Open in App
  • Local
  • Headlines
  • Election
  • Crime Map
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Education
  • Real Estate
  • Newsletter
  • Axios Tampa Bay

    Your guide to Florida's other constitutional amendments

    By Kathryn Varn,

    1 days ago

    Overshadowed by ballot initiatives to expand abortion access and legalize recreational marijuana , four more proposed constitutional amendments are flying under the radar with voters, the News Service of Florida reported .

    Why it matters: The topics range from school board elections to campaign finance to property taxes — important issues that deserve our attention.


    • All were placed on the ballot by the Florida Legislature. The abortion and weed measures got there via citizen initiatives.

    Here's a rundown.

    Amendment 1 : Partisan Election of Members of District School Boards

    • School board races have gotten more partisan in recent years. A vote for this proposal would enshrine that shift in the state constitution.
    • School board candidates would be required to run in partisan elections, meaning they would have to disclose their political affiliation on ballots.
    • It has support among the GOP and was placed on the ballot by Republicans in the Florida Legislature.
    • Democratic lawmakers opposed it, per the Tampa Bay Times . It's also opposed by the Florida Education Association , the statewide teachers' union.

    Amendment 2 : Right to Fish and Hunt

    • This measure would preserve the right to fish and hunt "including by the use of traditional methods." It would also make hunting and fishing the "preferred means" of managing wildlife.
    • There are no bans on hunting or fishing in Florida on the books or on the table; this proposal is preemptive, seeking to stop such restrictions from happening in the future.
    • Nearly every member of the Florida Legislature voted to place the measure on the ballot.
    • Animal rights and some environmental groups oppose it, saying the "traditional methods" wording could lead to practices that are cruel to animals, the Florida Phoenix reported .

    Amendment 5 : Annual Adjustments to the Value of Certain Homestead Exemptions

    • This is, at its core, a tax break — although not much of one, a University of Tampa economist told WFLA : the average owner would save $7 in the first year and $40 by 2030.
    • A "yes" vote would require that one of Florida's two $25,000 property tax breaks on your permanent residence, known as homestead exemptions, undergo adjustments based on inflation.
    • The proposal was approved by the Legislature mostly along party lines, per the Times.
    • Opponents say the change would be a hit to local governments that rely on funding from property taxes and would shift the tax burden to non-homeowners, per the Phoenix .

    Amendment 6 : Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirement

    • This measure would nix a program that allows candidates running for governor, attorney general, commissioner of agriculture and chief financial officer to use public money in their campaigns.
    • The program has sent more than $33 million of taxpayer funding  to political campaigns since 2010, the Miami Herald reported . Recipients must agree to audits and spending limits, per the Times.
    • It's supported by legislative Republicans, who say it's an inappropriate use of public funds.
    • Opponents say it could discourage people from seeking those offices and grant corporations and wealthy donors more influence in races, per the Herald.

    Related Search

    Hunting and fishing rightsFlorida legislatureProperty taxesFlorida PhoenixFlorida Education AssociationCampaign finance reform

    Comments / 1

    Add a Comment
    View all comments

    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    Local News newsLocal News
    Axios Tampa Bay11 days ago

    Comments / 0