LEON COUNTY, Fla. – A nonprofit group and two former local elected officials filed a lawsuit Thursday in Leon County Circuit Court challenging the ballot language Florida voters will see in November for the state’s proposed property tax overhaul.
The suit was filed by Save Our Voters From Misleading Ballot Language, Inc., along with Thomas F. Campenni, former mayor of Stuart, and Michael W. Davey, former mayor of Key Biscayne. The defendants named are Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Attorney General James Uthmeier, according to the complaint.
At issue is the ballot title and summary for the proposed constitutional amendment approved by lawmakers (HJR 1F). If voters pass it with at least 60% approval, the amendment would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027, rising to $250,000 in 2028.
Attorney: “campaign slogan,” not neutral ballot language
Lead attorney Jamie Cole said the lawsuit is aimed at the wording of the ballot question, not the property tax plan itself.
Cole said the title is a key problem.
“Let’s start with the title,” Cole said. “The title is supposed to say what this is about. It should say something like ‘homestead tax exemption’ or ‘increase tax exemption’ or ‘property taxes,’ he said. ”This one says ‘Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes.’ That is a campaign slogan.”
Cole also criticized what he described as “political taglines” in the summary, including phrases such as “ensuring funding for core services,” “protecting small businesses,” and “ensuring fairness.”
He argued the language reads like a message designed to persuade voters.
Cole emphasized the lawsuit is not asking a judge to take the amendment off the ballot.
“The legislators are there to represent the people, and they voted to put this on the ballot, and it should be on the ballot,” he said. “We’re not taking a position for or against it. That’s not the purpose of this lawsuit.”
What happens next
Cole said this type of challenge is supposed to move quickly.
“The statute requires this type of case to be expedited… faster than other cases,” he said, adding his team plans to ask the court to speed up the timeline.
Ultimately, a judge will decide whether the ballot title and summary need changes before November’s election.