On top of selecting a new president, voting on a new U.S. Senator and choosing Florida lawmakers, Floridians will vote on five constitutional amendments later this year. Getting a constitutional amendment to pass isn’t a walk in the park. Each amendment needs 60 percent of the vote in order to pass, and groups in favor of and against each amendment typically tend to spend millions of dollars in campaigns to push their message.
The more highly publicized amendments will have big bucks pumped into them in an election year where voter participation is likely to be higher than it was two years ago.
Sunshine State News took a closer look at what’s hitting the ballot in November.
Amendment 3 would allow first responders who are permanently disabled as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty to receive relief from ad valorem taxes assessed on homestead property.
The amendment would include police officers, firefighters and other first responders.
The amendment was approved by the Florida Legislature along with two other ballot amendments during the 2016 Legislative session.
The amendment (HJR 193) joins two other proposals, one of which would exempt solar panels and other renewable energy devices from tangible personal property taxes while the third proposal would keep the value of a home belonging to a senior citizen eligible for a property tax break.
Those weren't the only amendments that state lawmakers approved. Legislators also passed another amendment to put a solar panel break on the ballot for the August primary.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
