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What Florida's property tax overhaul could cost local governments

The state House has added three property tax amendments to its calendar for floor votes.

News

Tampa Bay governments stand to lose hundreds of millions in tax collections if property tax changes advancing in the Legislature become law, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/bill-summary-hjr-201-203-205-207-209-211-and-213?mc_cid=c9718583ff&amp;mc_eid=81b69123db" data-vars-content-id="575fd09a-059e-4ac7-ae22-d5afea179106" data-vars-headline="What Florida&#x27;s property tax overhaul could cost local governments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/bill-summary-hjr-201-203-205-207-209-211-and-213?mc_cid=c9718583ff&amp;mc_eid=81b69123db" target="_blank">report</a> by the Florida Policy Institute (FPI).Why it matters: The House has added <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="three of those amendments" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/02/11/where-property-tax-cuts-other-bills-stand-in-the-florida-legislature" data-vars-content-id="575fd09a-059e-4ac7-ae22-d5afea179106" data-vars-headline="What Florida&#x27;s property tax overhaul could cost local governments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/02/11/where-property-tax-cuts-other-bills-stand-in-the-florida-legislature" target="_self">three of those amendments</a> to its calendar for floor votes, with HJR 203 up first, on Thursday.

Florida senator's proposal could hinder Manatee cruise port

The proposal would restrict dredging in the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve.

A Florida lawmaker filed legislation to bolster environmental protections of the waters around the site of a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="proposed cruise port" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/01/28/skyway-cruise-port-rattlesnake-key-manatee-county" data-vars-content-id="d0c025ad-33a6-4f97-b27c-8fceff608b91" data-vars-headline="Florida senator&#x27;s proposal could hinder Manatee cruise port" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/01/28/skyway-cruise-port-rattlesnake-key-manatee-county" target="_self">proposed cruise port</a> in Manatee County.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="proposal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/302/Amendment/117522/PDF" data-vars-content-id="d0c025ad-33a6-4f97-b27c-8fceff608b91" data-vars-headline="Florida senator&#x27;s proposal could hinder Manatee cruise port" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/302/Amendment/117522/PDF" target="_blank">proposal</a>, filed Wednesday afternoon by Bradenton Sen. Jim Boyd, could derail plans for the contentious port project, which is planned for a tract of land near the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve.

Florida homebuyers are scoring deals — but prices remain high

Still-high mortgage rates and home prices have sidelined many shoppers. But those who remain in the market are scoring the biggest deals in years.

The average discount for Tampa metro area <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" data-vars-content-id="3cc27a5a-d5e1-492e-af79-93885e72426a" data-vars-headline="Florida homebuyers are scoring deals — but prices remain high" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" target="_self">homes</a> that sold below their original asking price last year was nearly 10%.<ul><li>That&#x27;s one of the largest discounts among major U.S. cities analyzed in a recent Redfin <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.redfin.com/news/homebuyer-discounts-below-list-price-2025/" data-vars-content-id="3cc27a5a-d5e1-492e-af79-93885e72426a" data-vars-headline="Florida homebuyers are scoring deals — but prices remain high" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.redfin.com/news/homebuyer-discounts-below-list-price-2025/" target="_blank">report</a>.</li></ul>

