Republicans lost their two-thirds majority in the Florida House. Here's what 70 seats can and can't do, who runs the new Legislature, and the dates when the Amendment 3 fight gets decided.
By Joseph J. Jackson | TALLAHASSEE (Nov. 12, 2026)
Part 1 of 8. County editions follow for Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Manatee and Sarasota.
The short version
Republicans keep control of the Florida House and Senate, but they won't have two-thirds of the House when the new Legislature meets. After the last recount, the House is 70 Republicans, 50 Democrats. [1][2]
That means House Republicans can't put a constitutional amendment on the ballot alone (it takes 72 votes) and can't override a veto or waive House rules alone (80 votes). They can still pass any bill and the budget. [3]
Amendment 3 passed with about 62% and takes effect Jan. 1. The details get written in a special session before early January, then the 2027 session in March, then local budget hearings next August and September. [4][5][6]
Florida Democrats broke the Republican supermajority in the state House on Nov. 3. Republicans still run both chambers and every statewide office, so the change is not about who passes bills. It is about what Republicans can no longer do by themselves, starting with putting new amendments, including more property-tax cuts, in front of voters.
Here is what changed, what the numbers allow, and the dates when Floridians can still change what happens next.
What changed in the House and Senate?
The House. Democrats flipped 17 Republican-held House seats, according to the News Service of Florida, and lost one, House District 87 in Palm Beach County, which includes Mar-a-Lago. [2][7]
The last seat was settled Tuesday. A machine recount in Brevard County's House District 33 confirmed Democrat Dan McDow's win over Republican Rep. Monique Miller by 286 votes. McDow is the first Democrat elected to represent Brevard in the Legislature in more than 30 years, Florida Today reported. "I'm number 50," he said. [1][8]
Democrats had not held 49 House seats since 1996, according to MultiState. McDow makes it 50. [9]
The Senate. Maitland Mayor John Lowndes, a Democrat, unseated Sen. Jason Brodeur in District 10. The Senate's official roster for 2026-28 lists 25 Republicans, 13 Democrats, one senator with no party (Jason Pizzo of Miami) and one vacancy, District 39 in Miami-Dade, left open when Bryan Avila resigned to become Gov.-elect Byron Donalds' running mate. No special election has been called. [10][11]
What can 70 Republicans do, and what can't they?
Pass a bill or the budget (a majority: 61 House votes, 21 Senate): Yes, in both chambers.
Put a constitutional amendment on the ballot (three-fifths: 72 House, 24 Senate): No in the House, where they have 70. Yes in the Senate, where they have 25.
Override a veto or waive chamber rules (two-thirds: 80 House, 27 Senate): No in either chamber.
Vote thresholds: Florida Constitution, Art. III and Art. XI. [3]
Three things follow from that list.
1. Democrats can't stop the Amendment 3 implementing law. Ordinary bills and the budget need a simple majority. Republicans have it in both chambers.
2. Any new constitutional amendment from the Legislature needs Democratic House votes. Gov. DeSantis has called Amendment 3 "the beginning" of property tax elimination. Putting full elimination of homestead taxes on the 2028 ballot through the Legislature would take 72 House votes. Republicans have 70. [3][12]
3. Rushing bills gets harder. Incoming House Democratic Leader Christine Hunschofsky said the supermajority loss means Republicans can no longer act alone to override a governor's veto or bypass legislative rules, both of which require two-thirds. [7]
The Senate is two votes from two-thirds. Republicans hold 25. A Republican win in the District 39 special election makes 26, and Pizzo would be the 27th vote. Both are worth watching. [10][11]
The back door. The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission meets in 2027 and can place amendments directly on the 2028 ballot with no legislative vote. Its members are appointed by the governor and legislative leaders. That is where the next property-tax amendment could come from. [6][13]
Who runs the new Legislature?
Governor (sworn in early January): Byron Donalds (R)
House Speaker-designate: Rep. Sam Garrison (R-Fleming Island), HD-11
Senate President-designate: Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), SD-20
Senate President pro tempore-designate: Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-Miami), SD-40
Senate Majority Leader-designate: Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach), SD-18
Senate Appropriations chair-designate: Sen. Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City), SD-2
House Democratic Leader-designate: Rep. Christine Hunschofsky (D-Parkland), HD-95
Senate Democratic Leader-designate: Sen. Tracie Davis (D-Jacksonville), SD-5
Sources: [7][14][15]. Garrison had not named his leadership team or committee chairs as of Nov. 5.
