3 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON 2026 BALLOT

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8/25/2026

WHO WE ARE

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PRESENTATION TITLE

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8/25/2026

LOWER PROPERTY TAXES SOUNDS GOOD, RIGHT?�WRONG!�

• Amendment 1 Puts Significantly More Current Funds Into the Rainy Day Fund, reducing amount available for current State needs

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• Amendments 2 and 3 Significantly Cut Property Taxes and Therefore Reduce Funds Available for Local Community Needs
• 2026 Local Governments will lose $5 BILLION in 2027; $12B 2031-32

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• Amendment 2 Gives Tax Break to Big Agribusinesses

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• Amendment 3 is a Tax Break for the Wealthy

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• Amendment 3 Severely Restricts What Local Government Can Fund with Remaining Property Tax Revenue

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• Amendment 3 is likely to Cause New or Higher Fees to Support Local City/County services, e.g., fee for garbage pickup, higher bus rates…

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2026: 3 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

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8/25/2026

POST CUT WHAT’S FUNDED

Public safety — law enforcement, fire service, and emergency medical service��Education and public schools — funding for local school operations and facilities��Infrastructure — construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, storm‑water systems��Natural‑resource projects — flood‑control measures and environmental protection��Debt service — issuing local bonds for approved uses and paying existing obligations��Retirement benefits — meeting pension obligations for local‑government employees��Operations and administration — funding county officers, commissioners, and municipal governing bodies for expenditures not prohibited by general law��

PRESENTATION TITLE

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8/25/2026

WHAT’S NOT FUNDED

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8/25/2026

IMPACT EXAMPLES

• Domestic Abuse Shelters Close, leaving abused women nowhere to go, no protection
• Closing of food banks that are struggling to meet current hunger needs; even more people go hungry (SNAP cuts have already been severe)
• Your elderly mother, who receives Meals on Wheels, will likely not receive them
• Maternal Health will decline with an increase in maternal deaths—FL is already worse than the U.S. average at 24 per 100,000 births
• More suffering and crime due to closing of mental health clinics
• Libraries may charge for services and/or close
• Museums may charge more for entry and only be open for limited times
• People won’t receive rental assistance
• Buses may run less frequently on fewer routes.

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• Municipal services may have new fees or fees go up, e.g., utility fees, garbage pickup, rental inspection fees, landlord licensing fees, building permits, code enforcement fines, alarm registration fees, false alarm fines, fire inspection fees, emergency-response service charges, park entrance fees, recreation and youth program fees, library card fees or service charges, facility rental fees, parking fees, transit service charges, occupational permits, document processing fees go up, etc.

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These fees hit renters, low-income families, communities of color, and small businesses hardest.

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8/25/2026

ONLY ONE SUPPORTER HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THESE AMENDMENTS�FL NOW OPPOSES ALL 3 AMENDMENTS

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8/25/2026

Opposes increase or extension of homestead exemption

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Opposes this tax benefit for the wealthy and big agribusinesses

�Opposes Local Governments losing this kind of revenue because it will mean:

-Sacrificing services across the board

-New or increased fees to compensate for property tax loss

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Opposes added burden on renters, low-income communities, and communities of color�

Tax sources of revenue should not be specified, limited, exempted, or prohibited in any Constitution��Local governments must retain the right to manage local issues��Oppose the loss of local democracy where needs are most understood��Local governments need a variety of options for generating revenues

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WHAT YOU CAN DO!��Tell your family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and anyone you meet to:�����Vote NO on all three constitutional amendments!���������

�EDUCATION—THE DETAILS

2026

3 Constitutional Amendments

AMENDMENT NOTES

All 3 Constitutional Amendments were put on the 2026 ballot by majorities in the legislature.

The legislature, not citizens, created these 3 amendments.

For any of these amendments to pass, they require 60% of the vote.

