A Tallahassee judge found the original wording misleading, prompting Florida's attorney general to overhaul the title and summary of a proposed amendment that could raise homestead exemptions starting in 2027.
Source: Original report
Judge Orders Rewrite of Ballot Language
Florida's attorney general has revised the ballot language for a proposed constitutional amendment on property taxes, acting under a court order after a Tallahassee judge determined the original wording was misleading. Leon County Judge David Frank ruled earlier this month that portions of the Legislature-passed proposal read more like campaign sloganeering than a neutral legal summary — a standard required under Florida law.
The original title, "Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes," has been replaced with the more technical "Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homesteaded Property Assessments." Attorney General James Uthmeier shared the revised text with Florida media outlets.
What the Amendment Would Do
If at least 60% of Florida voters approve the measure in November, the amendment would:
- Raise the homestead exemption to $150,000 for most Florida property owners beginning in 2027
- Further increase that exemption to $250,000 in 2028
- Index future exemption levels to inflation
- Require the Legislature to establish a process allowing local governments to raise homestead exemptions up to a property's full assessed value
- Allow special taxing districts to do the same through local referendum
Key Controversies Addressed in the Rewrite
One of the more contentious provisions involves new Florida residents. Under the amended measure, homeowners who were not Florida residents by December 31, 2025, would have to wait five years before qualifying for the higher homestead exemption. The revised language adds a legal qualifier, stating the five-year waiting period would apply "to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution" — a nod to concerns raised by former State Senator Jeff Brandes, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, who has argued the provision may not survive constitutional scrutiny.
The revised text also drops a claim from the original that the amendment would lead to the complete elimination of property taxes. Judge Frank had noted that the actual amendment language contained no such guarantee, and the attorney general's office removed that assertion accordingly.
Political Context
The property tax proposal was initially developed by the office of Governor Ron DeSantis, though the Legislature subsequently modified the language to shield school property taxes. DeSantis has since stepped back from actively promoting the amendment but has said he intends to vote in favor of it.
Plaintiffs who challenged the original ballot language — including former lawmakers — did not seek to remove the amendment from the November ballot, only to have the summary rewritten. They now have a 10-day window to object to the attorney general's revised language if they find it inadequate.
What This Means for Florida Homeowners
For Florida homeowners and real estate professionals, the amendment represents a potentially significant shift in how residential properties are taxed. A higher homestead exemption would reduce the taxable value of primary residences, which could lower annual tax bills for owner-occupants — though the degree of savings would depend on local millage rates and any legislative actions required to implement the measure.