Tampa Bay sits close to the center of it. Boyd represents Manatee and part of Hillsborough. DiCeglie represents Pinellas. FMNN's county editions list every lawmaker in the seven-county region.
When does each fight happen?
Nov. 17: the organization session. New members are sworn in and leaders are formally elected. [2]
Before early January: the special session. DeSantis said he will call it before his term ends. He wants a "taxpayer bill of rights" that keeps local governments from replacing lost property taxes with fees, and a "pool of funding" for grants to local governments, especially small rural counties. No date has been set. [4][5]
Jan. 1, 2027: Amendment 3 takes effect.
March 2027: the regular session. The first budget under Donalds and the first test of the 70-seat House.
2027: the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. Watch the appointments.
August-September 2027: TRIM notices and budget hearings. Your city and county set tax rates and decide what to cut, raise or charge for.
The special session and the budget hearings are where public pressure can still change the outcome.
What does Amendment 3 do, and what will it cost?
Amendment 3 passed with 4,922,400 votes to 3,019,415, or 62%, in the state's first set of unofficial returns. It cleared the 60% bar in every Tampa Bay county except Hillsborough and Pinellas, which voted yes but by less than 60%. [16]
It raises the homestead exemption from non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, then adjusts for inflation. School taxes are not affected. [17]
Florida TaxWatch, using state Revenue Estimating Conference data, estimates local governments lose $4.93 billion in the first year and $11.83 billion a year by fiscal 2031-32, $45.8 billion over five years. [18]
The Florida League of Cities found that in 176 of Florida's cities, spending on police, fire and EMS already exceeds all the property tax the city collects. [19]
Tampa Bay, county by county (Amendment 3 yes vote; estimated five-year local revenue loss): [16][18]
Hernando: 69.4%; $315 million
Pasco: 67.1%; $1.43 billion
Manatee: 65.0%; $826 million
Sarasota: 62.6%; $807 million
Polk: 62.5%; $1.33 billion
Hillsborough: 59.6%; $3.43 billion
Pinellas: 56.8%; $2.31 billion
Tampa Bay's seven counties account for more than $10.4 billion of the five-year total. (FMNN sum of TaxWatch county figures.)
What happens to a city or county that runs short?
Florida law already has an answer, and it is oversight, not a bailout. Under Section 218.503, Florida Statutes, a local government that misses debt payments, payroll or pension contributions, or runs an unresolved deficit can be placed under state financial-emergency oversight. The governor or a designee can review its budget and require a recovery plan. [20]
Donalds has said he supports DeSantis's DOGE-style audits of local governments and plans to go further, with more audits and removing local officials when he sees fit, WLRN reported. Critics warn that cities and counties will have to turn to Tallahassee to replace lost money, and that state help will come with strings. [21]
What to watch in the special session: whether fee and assessment bans leave cities any way to raise money; how big the grant pool is and who qualifies; and whether any bill widens the financial-emergency triggers or ties grants to state control.
What do supporters say?
Supporters say homeowners needed relief after property values, and tax collections, soared. Local governments took in about $59.1 billion in property taxes in 2025, nearly 75% more than in 2019. DeSantis called the amendment "a breath of fresh air" for homeowners and says local governments can find savings. Donalds campaigned for it. [4][22]
What can you do now?
Find your lawmakers. Use the district finder at flsenate.gov or your Supervisor of Elections. FMNN's county editions list them.
Call before the special session. Ask three questions: Will the bill ban local fees? How much is in the grant pool, and does my county qualify? Will it widen state control over cities that run short?
Track the bills. The Senate's free bill tracker at flsenate.gov follows House and Senate bills and sends email alerts.
Mark August 2027. Your TRIM notice shows what your city and county plan to charge. The September hearings are where you can speak.
More: Can Florida Stop Amendment 3? The Real Options, and the Odds · Amendment 3: Tax Cut, No Replacement Plan
FMNN will update this story when results are certified Nov. 17 and when the special session is called. Send tips to tips@floridamannewsnetwork.com.
