TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida judge ruled Tuesday that the wording of a proposed property tax constitutional amendment slated for the November ballot is misleading to voters.
The court directed the Florida attorney general to revise the ballot title and summary before the measure can be presented to the public.
The challenge was brought by Save Our Voters From Misleading Ballot Language, a group that sued the state over the amendment approved by the Florida Legislature earlier this year.
The proposal, labeled “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,” would increase Florida’s homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027, then raise it again to $250,000 starting in 2028.
The measure would also lower the annual cap on tax assessment increases for non-homesteaded properties to 5% and place new restrictions on how local governments may spend certain tax revenue.
The full ballot language can be read HERE.
In the ruling, Judge David Frank emphasized that he was not removing the property tax amendment from the ballot and was not weighing whether the proposal itself was good policy. Instead, he said the court’s role was limited to deciding whether the ballot title and summary meet Florida’s long-established legal requirements for fairness and accuracy before voters see them.
According to Frank, the current wording “fail[s] both prerequisites” and therefore must be rewritten.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
