Proposed state law could cost Coral Springs millions, city commissioners warn
Though the first Coral Springs City Commission meeting of 2026 was largely uneventful, city officials discussed high-impact issues being considered by Florida’s state legislators.
Commissioners voted unanimously on Wednesday, Jan. 7, to oppose one bill that could cause the city to lose tens of millions of property tax income and another that would increase how much money the governing body could be sued for.
Here’s what to know.
Should Homestead Exemption apply to higher-value housing?
Commissioners also voted to oppose a joint resolution making its way through the Florida House. HJR 209 would give homeowners an extra $200,000 exemption on the assessed value of their home for non‑school property taxes. This is in addition to the existing standard Homestead Exemption.
City Attorney John “JJ” Hearn and Commissioner Joshua Simmons said that, if the bill became law, the city would lose approximately $26 million in property tax revenue.
“Hard decisions would have to be made in order to continue to provide the quality of service and the levels of service that our residents are used to, or what brings people to Coral Springs,” Simmons said.
“I think for this particular situation, the issue is trying to make sure we protect what it is that makes Coral Springs, Coral Springs. And help show the value of cities,” he continued. “Our state leaders may not truly understand what it is that cities do.”
Some state legislators have spoken more positively about the bill, including Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, who told WPLG that it could help those struggling to pay rising property insurance costs.
But, local leaders are apprehensive.
Mayor Scott Brook expressed a desire to speak with the bill’s main sponsor, Rep. Demi Busatta, about why she backed the legislation, and how it might impact her constituents in Coral Gables and other parts of Miami-Dade County.
“I’m not coming from an angry perspective. I think there’s, you know, there’s some lack of education that I want to help bridge the gap if I can,” Brook said.
Should there be limits on open-carry firearms?
During last year’s session, the state legislature passed a bill that allowed firearms to be openly carried in a wide range of public places at almost any time, including at local government meetings.
“This is really kind of a glitch bill. Many of the elected officials up in Tallahassee recognized that was not the intention,” Hearn told the Commission.
Hearn presented a motion to support two new bills, sponsored by Hunschofsky and Sen. Tina Polsky. If passed, both would place limitations on guns and other weapons in most educational and governmental spaces.
The move carried unanimously without discussion.
How much should city have to pay after a lawsuit?
Commissioners voted unanmiously to oppose HB 145, which would raise the payout limits on lawsuits against the local government and loosen other limitations around sovereign immunity — the power that allows governments to do things that private companies can’t.
Sovereign immunity allows governments to have things such as police and fire departments, as well as free play at its parks by limiting what residents can sue the government for, and how much money can be paid out.
“We do take risks — any municipality does, and to increase it by these amounts, I think would be completely inappropriate, irresponsible and potentially very costly to our city,” Brook said.
Commissioners plan to speak with state legislators during the upcoming session, which begins Tuesday, Jan. 13, to advocate for issues impacting Coral Springs.
