In Tallahassee, Florida, State Representative Adam Anderson from Palm Harbor is once again championing his property tax disclosure bill. His goal is to enhance transparency for prospective homebuyers, a mission he hopes will finally succeed this year.

Amidst discussions about potential reductions or eliminations of property taxes in the upcoming legislative session, Anderson’s proposal targets a distinct issue: ensuring buyers understand the true financial commitments they are making.

“We aim to safeguard the American dream of homeownership,” Anderson shared in an interview with 8 On Your Side.

The bill proposes that online real estate listings should reflect a realistic estimate of the property taxes new buyers would face, rather than the potentially outdated and lower rates current owners enjoy.

“The necessary information isn’t being disclosed properly, leading to many buyers experiencing financial surprises a year or so after their purchase,” Anderson explained.

The bill requires platforms with payment calculators to use data from the Florida Department of Revenue and link county property appraiser estimators, while also including liability protections.

“We don’t want to subject any of the professionals in the industry to litigation or burdensome regulations. We just want fair and accurate disclosure of what the buyers’ taxes will be,” Anderson said.

Anderson believes that after working with stakeholders and it being the year for property taxes, this is the right time to address the issue.

“It’s certainly a hot topic this session. It’s an area with a ton of attention on to it. The good news is, with this legislation, it doesn’t have to go on the ballot; we just need to get it through both chambers and signed by the governor,” said Anderson.

Property Tax Debate 2026 Session:

As for the property tax debate at large, State Sen. Nick DiCeglie says whether it’s in the 60-day session or a special session, focusing on possible impacts a complete elimination could have on local services will be key moving forward.

“The governor has been very clear, he wants one question on the ballot, and I think we have the responsibility to work with the governor and make sure we try as much as we can to get on the same page.”

Whether it be an elimination or reduction, Gov. Ron DeSantis says he is currently working on crafting something transformative to put on the ballot in 2026.