Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, August 4, 2026 —

TALLAHASSEE, FL – A Florida circuit court judge has ruled that the proposed ballot language for Amendment 3, a measure concerning property taxes, is misleading and violates state law. The ruling, issued by a circuit court judge, mandates that Attorney General James Uthmeier must rewrite the title and summary for the amendment.

The judge found that phrases used in the current language, such as “Save our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes,” function more as political slogans than as neutral and objective descriptions of the amendment’s intent. This decision stems from lawsuits filed by former state officials who contended that the existing language was designed to unfairly sway voter opinion.

Amendment 3, if it were to appear on the ballot in its current proposed form and subsequently pass, could lead to substantial changes in Florida’s property tax structure. Projections indicate a potential annual financial impact reaching up to $12 billion by the year 2031.

Critics of the amendment have voiced concerns that its provisions could disproportionately benefit wealthier homeowners. They argue that the measure might result in a shift of the tax burden onto other groups of taxpayers. Furthermore, there are concerns that such a shift could necessitate reductions in essential public services.

The court’s order for Attorney General Uthmeier to redraft the ballot language signifies a critical step in ensuring that voters are presented with clear and unbiased information regarding proposed constitutional amendments. The specifics of the rewritten language will be subject to further review.


Story summarized from the original created by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix on www.cltampa.com, see more information here.

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