Florida lawmakers give no new money to home-hardening grant fund

But homeowners can still apply for the remaining available money.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Florida lawmakers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/06/24/legislature-funds-popular-home-hardening-program" data-vars-content-id="cb019494-8841-4231-b7a6-a87fc0ecd3ef" data-vars-headline="Florida lawmakers give no new money to home-hardening grant fund" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/06/24/legislature-funds-popular-home-hardening-program" target="_self">Florida lawmakers</a> will allocate no additional money toward a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="grant program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/07/03/florida-reopens-hurricane-hardening-grant-how-to-apply" data-vars-content-id="cb019494-8841-4231-b7a6-a87fc0ecd3ef" data-vars-headline="Florida lawmakers give no new money to home-hardening grant fund" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/07/03/florida-reopens-hurricane-hardening-grant-how-to-apply" target="_self">grant program</a> that funds up to $10,000 worth of upgrades to strengthen your home against hurricanes, the Tampa Bay Times <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2026/02/19/my-safe-florida-home-grant-money-hurricane-windows-doors/" data-vars-content-id="cb019494-8841-4231-b7a6-a87fc0ecd3ef" data-vars-headline="Florida lawmakers give no new money to home-hardening grant fund" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2026/02/19/my-safe-florida-home-grant-money-hurricane-windows-doors/" target="_blank">reported</a>.Why it matters: Gov. Ron DeSantis asked the Legislature to direct another $100 million to the program, which has seen <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high demand" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2024/07/17/officials-no-longer-accepting-my-safe-florida-home-hardening-applications/" data-vars-content-id="cb019494-8841-4231-b7a6-a87fc0ecd3ef" data-vars-headline="Florida lawmakers give no new money to home-hardening grant fund" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2024/07/17/officials-no-longer-accepting-my-safe-florida-home-hardening-applications/" target="_blank">high demand</a>.

Scott breaks with DeSantis on Florida's vaccine rollback

He argues that the state already strikes a balance between children's health and parents' rights.

Health

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott rebuffed Gov. Ron DeSantis&#x27; call to end <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Florida&#x27;s vaccine mandates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/09/03/florida-ends-vaccine-mandates-schools-joseph-ladapo" data-vars-content-id="2c8947da-68fa-43ec-b900-073c246377ef" data-vars-headline="Scott breaks with DeSantis on Florida&#x27;s vaccine rollback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/09/03/florida-ends-vaccine-mandates-schools-joseph-ladapo" target="_self">Florida&#x27;s vaccine mandates</a>, arguing that the state already strikes the right balance between children&#x27;s health and parents&#x27; rights.Why it matters: Scott is the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most prominent Republican" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/03/politics/florida-gop-end-vaccine-mandates" data-vars-content-id="2c8947da-68fa-43ec-b900-073c246377ef" data-vars-headline="Scott breaks with DeSantis on Florida&#x27;s vaccine rollback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/03/politics/florida-gop-end-vaccine-mandates" target="_blank">most prominent Republican</a> to break with DeSantis, and it&#x27;s another sign of fractures within the state&#x27;s GOP.

5 ways the COVID-19 pandemic changed Florida

COVID

Five years ago, COVID-19 cast a shadow over the Sunshine State, and life hasn&#x27;t been the same since.The lives lost: Nearly 100,000 Floridians and counting have died from COVID-19 since 2020, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per the Florida Department of Health" data-vars-click-url="https://www.flhealthcharts.gov/ChartsDashboards/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=Covid19.Dataviewer" data-vars-content-id="8f85083a-1b0c-44ec-b333-6d61f174adc9" data-vars-headline="5 ways the COVID-19 pandemic changed Florida" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.flhealthcharts.gov/ChartsDashboards/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=Covid19.Dataviewer" target="_blank">per the Florida Department of Health</a>.

Tampa the "capital of American homeschooling," per new report

Hillsborough County topped a Washington Post analysis of rising homeschool enrollment.

Tampa is at the epicenter of a nationwide homeschooling surge, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/interactive/2023/homeschooling-growth-data-by-district/" data-vars-content-id="78532a58-2491-4f49-9d89-4dc7c79a9fcb" data-vars-headline="Tampa the &quot;capital of American homeschooling,&quot; per new report" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/interactive/2023/homeschooling-growth-data-by-district/" target="_blank">new report</a> in the Washington Post.Plus: Of the 10 school districts with the most homeschooled students, nine were in Florida, including Hillsborough County. The Post&#x27;s database covers more than 60% of the American school-age population.

