DeSantis: Abolish Property Tax And Lift Red Flag Laws

Florida Politics reports:

In his annual State of the State Address, Gov. Ron DeSantis laid out his priorities of abolishing property taxes, repealing gun control laws and cleaning up the Everglades. As property values jump, DeSantis continued to pitch his proposal to eliminate property taxes. DeSantis anticipates the issue will end up on the 2026 ballot for voters to approve.

“These escalating assessments have created a gusher of revenue for local governments,” DeSantis said. “Taxpayers need relief.” Critics warn that eliminating property taxes could lead to a big hike in the state sales tax. DeSantis countered that argument Tuesday.

“Don’t let anyone tell you we’re going to seek to raise state taxes because this body will not pass tax increases, and this Governor will not sign any tax increases,” he said.

The Tallahassee Democrat reports:

DeSantis also wants to see more sales tax holidays on specific items, including one this summer for firearms and ammunition. And on gun laws, DeSantis asked lawmakers to reverse laws passed after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting in Parkland in 2018 that left 17 dead, including 14 children. The Legislature banned rifle sales to those under 21.

This year, Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, has filed a bill (SB 852) requiring a study of getting rid of property taxes altogether and making up the difference with budget cuts and sales tax increases.

At a press conference immediately after the State of the State speech, DeSantis said he wanted to re-evaluate the state’s red flag law, for example. It allows law enforcement to remove guns from someone who is deemed a threat to themselves or someone else.

DeSantis today also called for laws making it harder to amend the state constitution via ballot measures.