James Uthmeier spoke at the National Conservatism Conference in Washington D.C. on September 3, 2025. The discussion highlighted concerns about Amendment 3, a proposal on the November ballot aiming to reduce property taxes in Florida. A Tallahassee judge exposed the flawed and biased language in the amendment, suggesting that voters need clearer information to make informed decisions.
Leon County Circuit Judge David Frank issued an 18-page ruling, describing the ballot language as defective. He criticized it for being filled with political rhetoric rather than neutral explanations. Judge Frank highlighted several issues with the amendment, including its title, “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,” which he found misleading. He stated that voters deserve a fair and accurate ballot statement to properly evaluate the proposal.
The amendment proposes increasing the homestead exemption for owner-occupied homes significantly by 2028 and reducing the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead properties. The Republican Legislature modified the measure to retain the component of property tax bills that funds public schools. Initially backed by Governor Ron DeSantis, the proposal faced controversy. DeSantis distanced himself from supporting the amendment after these revisions, stating that it was not his original plan.
A bipartisan group, Save Our Voters From Misleading Ballot Language, legally challenged the proposal, aiming to prevent deceptive ballot language. Members include former Sen. Jeff Brandes, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, among others. The Attorney General, James Uthmeier, has been given ten days to revise the language. Following the August 18 primary, election supervisors will start preparing the November ballot, leaving little time for adjustments.
Judge Frank expressed concerns over the misleading nature of several subheadings in the amendment, such as “ensuring funding for core services” and “protecting small businesses.” He argued that the amendment might actually reduce local government revenue for fundamental services like police and fire protection. Moreover, the amendment could negatively affect renters and newer residents, shifting more costs to them.
Critically, the amendment neglects to inform voters about its potential impact on “home rule” by altering how local governments use property tax revenues. Judge Frank warned that this change could empower Tallahassee politicians to control local spending, undermining the historical autonomy of cities and counties in Florida.
If the revised amendment reaches the ballot, voters will have a chance to understand its implications thoroughly. The opportunity to make a well-informed decision depends on removing misleading elements from the proposal.
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