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8/25/2026

#1. BUDGET STABILIZATION

Increase amount of funds that may be retained in the budget stabilization fund from 10% to 25% of net general revenue collections

Requires legislature to transfer $750M, or amounts required to reach 25% of general revenue collections each year, unless certain conditions are met

Allows the legislature to withdraw funds for critical state needs

PRESENTATION TITLE

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8/25/2026

#1. BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND

Finances unexpected shortages or emergencies

83% of voters approved the fund in 1992

Has minimum and maximum balance $2.5B and $5.0B for 2026

Last used in 2008 Great Recession (>$1B)

PRESENTATION TITLE

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8/25/2026

NOTES ON RAINY DAY FUNDS

Every state has rainy-day funds of varying in sizes

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FL is currently at maximum, 10%

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Proposed maximum of 25% will take 10 to 11 years to achieve—only 8 states have larger funds

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8/25/2026

YES VOTE MEANS

• Max Fund balance 25% of general revenue collection
• Requires annual transfer unless conditions of suspension are met
• Funds can be used for emergencies, revenue shortfall, and critical state needs

PRESENTATION TITLE

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8/25/2026

NO VOTE MEANS

• Maximum Fund Balance is 10% of general revenue collection
• No required annual transfer
• Funds can be used for emergencies and revenue shortfall

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Supporters

• Provides disaster resilience
• Protects against recessions
• Strengthens bond ratings

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8/25/2026

Opponents

• Reduces money that could be spent on current public needs
• Reduces fiscal flexibility

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NO SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS KNOWN

FL NOW OPPOSES

#2. EXEMPTION OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX ON AGRICULTURAL LAND FROM TAXATION

Exempt tangible personal property classified as agricultural from ad valorem personal property tax (PPT)

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Local government estimated to lose $31M – about 9% of total PPT revenue

PRESENTATION TITLE

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8/25/2026

PRESENTATION TITLE

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8/25/2026

YES VOTE MEANS

• Eliminate tangible personal property tax on agricultural land owned by landowner or leaseholder

NO VOTE MEANS

• Keeps Existing Tax

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PRESENTATION TITLE

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8/25/2026

SUPPORTERS

• Protects Agriculture
• Safeguards our food supply

OPPONENTS

• Reduces local government’s tax revenue without a replacement source
• Primarily benefits Giant agribusinesses

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FL NOW OPPOSES

Supporters Unknown

AMENDMENT 3: INCREASED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION; LOWER CAP ON INCREASES IN NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS��1/1/27, EXEMPTS FIRST $15O,OOO OF HOMESTEAD VALUE FROM TAXATION EXCEPT SCHOOL DISTRICT TAXES ��THROUGH GENERAL LAW, A POTENTIAL SCHEDULE FOR FULL ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY TAXES��1/1/2028, EXEMPTION INCREASES TO $250,OOO���Creates 5% CAP (current 10%) on future property tax assessments FOR non-homestead and non-residential property�������

PRESENTATION TITLE

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8/25/2026

PROPERTY TAX TERMS��Ad Valorem - based on value of property or asset��Non-Ad Valorem - fixed amount/flat fee��Millage Rate - One "mill" equals $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a�property's assessed taxable value��Taxable Value = Assessed Value – Exemption��Ad Valorem Tax (Assessed Value - Exemptions x Millage) + Non-Ad�Valorem Tax = Total Property Tax����

CURRENT PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS��Exemptions�*Homestead �Low-income seniors �Veterans �First Responders�Widows/widowers�Legally blind�Deployed military �Total and permanently disabled��*Homestead�Owned by Individuals�Owner-occupied�Permanent residence�3% Annual assessment increase cap “Save our Homes”��

PROPERTY TAXES ARE A BALANCING ACT BETWEEN HOMEOWNERS AND �LOCAL BUDGETS FOR SERVICES

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETS���• 74% of local government tax� collections are property taxes��• 47% of parcels are homesteads��• 43% of municipalities’ general funds (primary operating account) are from property taxes and 56% of that is spent on public safety

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGET IMPACT��$5 Billion less revenue in 2027-2028; $11.9 Billion less by 2031-2032��MOODY’S+ Bond Ratings likely to be downgraded—making borrowing more expensive further reducing the budget for services��Special district budgets like Children’s Services Councils, Hospital Districts,�Mosquito Control Districts & Water Management Districts will be impacted��Budgeting for public parks & libraries, public transportation, recreation centers, public health services, public landscaping, environmental resources�will be impacted

