Governor Ron DeSantis delivered his annual State of the State address in Tallahassee, highlighting key legislative priorities including immigration, property tax reform, and the elimination of the state’s business rent tax.
DeSantis lauded lawmakers for their efforts, particularly in the realm of insurance reform, stating that automobile insurance rates from the state’s three largest providers are decreasing by 6% to 10.5%. He noted the entry of a new property insurer into the market and pointed out that Florida had experienced the lowest rate increase nationally in the previous year. He also encouraged the appropriation of additional funds for the My Safe Florida Home program, which assists homeowners in fortifying their homes against storms, thereby providing property insurance relief.
The governor also addressed a past Canadian boycott of Florida linked to former President Donald Trump’s immigration and tariff policies, remarking, “We continue to set tourism records. 2024 saw more than 142 million visitors to our state… This includes 3.3 million visitors from Canada. Not much of a boycott. Maybe they wanted to get a glimpse of what a Stanley Cup-winning hockey team (the Florida Panthers) looks like.”
Regarding recent legislative actions, DeSantis praised the swift passage of immigration legislation during a third special session. “No state has done more, and no state did it sooner than we did in Florida,” DeSantis said. “Thanks to the recent legislation, it is now a crime to enter Florida illegally, the days of catch and release are over and all state and local law enforcement have a duty to assist in interior immigration enforcement efforts. The voters have spoken and Florida has responded. We will be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”
DeSantis also advocated for reform of the state’s property tax system, which the Tax Foundation ranked 28th nationally. He referenced House Joint Resolution 357, which proposes a ballot measure to exempt up to $100,000 of a home’s value from assessment. For this to become part of the state’s constitution, it would require at least 60% voter approval if enacted. “You buy a home, pay off a mortgage – and yet you still have to write a check to the government every year just to live on your own property? Is the property yours or are you just renting from the government?” DeSantis questioned, also mentioning that lawmakers are studying the issue to potentially formulate a proposal for the 2026 ballot to provide constitutional protections for property owners.
Furthermore, the governor expressed his desire to fully eliminate the state’s tax on commercial rentals, which was reduced from 4.5% to 2% in the past session. He also proposed tax holidays for marine fuel and ammunition purchases. DeSantis emphasized, “Florida remains the only state in America to tax business rent – and while we have reduced the rate of the tax it is time to eliminate it.”
