Voters in These States Could Give Seniors a Property Tax Break This Fall

Buying a home is often touted as a strategy to help build real wealth, but climbing property tax bills are taking a toll on older homeowners. Thanks to rising assessments, retirees who already own their homes outright are still seeing steep bills. According to an analysis by real estate data firm ATTOM, the average homeowner paid $4,427 in property taxes in 2025, which is a 3.7% increase from 2024. Those average property taxes increased faster than inflation over the same time period.

For some, relief might be in sight; several November ballot measures could help cut property tax bills for older homeowners in three states.

Why property taxes keep increasing

The Tax Foundation reports that property taxes make up 70 cents of every dollar of local tax collections, and local governments usually use the revenue from property taxes to cover public service expenses, such as road construction and public school costs.

Property taxes may be increased as a home's assessed value increases, but other factors cause the taxes to increase, too. The local government's funding needs may prompt a rise in property taxes, especially as a government works to keep up with the rising costs of paying for schools and public services.

Unfortunately, that may create a real financial strain, especially for retirees who are living on a fixed budget.

States where property taxes fell

The ATOM analysis reveals that although property taxes increased in 40 states and the District of Columbia from 2024 to 2025, they actually fell in 10 states. Those states were mostly located in the West, where some states are actively working to reduce property taxes through efforts like rate cuts or other policy changes.

For example, Wyoming implemented a 25% property tax cut for properties valued up to $1 million. A new law gave approximately 8 in 10 Montana homeowners a tax cut.

Three states are attempting to implement policy changes in November to offer relief to seniors, specifically.

Louisiana's proposed senior exemption

In Louisiana, House Bill 514 proposes a constitutional amendment that could expand property relief for older homeowners. If passed, the act would let parishes and municipalities give qualifying homeowners age 65 and older an additional property tax exemption. To qualify, homeowners would have to own and occupy a homestead, plus they must qualify for Louisiana's current special assessment level program. The program helps protect qualifying seniors from assessed home value increases.

Rather than eliminating property taxes for older adults, the proposal would give local governments a chance to offer the additional property tax exemption. If a government chooses to offer the exemption, qualifying seniors might receive an extra deduction to their taxable home value, which might help lower their property taxes.

Oklahoma's proposal to tighten valuation caps and implement senior protection tiers

In Oklahoma, State Question 847 proposes an amendment to slow property valuation growth and revise tax protections for older adults. If implemented, it would reduce the annual cap on homestead property valuation growth from 3% to 1.75%, helping limit assessed value increases, which may, in turn, limit property tax increases.

It would also implement several changes to support senior homeowners by modifying the state's current Senior Valuation Limitation program for homeowners age 65 and older. The amendment would ensure that taxable property value would be frozen for retirees with low-to-moderate incomes. Seniors earning more than the median income currently have no valuation protection, but the proposed amendment would cap valuation increases between 0.35% and 1.75%, based on the household income.

The sliding scale may help ensure that seniors don't suddenly face value spikes that might dramatically increase their property taxes.

Florida's amendment expanding the homestead expansion

Florida's Amendment 3 proposes raising the state's homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027. In 2028, the exemption would be raised to $250,000. Under the higher exemption, larger portions of qualifying homeowners' home values might be excluded from taxes, leading to lower property taxes.

While the amendment isn't specifically designed for seniors, the state's large retiree population means the changes could significantly benefit seniors. Retirees who live in Florida face significant increasing costs, including climbing insurance, housing, and living expenses, and the increased exemption might help them save money.

The proposed amendment is facing legal challenges regarding the ballot language. After a Leon County Circuit Court judge found that the wording for the amendment is misleading on August 5, the Florida Attorney General's Office must rewrite the ballot title and summary by August 14.

Steps homeowners may take now to navigate higher property taxes

All three states would need to vote those proposed changes into law, so none of the changes are a sure thing at this point. In the meantime, regardless of your state of residence, you may take some steps to navigate and hopefully reduce your property taxes.

Contact your state, county, and local government offices and ask about whether any property tax exemptions, freezes, or deferral programs are available. If you meet the program's eligibility requirements, you may be able to reduce or freeze your property tax rate.

Compare your property assessment with the values of other, similar properties in the area. If your property's assessment is unusually high, you may be able to appeal the assessment. If your assessment is found to have been incorrect, a new, lower assessment may reduce your taxes. Contact your town's board of assessors to learn more.

Bottom line

Climbing property taxes may be difficult for any homeowner to keep up with, but they pose a particular challenge for seniors on a fixed income. The three states' proposed changes might offer seniors some relief, and if passed, it's possible that other states might follow suit with their own changes.

If you're struggling to keep up with increasing property taxes, you may need to revisit your budget and look for ways to cut costs and save money. Alternatively, a side hustle or part-time job might help pay for your bills and offer some financial relief.

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