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In an unusual move, the Senate had already scheduled the proposal for floor discussion Friday before the measure had made it through the Rules Committee. But during a Rules Committee meeting Friday morning, the proposed constitutional amendment was approved in a 9-2 vote and the accompanying bill was approved 7-1. Democrats joined the majority in support in both votes.

Even if approved by the Senate, the proposal will return to the House because of the way it would be structured.

Currently, homeowners receive a tax exemption on the first $25,000 in value of their properties. They pay taxes on the value between $25,000 and $50,000 and then receive an exemption on the portion from $50,000 to $75,000.

The House plan approved Wednesday would expand the exemption to cover the portion of home values between $75,000 and $100,000. The Senate, however, would apply the exemption to the portion of values between $100,000 and $125,000.

The Senate version would reduce the revenue hit to local governments. But local officials continued their objections Friday.

"If you put it on the ballot, it will pass because people vote for what they want, and of course everybody always wants a tax cut of some kind," said Edward Labrador, a lobbyist for Broward County. "But those things have impacts and we can't ignore that, and this will have a significant impact for the people of Broward County."

Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson said the proposal subverts "home rule" and transfers more of the tax burden to businesses and other non-homestead properties.

"Nobody wants to pay for taxes, but at the end of the day if we want to provide services, people are still demanding those services," Robinson told members of the Rules Committee. "I get it. I understand that this is a good political bill, but it is not good government."

The House version of the tax break has been estimated at saving average homeowners about $170 a year. For local governments, the revenue reduction could collectively top $750 million in the first year and grow to almost $850 million a year within five years.

Lee's amended version would cost local governments about $150 million a year less than the House proposal.

Lee said the proposal is intended to help people maintain home ownership and most local governments have tax rate "head room" to handle the potential impact.

"It is a joint resolution that would be adopted by the voters, so if home rule is to be subverted, it'll be subverted by the people who elected all these folks who believe we are subverting home rule," Lee said.