Hello everyone.
Florida Realtors® members recently received a plain-language explanation of how Amendment 3 could provide meaningful property-tax relief and help improve affordability. During a webinar hosted by Florida Realtors 2026 President Chuck Bonfiglio and CEO Margy Grant, Tallahassee tax attorney French Brown answered some of the questions REALTORS® have about the amendment, including how the increased homestead exemption would work, how it interacts with Save Our Homes and portability, what the changes could mean for rental and other non-homestead properties, and how core services like public safety and infrastructure are prioritized.
But understanding Amendment 3 also means looking at the bigger picture: how local property-tax collections have grown compared with the costs Florida families are managing every day. Since 2015, Florida's population has grown by an estimated 16% and median wages by roughly 52%, while county property-tax collections have increased by an average of 99%. In at least one county, the increase has been 176%.
To help put those numbers in perspective, we've added a new resource to the Vote Yes on 3 website : an interactive heat map showing how property-tax collections have changed in every Florida county since 2015. The map lets you see the growth in your own county and compare it with communities across the state.
We hope this new resource, along with the information from our webinar, provides additional clarity on what Amendment 3 does and the meaningful tax relief it would provide Floridians.
Don't Sleep on the Pending Uniform Appraisal Dataset Changes
While appraisal reports are changing, not every lender will make the switch at the same time. For real estate agents and their customers, that means both old and new formats may show up in transactions over the next several months.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced this week that lenders needing more time to adopt the new Uniform Appraisal Dataset 3.6 format can request an exception to the Nov. 2 deadline. Those approved can continue submitting new appraisals in the older format through May 19, 2027.
Florida Realtors® will explain the reporting changes during a 60-minute CORE education webinar on Friday, Oct. 16, at 10 a.m. Eastern via Zoom. You can register HERE.
That means an older-format appraisal received after Nov. 2 isn't necessarily a problem. Agents can check with the lender to confirm which format it is using and whether it has an exception.
The full details about this news, including details about the upcoming appraisal changes, can be found HERE.
Remember that these changes will impact REALTORS® as well as appraisers. Learn how HERE.
State Leaders Move to Protect More Than 10,800 Acres Across Florida
This week, the Florida Cabinet approved the conservation of more than 10,770 acres across Florida, including more than 2,700 acres within the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor, representing an investment of more than $72.6 million.
Since 2019, the state has invested more than $1.5 billion in land conservation through the Florida Forever Program . This funding has enabled the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to acquire over 500,000 acres for conservation, 92% of which are within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
About the land acquisition approvals:
A 2,708-acre conservation easement within the Etoniah/Cross Florida Greenway Florida Forever Project in Putnam County will create a connection to the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway State Recreation and Conservation Area and other conservation lands within the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor.
A 3,567-acre conservation easement within the Panther Glades Florida Forever Project in Hendry County will provide a connection between Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area and Finca Vigia, contributing to a mosaic of conservation lands in the area.
Read more HERE.
Governor DeSantis Highlights $20 Billion Investment to Widen Florida's Turnpike
This week, Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted more than $20 billion in investments to revitalize Florida's Turnpike, expanding capacity along the entire 320-mile mainline from South Florida through Central Florida to I-75 in Wildwood. The Governor also announced nearly $8.5 million for new food concepts, amenities, and customer services at Turnpike service plazas, along with nearly $54 million to expand and improve truck parking across the system.
As part of FDOT's transformational plan to widen the entire 320-mile Turnpike Mainline from South Florida to Interstate 75 (I-75) in Wildwood, every section of the Mainline across the state will be expanded to between six or more lanes. Once complete, these improvements will add more than 965 lane miles of capacity to help reduce congestion, giving families more time together and less time in traffic.
"As Florida has grown, we have made major investments in our transportation infrastructure to reduce congestion and improve our roadways," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "We've made significant investments in expanding lane capacity to relieve congestion all along the Turnpike. Today, I announced an additional investment to improve 19 restaurants and retail locations across six Turnpike service plazas. We will keep working to ensure that our roadways are safer, more convenient, and better-maintained than ever before."
Read more HERE.
Senate Introduces the Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Mike Lee introduced the Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act (co-sponsored by Sen. Curtis). This legislation provides a clarification under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for direct sellers and real estate agents. It provides guidance on how real estate agents should be properly classified as independent contractors under the FLSA, and under federal law by clarifying the term "employee." To find out more information about the bill, go HERE. NAR continues to advocate in support of independent work and real estate professionals.
Federal Court Keeps Housing Counseling Funds from Expiring During Lawsuit
On Sept. 30, a federal judge ordered HUD to keep $57.5 million in fiscal year 2025 housing counseling funds available while a lawsuit challenging the administration's effort to cancel the funding moves forward. The National Urban League and nine other housing counseling organizations filed the lawsuit after the White House asked Congress to rescind nearly all of the program's funding. The groups argue that HUD cannot withhold funds appropriated by Congress without congressional action and are also challenging restrictions placed on the program earlier this year, including limits on prepurchase and post-purchase counseling.
The judge's order preserves the funding but does not require HUD to award the money or rule on the merits of the lawsuit. The administration's full response is due Oct. 9, followed by the plaintiffs' reply on Oct. 19, after which the court will decide whether to hold a hearing. NAR has long supported housing counseling as a tool to help consumers enter and remain in the housing market and is engaging with Congress on the proposed rescission and its potential impact on access to counseling services.
Read the full story HERE.
In Other News
Floridians struggle to afford basic necessities
Cotality Alert: FEMA's New Flood Maps Mean More Homes Require Flood Insurance
Atlantic season hits October without a single hurricane, a satellite-era first
Florida consumer sentiment edges up slightly in September
This Week in Florida History (September 26- October 3)
On Oct. 1-3, 1862: Union forces landed along the St. Johns River near Jacksonville, forcing Confederate troops to abandon their positions at St. Johns Bluff. The operation helped the Union strengthen its control of the Jacksonville area and demonstrated the strategic importance of Florida's waterways during the Civil War.
Please reach out to us at publicpolicy@floridarealtors.org with any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Trey Goldman
Senior Vice President of Public Policy
Florida Realtors®