LOCAL GOVERNMENT POTENTIAL TAX SHIFT��Increase millage rates--Landlords can pass these added costs onto tenants. Large percentage of women are renters. ��Counties and Municipalities can raise mill rate to 10 mills��Non-ad valorem taxes not tied to property values. Governments could rely more heavily on these revenue sources: local sales taxes, motor fuel taxes, tourist development taxes & utility taxes on water, sewage & garbage, which severely impact low-income communities��Governments could create new fees to raise revenue. For example, fire�protection services currently paid for by property taxes could be shifted to a fee-based system, which severely impacts low-income communities

MANY COUNTIES FINANCIALLY VULNERABLE��29 counties have large portion of their properties homesteaded, with assessed value under $250,000 (55% to 94%)��Financially vulnerable because most of their revenue comes from homestead property taxes—Don’t have commercial base to help fund community needs

AMENDMENT 3 SPECIFIED USES FOR PROPERTY TAX FUNDS��Public safety — law enforcement, fire service, and emergency medical service.��Education and public schools — funding for local school operations and facilities.��Infrastructure — construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, and storm‑water systems.��Natural‑resource projects — flood‑control measures and environmental protection.��Debt service — issuing local bonds for approved uses and paying existing obligations.��Retirement benefits — meeting pension obligations for local‑government employees.��Operations and administration — funding county officers, commissioners, and municipal governing bodies for expenditures not prohibited by general law.��

COMMUNITY USES EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER AMENDMENT 3���

YES VOTE MEANS

Homestead exemption for ad valorem taxes increases to $250,000 by Jan. 1, 2028

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Property assessment increase on non-homestead property limited to 5%

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Use of property taxes collected restricted to specific categories

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Reduce property tax collected by $11.9 billion by 2030-2031

NO VOTE MEANS

Homestead exemption remains at $50,000 (adjusted for CPI)

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Property assessment increase on non-homestead property limited to 10%

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Local government continues to determine use of property taxes

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Property tax revenue remains the same

SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION�SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS: FL Realtors Board of Directors��OPPOSING ORGANIZATIONS:�FLORIDA NOW *Florida Tax Watch * Florida Policy Institute * Florida for All * Florida PTA * FL State Director of MomsRising/MamásConPoder * Southern Poverty Law Center * FL League of Cities * FL Association of Counties * Florida Rising * Florida Education Assoc. * Pastors for Florida’s Children * SEIU Florida State Council/SEIU 1991 * The Tax Foundation * Florida Student Power * Editorial Boards of the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, Palm Beach Post and Sun-Sentinel * Vote No On 3 * 3º Degrees Florida * Floridians for Shared Prosperity League of Women Voters of FL *Florida Professional Firefighters * Florida Fraternal Order of Police * Florida Fire Chiefs Assoc. *Florida Festivals and Events Assoc. * Catalyst Miami * Community Spring * EduVoter Action Network * Equal Ground Education Fund * Families for Strong Public Schools & Voters for Strong Public Schools * Florida AFL-CIO * Florida Voices for Health * NAACP FL State Conference * Progress Florida * UnidosUS * 1,000 Friends of Florida * FL Rural Economic Development Assoc.

FL NOW POSITIONS�

Opposes increase or extension of homestead exemption

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Opposes this tax benefit for the wealthy and big agribusinesses

�Opposes Local Governments losing this kind of revenue because it will mean:

-Sacrificing services across the board

-New or increased fees to compensate for property tax loss

​

Opposes added burden on renters, low-income communities, and communities of color�

Tax sources of revenue should not be specified, limited, exempted, or prohibited in any Constitution��Local governments must retain the right to manage local issues��Oppose the loss of local democracy where needs are most understood��Local governments need a variety of options for generating revenues

MAIN SOURCES

• VOTE411.org
• Ballotpedia.com

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• Vetted AI inquiry on each amendment
• Vetted AI inquiry on property tax statistics and terminology