ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has submitted rewritten ballot language for a proposed constitutional amendment that could significantly change property taxes across the state.
The revision follows an Aug. 3 ruling from Leon County Circuit Judge David Frank, who found the original title and summary for Amendment 3 biased, misleading and inaccurate.
The new proposed title is “Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homestead Property Assessments.”
It replaces the original title, “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,” which the judge said read more like a political slogan than a neutral description of the measure.
What Amendment 3 would change
Under the revised summary, the proposed amendment would increase Florida’s homestead exemption for taxes other than school district levies.
The exemption would increase to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It would then be adjusted annually for inflation beginning in 2029.
People who are not Florida residents as of Dec. 31, 2026, would receive the existing homestead exemption after qualifying. They would become eligible for the increased exemption beginning with their fifth year of receiving a homestead exemption, to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution.
The proposal would also reduce the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. That category includes rental properties, vacation homes and commercial properties.
Counties and municipalities would be required to use property-tax revenue for designated purposes, including:
- Public safety, including law enforcement, fire services and emergency medical services
- Education and public schools
- Infrastructure
- Natural-resource projects
- Bond obligations
- Employee retirement benefits
- Government operations and administration
The proposal would also require lawmakers to establish a process allowing counties and municipalities to increase the homestead exemption beyond the constitutional minimum, potentially up to a property’s full assessed value.
Special districts could take similar action with voter approval.
Attorney general raises concerns about the process
Uthmeier said state law limited his office to rewriting the proposed title and summary, not the full amendment approved by lawmakers.
“Under Florida law, we don’t have the ability to rewrite the full amendment, just the ballot summary and title consistent with the court’s ruling,” Uthmeier said in a statement provided to Channel 9.
Uthmeier also criticized how the proposal was developed, saying law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders should have been more involved.
“The amendment could certainly have been rolled out with greater transparency and the meaningful involvement of key stakeholders, including our law enforcement agencies,” Uthmeier said. “No one wants to defund our incredible sheriffs, yet there were no discussions to involve them in this process.”
The amendment’s language specifically permits counties and municipalities to spend property-tax revenue on public safety. However, increasing the exemption would reduce the assessed property value available for many local governments to tax, raising concerns about how they would continue funding services.
“If it does not pass, I look forward to working with the legislature and our law enforcement leaders on comprehensive tax relief that protects public safety,” Uthmeier said.
What happens next
The rewritten title and summary remain subject to review following the court’s ruling.
The amendment itself remains scheduled for Florida’s November 2026 general-election ballot. It would need approval from at least 60% of voters to become part of the Florida Constitution.
If approved, the amendment would take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Voters can review the amendment and its status through the Florida Division of Elections. Additional legislative information is available through the Florida Senate.
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