Overview
- A Leon County judge ruled the Legislature’s title and summary for Amendment 3 “clearly and conclusively defective” and gave the attorney general 10 days to submit neutral replacement language, while keeping the amendment itself on the ballot.
- The judge singled out specific errors in the summary, including a false claim that the exemption would be $250,000 in 2027 when it is $150,000 in 2027 and rises to $250,000 in 2028, and noted the language promoted the amendment rather than neutrally describing its legal effect.
- State economists estimate the amendment would cut local non‑school property tax revenue by roughly $4.95 billion in 2027‑28, $8.78 billion in 2028‑29 and about $11.8–11.9 billion recurring thereafter, figures that opponents say could force service cuts or higher local fees.
- Major public safety organizations including the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Fraternal Order of Police and firefighter groups have publicly opposed the measure, warning it could weaken law enforcement and emergency services by shrinking local budgets.
- Supporters and some Republican leaders dispute the fiscal estimates and propose a state funding backstop or formula to help strained counties, but no mitigation plan has been adopted and the court order tightens the calendar for any rewrite or appeal before ballots are finalized.