A voter advocacy group and two registered voters filed a lawsuit Thursday in Leon County challenging the ballot language for Florida's property tax amendment approved by lawmakers for November 2026. The complaint contends the ballot summary uses "biased" and "misleading" language, pointing to campaign-style phrases such as "Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes," "protecting small businesses," and "ensuring fairness."
The plaintiffs argue the ballot summary overstates what the amendment actually delivers. They claim it falsely suggests the measure guarantees funding for core services, fully eliminates non-school homestead taxes, and immediately exempts the first $250,000 of a home's value. According to the lawsuit, the initial exemption would actually be $150,000 starting in 2027, not $250,000. The lawsuit also challenges language claiming the amendment would ensure core services funding, arguing it does not guarantee money for police, firefighters, schools, or infrastructure. Additionally, the plaintiffs dispute assertions that the proposal protects small businesses, noting the amendment does not specifically mention them. Instead, it would limit future assessment increases on non-homesteaded property more broadly. The complaint further argues the summary overstates how the amendment would handle non-school property taxes on homesteaded properties, saying the text creates a process allowing local governments to provide additional exemptions rather than requiring full elimination.
Attorney Jamie Cole, representing the plaintiffs, argues that ballot language must be fair, neutral, and accurate. Cole previously succeeded in challenging a similar property tax amendment nearly two decades ago, when a judge in 2007 found the language for a proposed "Super Exemption" misleading and removed it from the ballot. Cole emphasizes that accurate wording matters because many voters read only the ballot summary before voting. The lawsuit asks a judge to declare the current wording unconstitutional and order Attorney General James Uthmeier to rewrite the ballot language within ten days.
On June 2, lawmakers passed legislation establishing the homestead exemption increase, raising it to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 while creating a framework for full exemption over time. The measure will appear on the November 2026 General Election Ballot and requires approval from at least 60 percent of voters to become law. During the June special session, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell raised similar concerns about the language, characterizing the proposal as misleading. Republican supporters contend local governments can absorb the reductions while providing meaningful relief to homeowners.