TALLAHASSEE — The property tax proposal initially pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis can’t appear on the ballot the way his office wrote it, a Tallahassee judge ruled late Monday night.
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Judge David Frank said the proposed constitutional amendment uses language “more akin to a political slogan” rather than being clear and neutral, which state law requires.
Frank’s ruling keeps the proposal to raise the homestead exemption for Florida property owners on the ballot, but compels Attorney General James Uthmeier to rewrite parts of the proposal.
“In summary, voters are entitled to a fair, clear, accurate and non-misleading ballot statement to assist them in making their critical determination,” Frank wrote in his order.
“The present ballot language would deprive the voters of the opportunity to make a meaningful decision,” he said.
The amendment will appear on the November ballot. Elections offices can start printing ballots in late August.
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Frank said that the title of the amendment, “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,” advocates for a policy position and is designed to elicit an emotional response from voters.
His ruling aligned with the plaintiffs who argued the ballot language is misleading. That includes the group Save Our Voters From Misleading Ballot Language and former lawmakers Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, and U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Democrat.
DeSantis’ office drafted the proposal lawmakers took up during a special legislative session focused on the property tax proposal. Lawmakers quickly amended the plan to protect property taxes that go toward schools.
Since making those changes, DeSantis has said he won’t campaign for the amendment.
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