Trump Ally Running For Governor Unveils Key Plan

Rep. Byron Donalds is making Florida property tax relief one of the defining issues of his campaign for governor, urging homeowners to support Amendment 3 when the proposed constitutional change goes before voters in November.

The Trump-backed Republican has emerged as one of the most visible supporters of the property tax proposal, which could have major financial implications for Florida homeowners, retirees, local governments and communities across the state.

Donalds has invested heavily in television advertising promoting property tax relief and says he intends to pursue additional reforms regardless of whether Amendment 3 ultimately passes or fails.

Speaking at a campaign rally in The Villages, Donalds argued that Florida taxpayers have been asked to shoulder enough of the financial burden.

Donalds said he plans to support the measure, arguing that Floridians should not be treated as an unlimited source of government revenue.

The property tax fight is becoming an increasingly important issue in Florida as homeowners contend with the broader cost of owning a home, including insurance premiums, maintenance expenses and other household costs.

Donalds Promises Florida Property Tax Relief

Donalds has made clear that his property tax agenda does not depend entirely on Amendment 3.

If voters reject the constitutional amendment, he has discussed pursuing a broader property tax overhaul through Florida’s Constitution Revision Commission.

If voters approve Amendment 3, Donalds says state leaders should consider a funding formula designed to protect smaller and rural counties that could have greater difficulty absorbing reductions in property tax revenue.

During an appearance on WJCT’s First Coast Connect, Donalds said Florida residents need financial relief and that the next governor will have to confront the issue.

His campaign says lowering the property tax burden would be particularly important for families struggling with affordability and seniors living on fixed incomes.

Campaign spokesman Gates McGavick said Donalds remains committed to finding ways to reduce property taxes regardless of November’s result.

If Amendment 3 becomes law, Donalds intends to implement it. If voters reject the proposal, his campaign says he would pursue other methods of lowering property taxes while attempting to protect essential government services.

That balancing act could become one of the biggest questions surrounding the proposal: How much tax relief can Florida provide homeowners without creating financial problems for counties and municipalities?

What Would Florida Amendment 3 Do?

The current property tax proposal grew out of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push for much more substantial property tax relief on primary residences.

Florida lawmakers ultimately approved a narrower plan during a special legislative session.

Instead of eliminating property taxes on primary residences, the proposal expands Florida’s existing homestead tax benefit while preserving property tax revenue collected for school districts.

That distinction is important because property taxes help finance numerous services provided by local governments.

For homeowners, however, the debate centers on a straightforward question: Should Floridians receive a larger property tax break on the homes in which they live?

Supporters believe the answer is yes, especially as housing affordability remains a concern for families and retirees.

Opponents argue that reducing one source of government revenue could eventually require officials to reduce spending, find replacement revenue or shift more of the tax burden elsewhere.

DeSantis Supports Amendment 3 — With Reservations

DeSantis has said he plans to vote for Amendment 3, although the governor has declined to make himself the public face of the campaign.

The reason is significant.

DeSantis says the Legislature’s final proposal is not the property tax plan he originally wanted.

The governor explained in June that if his own proposal had reached the ballot, he would have felt an obligation to organize a political committee, campaign for its passage and educate Florida voters about the plan.

Instead, lawmakers produced a more limited property tax measure.

The result leaves Donalds occupying a particularly visible position in the campaign for Amendment 3.

Trump-Backed Donalds Makes Taxes a Campaign Priority

Donalds has the endorsement of President Donald Trump and is considered the Republican front-runner heading into Florida’s Aug. 18 gubernatorial primary.

His campaign has spent at least $10 million on television advertising, according to AdImpact, with property tax relief becoming a major part of his message to voters.

Several other prominent Florida Republicans support Amendment 3, including Sen. Rick Scott, Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins.

The issue could prove particularly important among older Florida residents.

Retirees living on fixed incomes can be especially sensitive to increases in recurring housing expenses because they may have less flexibility to absorb higher annual costs.

For longtime homeowners who have paid off their mortgages, property taxes and homeowners insurance can still represent substantial ongoing expenses.

Donalds is betting that a promise of lower property taxes will resonate with those voters.

Could Amendment 3 Affect Local Government Services?

Opponents are increasingly raising questions about the other side of the equation.

Local governments depend heavily on property tax revenue to help pay for public safety, infrastructure and other community services.

Critics have warned that Amendment 3 could eventually reduce local government revenue by as much as $12 billion by 2031.

Opponents argue that such a reduction could force counties and municipalities to make difficult decisions about spending or alternative sources of revenue.

There are also concerns about whether expanding tax benefits for primary homeowners could indirectly place additional pressure on renters, businesses and owners of properties that do not qualify for the same homestead protections.

Supporters, however, argue that Florida’s growing population and economy should not automatically mean homeowners must continually pay higher tax bills.

That disagreement gets to the heart of the Amendment 3 debate: how to provide meaningful property tax relief while maintaining the local services Floridians expect.

Sheriff Grady Judd Opposes the Property Tax Plan

One of the most notable Republican voices opposing the measure is Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

His position is especially noteworthy because Judd previously endorsed Donalds for governor.

Despite supporting Donalds’ candidacy, Judd has strongly criticized the property tax proposal.

Judd said he favors reasonable tax relief but described the current approach as poorly researched and warned about its potential consequences.

The disagreement illustrates that Amendment 3 does not divide neatly along traditional Republican and Democratic lines.

Even among conservatives who support lowering taxes, there remains a debate over how property tax relief should be structured and how Florida should protect funding for law enforcement and other essential services.

Amendment 3 Faces Legal Challenge

The proposal has also encountered a legal obstacle.

A judge ruled this week that the ballot language describing Amendment 3 was misleading and must be rewritten following a legal challenge.

The development adds another layer of uncertainty to an already closely watched ballot fight.

For voters, the exact wording matters because constitutional amendments can have long-term consequences for taxpayers, homeowners and local governments.

What’s at Stake for Florida Homeowners?

Florida’s Amendment 3 debate ultimately involves much more than a single election-year promise.

The outcome could affect property tax bills, homestead benefits, local government budgets and the broader cost of homeownership in Florida.

Supporters believe homeowners deserve additional protection from rising property tax burdens, particularly seniors and retirees trying to remain in their homes while living on fixed incomes.

Critics counter that significant reductions in local tax revenue could have consequences for law enforcement, fire departments, infrastructure and other public services — or cause costs to be shifted elsewhere.

Donalds has nevertheless made his position clear.

He supports Amendment 3 and says Florida’s government should pursue additional property tax relief even if voters reject the measure.

That promise ensures the issue is unlikely to disappear after November.

With Donalds campaigning for governor, DeSantis offering qualified support, prominent Republicans lining up on both sides of the debate and billions of dollars in potential local revenue at stake, Florida property taxes are shaping up to be one of the state’s most consequential economic and political issues of 2026.