Forrest Saunders

FL Capitol Reporter for E.W. Scripps. Retweets are not endorsements. [email protected]: WFTS / WPTV / WTXL / WSFL "Always a Hawkeye"

[Gary Fineout @fineout]

Nominated by President Trump as ambassador to Brazil: "Daniel Perez of Florida." https://t.co/n45LgrrrBe

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

Gov. candidate @ByronDonalds says he’ll keep pushing for prop tax relief if the current special-session effort stalls or fails with voters — potentially using 2027 Taxation and Budget Reform Commission to revisit a full homestead repeal or targeted relief for seniors/working families.

A few minutes of our recent chat, here:

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

As House gavels in for property tax special session— their measures have appeared. @TobyOverdorf is carrying. He was chair of the property tax committee during session.

[Alex Lanfranconi @AlexLanfran]

Florida has launched a property tax savings calculator!

See how much you would save under the Governor’s proposal here:

https://t.co/RuAV4vUuSU

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

Counties argue the plan would create structural deficits, especially in large urban, fast-growing suburban and fiscally constrained counties, forcing service cuts, cost shifts or new revenue sources.

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

The @flcounties are warning DeSantis-backed property tax proposals could blow a major hole in local budgets.

The FAC analysis estimates county revenue losses of $3.57B in FY 2027-28 and $6.32B in FY 2028-29.

Officials handing this out to lawmakers:

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

Most comes from expanding the homestead exemption — $2.70B year one, $4.56B year two — with another $862M/$1.77B tied to reducing the non-homestead assessment cap from 10% to 5%.

Largest projected year-two county impacts include:
Miami-Dade: $610.9M
Palm Beach: $523.4M
Broward: $478.5M
Hillsborough: $461.9M
Orange: $258.5M

[Miami Herald @MiamiHerald]

Frederica Wilson is leaving Congress. She explains why in an exclusive interview https://t.co/Ac8gwHcyuu

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

Florida has a new candidate for governor. @desmondmeade has filed as an NPA. Tells me: "This is an exciting next step towards placing the needs of Floridians above partisan politics and amplifying the voices of everyday People."

[Jeff Brandes @JeffreyBrandes]

🧵Ten questions Florida should answer before detonating the property tax system:

1. If this is real tax reform, what replaces it?

Florida built local government around property taxes because Florida has no state income tax.

You can dislike the system, but you cannot remove the load-bearing wall without explaining what keeps the roof from collapsing afterward.

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

The bill also directs the Department of Revenue to build a public calculator showing estimated 2025 homestead tax savings under the proposed amendment, and appropriates $5.5M to reimburse counties for printing and mailing the required notice.

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

Inbox: Here's the official proclamation for next week's property tax special session, from @GovRonDeSantis:

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

A companion bill would require property appraisers to mail voters a separate notice about the proposed 2026 property tax constitutional amendment, including the ballot title, summary, effective date and a QR code linking to a state website.

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

Set to start on Monday of next week. @GovRonDeSantis says the: "The primary purpose of that is to make your homestead property tax free."

[Gary Fineout @fineout]

And here we go ... DeSantis is announcing a property tax special session

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

In a statement -- voting rights groups behind the challenge say they will appeal:

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

A Leon County judge has denied a request to block Florida’s new congressional map for the 2026 elections, finding challengers did not show enough evidence the map was drawn with improper partisan intent. The case can still proceed to trial.

[Forrest Saunders @FBSaunders]

Judge Joshua Hawkes says Florida’s election machinery is already underway and the public interest weighs against changing congressional maps less than three months before the primary. He denied a preliminary injunction, but said a final injunction could still be entered after trial.

https://t.co/VqmKIUZBaX

[Marc Caputo @MarcACaputo]

This is so true about @j_fishback.

I've never seen a more talented troll run for office in FL. Dude knows how to create heat. He's made something outta nothing

He's not going to win due to his lack of big $ in a TV state w/an older TV-watching electorate

But he entertains