Sources
Central Florida Public Media, "After recount, Brevard County sends Democrat No. 50 to the Florida House" (Nov. 10, 2026) — https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-11-10/after-recount-brevard-county-sends-democrat-no-50-to-the-florida-house
Central Florida Public Media, "Recounts called for Brevard State House seat, Miami congressional race" (Nov. 9, 2026) — https://www.cfpublic.org/2026-11-09/recounts-called-for-brevard-state-house-seat-miami-congressional-race
Florida Constitution, Art. III and Art. XI, Sec. 1 — http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?submenu=3
CBS News Miami / News Service of Florida, "DeSantis says he will call special session before his term ends to carry out Amendment 3" (Nov. 4, 2026) — https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/desantis-special-session-amendment-3-property-tax-implement-before-january/
Bay News 9, "Florida lawmakers to decide how Amendment 3 property tax relief will work" (Nov. 5, 2026) — https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/politics/2026/11/05/florida-lawmakers-to-decide-how-amendment--property-tax-relief-will-work
FMNN, "Can Florida Stop Amendment 3? The Real Options, and the Odds" — https://www.floridamannewsnetwork.com/news/can-florida-stop-amendment-3
WLRN, "Florida Republicans lose supermajority in state House" (Nov. 3, 2026) — https://www.wlrn.org/government-politics/2026-11-03/florida-republicans-loses-supermajority-in-state-house-hold-slight-edge-of-state-senate
Florida Today via Yahoo News, "Dan McDow wins Florida House seat representing Palm Bay after recount" (Nov. 10, 2026) — https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/dan-mcdow-wins-florida-house-210141395.html
MultiState, Florida 2026 election results — https://www.multistate.us/elections/results/florida-2026
The Florida Senate, Senators 2026-2028 — https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/
WUSF, "Florida Republicans lose state House supermajority but still hold it slightly in Senate" (Nov. 4, 2026) — https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2026-11-04/florida-republicans-lose-state-house-supermajority-still-hold-slight-senate-edge
The Florida Press, "DeSantis Calls Special Session to Carry Out Amendment 3" — https://www.thefloridapress.com/news/amendment-3-on-floridas-ballot-what-the-property-tax-overhaul-would-do-and-which
Florida TaxWatch, analysis of the property tax amendment — https://floridataxwatch.org/florida-taxwatch-provides-analysis-of-the-governors-property-tax-amendment-and-legislation-recommends-florida-taxation-and-budget-reform-commission-lead-debate/
WLRN / Florida Phoenix, "Senate President-Designate Jim Boyd releases the details of his inner circle" (Nov. 5, 2026) — https://www.wlrn.org/government-politics/2026-11-05/senate-president-designate-jim-boyd-releases-the-details-of-his-inner-circle
Florida Democratic Party, "Florida Democrats shatter Republican supermajority in the House" (Nov. 4, 2026) — https://floridadems.org/2026/11/florida-democrats-shatter-republican-supermajority-in-the-house-flip-senate-seat-in-major-legislative-gains/
Florida Division of Elections, Election Watch, Amendment 3 results by county — https://floridaelectionwatch.gov/ContestResultsByCounty/900003
NBC Miami, "These are the Florida amendments on the November 2026 ballot" — https://www.nbcmiami.com/elections/these-are-the-florida-amendments-on-the-november-2026-ballot/3877785/
WKMG / ClickOrlando, Florida TaxWatch county estimates (Nov. 3, 2026) — https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/11/03/report-these-places-may-lose-the-most-under-floridas-new-property-tax-plan-clone/
NBC Miami / PolitiFact, Amendment 3 and police, fire and EMS money — https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/politics/politifact/florida-amendment-3-property-taxes-cuts-public-services/3872923/
Section 218.503, Florida Statutes — http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0218/Sections/0218.503.html
WLRN, "3 major issues that Republican Byron Donalds or Democrat David Jolly will need to address as Florida's next governor" (Oct. 30, 2026) — https://www.wlrn.org/government-politics/2026-10-30/3-major-issues-that-republican-byron-donalds-or-democrat-david-jolly-will-need-to-address-as-floridas-next-governor
NBC Miami, "FL's Amendment 3: Will it lead to higher sales taxes, rent?" — https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/fls-amendment-3-will-it-lead-to-higher-sales-taxes-rent-could-local-governments-absorb-the-loss/3885681/