ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida voters are asked to cast their ballots for or against three amendments this Election Day.
Here’s a breakdown of what each amendment says and would do if passed:
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Amendment 1
“Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution, effective January 1, 2023, to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to prohibit the consideration of any change or improvement made to real property used for residential purposes to improve the property’s resistance to flood damage in determining the assessed value of such property for ad valorem taxation purposes.”
This amendment would prevent property taxes from increasing due to home improvements for flood prevention as a result of climate change.
Read: ‘Classic politics’: 3 proposed amendments to Florida state constitution on midterm ballot
Amendment 2
“Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to abolish the Constitution Revision Commission, which meets at 20-year intervals and is scheduled to next convene in 2037, as a method of submitting proposed amendments or revisions to the State Constitution to electors of the state for approval. This amendment does not affect the ability to revise or amend the State Constitution through citizen initiative, constitutional convention, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, or legislative joint resolution.”
This amendment offers Florida voters the option to amend the state constitution to eliminate what’s known as the Florida Constitution Revision Commission.
The CRC is an appointed board that only meets once every 20 years to propose changes to the state constitution.
The first time the CRC met, voters rejected all of their recommended changes. The last time it met, in 2017, almost all of the commission’s proposed changes wound up in court.
Read: Florida Election Day 2022: Critical deadlines you need to know
Amendment 3
“Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to grant an additional homestead tax exemption for nonschool levies of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of homestead property owned by classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and Florida National Guard members. This amendment shall take effect January 1, 2023.”
This amendment would increase the homestead exemption for teachers, first responders, the military and those working in child welfare.
Read: 2022 Election Day: Are banks open? Will mail be delivered? What’s open, closed?
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