Florida businesses face scam risk in pandemic tax credit program

Filing for the ERC is an exhaustive process, despite what some scammers say.

The Internal Revenue Service recently <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced" data-vars-click-url="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/to-protect-taxpayers-from-scams-irs-orders-immediate-stop-to-new-employee-retention-credit-processing-amid-surge-of-questionable-claims-concerns-from-tax-pros" data-vars-content-id="be03943c-22ea-4608-9670-5880f64f6d0b" data-vars-headline="Florida businesses face scam risk in pandemic tax credit program" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/to-protect-taxpayers-from-scams-irs-orders-immediate-stop-to-new-employee-retention-credit-processing-amid-surge-of-questionable-claims-concerns-from-tax-pros" target="_blank">announced</a> it would pump the brakes on the Employee Retention Credit which was designed to help businesses stay afloat during the pandemic.Why it matters: Experts hope it will ward off scammers who have used aggressive marketing tactics to make money off businesses that don&#x27;t meet the program&#x27;s narrow criteria.

Florida Republicans more likely to believe vaccine misinformation, less likely to get boosters

50% of Republicans said they believe that COVID-19 vaccines can make you sick.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="FDA approved" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/11/fda-approves-updated-covid-19-vaccines" data-vars-content-id="f6d1ec49-d175-40e4-aa86-cf7504292043" data-vars-headline="Florida Republicans more likely to believe vaccine misinformation, less likely to get boosters" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/11/fda-approves-updated-covid-19-vaccines" target="_self">FDA approved</a> a new round of COVID-19 vaccines this week. But a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recent survey" data-vars-click-url="https://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/departments/public-affairs/documents/news-items/spa-florida-public-health-policy-survey-results-2023.pdf" data-vars-content-id="f6d1ec49-d175-40e4-aa86-cf7504292043" data-vars-headline="Florida Republicans more likely to believe vaccine misinformation, less likely to get boosters" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/departments/public-affairs/documents/news-items/spa-florida-public-health-policy-survey-results-2023.pdf" target="_blank">recent survey</a> suggests Floridians&#x27; choice to get the booster shot will likely be divided along party lines.Why it matters: The survey, conducted by the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University, comes as infections across the state and the nation <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ticked up in recent weeks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/01/covid-cases-uptick-summer-2023-new-variant" data-vars-content-id="f6d1ec49-d175-40e4-aa86-cf7504292043" data-vars-headline="Florida Republicans more likely to believe vaccine misinformation, less likely to get boosters" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/01/covid-cases-uptick-summer-2023-new-variant" target="_self">ticked up in recent weeks</a>.

Florida's COVID hospitalization rates on the rise again

Many of us put COVID in our rearview mirrors, leaving us mentally and practically ill-prepared for another wave.

COVID-19 hospitalization rates across Florida rose 39% between June and July amid signs of a late summer wave sweeping the country, Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/covid-19-cases-2023-uptick-where-why" data-vars-content-id="14e02edc-6439-4164-ae85-b24f57cfe775" data-vars-headline="Florida&#x27;s COVID hospitalization rates on the rise again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/covid-19-cases-2023-uptick-where-why" target="_self">report</a>.Why it matters: Our guard is down. Many of us put COVID in our rearview mirrors, leaving us mentally and practically ill-prepared for another wave.

Tampa Bay lifeguard shortage stokes wave of concern

Beaches have been the most difficult to staff and finding year-round pool guards is tough, local aquatics directors told Axios.

The lifeguarding industry needs saving.Why it matters: This is the third year of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national lifeguard shortage" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/28/lifeguard-shortage-pool-hours-closings?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_portland&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="6b212e49-14f5-4b55-892b-75a1763c6c27" data-vars-headline="Tampa Bay lifeguard shortage stokes wave of concern" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/28/lifeguard-shortage-pool-hours-closings?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_portland&amp;stream=top" target="_self">national lifeguard shortage</a>. Experts tell Axios they worry that fewer guards will mean a higher chance of drownings and pool injuries.

