Florida Amendment 3, the Legislature's proposed property tax amendment, is on the November 3, 2026 ballot and needs 60 percent of the vote to pass. It is the most far-reaching homestead property tax reduction the Legislature has proposed, and for Boca Raton homeowners it could meaningfully change the non-school portion of the annual property tax bill. Here is what the amendment does, who qualifies, and where to read the official language before you vote.
What Amendment 3 would do
What Amendment 3 Does
The amendment raises the homestead exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 of assessed value in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments in the years that follow. Non-school taxes are the county, city, and special district levies on your property, the part of the bill the homestead exemption most directly shapes. For a Boca Raton homeowner, that is the portion of the annual tax bill where the change would be felt.
Lower Assessment-Growth Cap
The amendment also lowers the assessment-growth cap on non-homestead properties from 10 percent to 5 percent. That cap applies to investment properties, second homes, and commercial real estate, and a lower ceiling would slow the annual rise in their assessed values. The new exemption amounts take effect January 1, 2027.
What Amendment 3 Does Not Change
Two things the amendment does not do matter just as much. It does not change school property taxes, and it does not eliminate or replace Save Our Homes, the 3 percent annual assessment-growth cap that has protected homesteaded Florida homeowners for decades. The 3 percent cap stays in place.
Why the current exemption has not kept up
Current Exemption
The homestead exemption that applies to non-school levies today is about $51,411, a figure that combines the first $25,000 exemption with the additional exemption that has been adjusted for inflation since it was added. That is why the exemption has not kept up with the pace of rising home values in Boca Raton, a point that comes up regularly in local discussions. On a waterfront or country club home whose assessed value has climbed for years, the exempted share of the bill has stayed effectively flat while the bill itself has grown.
Who qualifies, and what it means for Boca Raton homeowners
Who Qualifies
Homeowners who already hold the Florida homestead exemption would receive the increased exemption on the non-school portion of their taxes. The rules for new residents are more gradual: a person who is not a Florida resident on December 31, 2026 receives the existing exemption upon qualifying, with the increased exemption beginning in the fifth year of exemption. In practical terms, someone who establishes residency in 2027 would see the larger exemption arrive after four full years of homesteading.
What It Means for Boca Raton Homeowners
For Boca Raton, the effect would be most visible where assessed values run highest: the waterfront residences, luxury condominiums, gated communities, and country club homes that define this market. Because the exemption applies to assessed value rather than a fixed dollar discount, the savings scale with the home, and the largest bills would see the largest relief on their non-school portion.
A note before you vote
How to Vote
Amendment 3 is a ballot measure, and voters decide it in November. Homeowners should review the official ballot language rather than rely on summaries alone. The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Amendment 3 FAQ explains the proposal as it would apply locally, the Florida Department of State ballot measure page carries the official summary and text, and the Florida Phoenix voter guide offers an independent read of what the amendment would and would not do.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amendment 3
What is Amendment 3?
Amendment 3 is a proposed constitutional amendment on the November 3, 2026 ballot that would raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, and lower the assessment-growth cap on non-homestead property to 5 percent. It needs 60 percent of the vote to pass.
When does Amendment 3 take effect?
The new exemption amounts take effect January 1, 2027, with the $150,000 exemption applying to the 2027 tax year and $250,000 to 2028, then adjusted for inflation in the years after.
How much would the homestead exemption rise?
For non-school taxes, the exemption would rise from about $51,411 today to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. School property taxes are not part of the increase.
Does Amendment 3 change school taxes?
No. The amendment does not change school property taxes. The existing $25,000 school exemption remains in place.
Does Amendment 3 affect Save Our Homes?
No. Save Our Homes, the 3 percent annual assessment-growth cap on homesteaded property, stays in place. The amendment does not eliminate or replace it.
What does it take for Amendment 3 to pass?
Amendment 3 needs 60 percent of the votes cast on the measure in the November 3, 2026 general election.
