taxes.

“The growth in property tax revenues over the last 5 years has been gross,” said Rep. Ryan Chamberlin. “For too long, cities, counties, and other taxing agencies have benefited from a system that provides property tax increases on unrealized gains. This is an ancient, burdensome system of taxation that must be ended, and I’d like to see Florida be the first in the nation to stop it.”

Rep. Chamberlin added: “It is right and good that Governor DeSantis has raised this issue of property taxes this past week, and I look forward to his ongoing leadership to provide tax relief. We cannot rest until we have ended property taxes altogether. The other ugly truth about a property tax system is the penalty of losing the property if the taxes are not paid. This essentially communicates that government owns all property and taxpayers are merely renters. If we don’t pay our rent (tax), then we lose it, and it is given to someone else. One of the fundamental God-given rights of man is the right to private property. Government is established to protect that right, not supersede it with an unfair tax system.”

Rep. Chamberlin concluded: “I have also put into bill drafting language that will cap the growth in property tax revenues to 2% per year with a mandated refund or debt repayment as the only usage options for a revenue surplus. This again is just another step in the effort to provide relief and begin phasing out our property tax system. Local governments must begin living within their means now in anticipation of a change of revenue collection in the near future. I look forward to helping to stimulate this debate and work with legislative leadership and the governor’s office to realize this great legislative victory for our state.”

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