What the end of the COVID public health emergency means for Florida

A number of health care changes that local providers and patients have grown used to during the pandemic will disappear.

Today marks the end of the federal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID public health emergency" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/31/covid-19-emergency-status-end-may-biden" data-vars-content-id="0becf532-09bf-49f6-97ef-1d0927b5b1e5" data-vars-headline="What the end of the COVID public health emergency means for Florida" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/31/covid-19-emergency-status-end-may-biden" target="_self">COVID public health emergency</a>.Why it matters: Although most emergency <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="orders across Florida have already expired" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/05/03/desantis-florida-covid-restrictions" data-vars-content-id="0becf532-09bf-49f6-97ef-1d0927b5b1e5" data-vars-headline="What the end of the COVID public health emergency means for Florida" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/05/03/desantis-florida-covid-restrictions" target="_self">orders across Florida have already expired</a>, a number of health care changes that both local providers and patients have grown used to during the pandemic will disappear, Axios Vitals&#x27; Tina Reed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-vitals-c84d5d8c-b862-4ba4-bc89-fe349b2b40da.html" data-vars-content-id="0becf532-09bf-49f6-97ef-1d0927b5b1e5" data-vars-headline="What the end of the COVID public health emergency means for Florida" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-vitals-c84d5d8c-b862-4ba4-bc89-fe349b2b40da.html" target="_self">reports</a>.

Tampa's downtown is still struggling to recover from pandemic

Downtown activity has returned to — or even exceeded — pre-pandemic rates in a handful of U.S. cities, but many, like Tampa, are not attracting the foot traffic they once did.

Business

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Downtown activity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/04/downtown-recovery" data-vars-content-id="0569f52d-c22f-4516-ad0d-547c45347921" data-vars-headline="Tampa&#x27;s downtown is still struggling to recover from pandemic" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/04/downtown-recovery" target="_self">Downtown activity</a> in Tampa is still below pre-pandemic rates, according to anonymized mobile device connectivity data <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analyzed" data-vars-click-url="http://downtownrecovery.com/dashboards/recovery_ranking.html" data-vars-content-id="0569f52d-c22f-4516-ad0d-547c45347921" data-vars-headline="Tampa&#x27;s downtown is still struggling to recover from pandemic" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://downtownrecovery.com/dashboards/recovery_ranking.html" target="_blank">analyzed</a> by researchers at the University of Toronto&#x27;s School of Cities.Why it matters: Even as Florida stayed notoriously open during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, downtowns became ghost towns while people sought to &quot;flatten the curve&quot; by staying home as much as possible.

Tampa Bay among big metros with the lowest unemployment levels

Florida had three of the nation's lowest rates of unemployment in February for large metro areas.

Tampa Bay has one of the lowest unemployment rates among large U.S. cities, per a new analysis of Labor Department data.Why it matters: It signals improvement in the region&#x27;s recovery from the pandemic, which led to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="loss of 1.28 million jobs" data-vars-click-url="https://news.wgcu.org/2022-09-17/floridas-jobless-rate-is-below-the-national-average-and-at-a-level-before-the-covid-19-pandemic" data-vars-content-id="7a7be53c-b949-40e2-8bcb-76b44ba8a1db" data-vars-headline="Tampa Bay among big metros with the lowest unemployment levels" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.wgcu.org/2022-09-17/floridas-jobless-rate-is-below-the-national-average-and-at-a-level-before-the-covid-19-pandemic" target="_blank">loss of 1.28 million jobs</a> across Florida between February and April 2020.

COVID 🦠

Scott breaks with DeSantis on Florida's vaccine rollback

5 ways the COVID-19 pandemic changed Florida

Tampa the "capital of American homeschooling," per new report

Florida businesses face scam risk in pandemic tax credit program

Florida Republicans more likely to believe vaccine misinformation, less likely to get boosters