Florida AG Submits Amendment 3 Rewrite With $12 Billion Tax Impact for Judicial Review
Updated
Updated · Florida Phoenix · Aug 14
Florida AG Submits Amendment 3 Rewrite With $12 Billion Tax Impact for Judicial Review
3 articles · Updated · Florida Phoenix · Aug 14
Summary
James Uthmeier sent Leon County Judge David Frank a rewritten title and ballot summary for Amendment 3 after the court struck the original “Save our Homes” wording as an illegal political slogan.
The new language says the measure would raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, then index it to inflation, while cutting the non-homestead assessment cap to 5% from 10%.
It also spells out that the Legislature would set a uniform process to expand the homestead exemption up to full assessed value and that local property-tax revenue could be used only for specified functions including public safety, schools and infrastructure.
The rewrite arrived before Aug. 18 primaries and ahead of general-election ballot preparation; plaintiff Jeff Brandes called the text honest, while the “Vote No on 3” campaign said it confirms the amendment shifts taxes onto renters, businesses and other owners.
If voters approve the measure, Florida could face up to $12 billion in annual revenue losses starting in 2031, making it one of the state’s biggest property-tax changes in decades.