Florida’s Constitutional Amendments: What Passed, What Didn’t and What That Means
Take a closer look at the 11 constitutional amendments and how Floridians voted on them.
The Nov. 6 ballot was one of the largest Florida voters have ever seen and here’s why: there were 11 proposed constitutional amendments up for consideration.
Amendments require a 60 percent or higher approval rate to pass.
Based on results calculated by the state’s Division of Elections, here’s what passed and what didn’t at of 1 a.m. Nov. 7:
Florida Amendment 1: Health Care Services – Fail
With most of Florida’s precincts reporting, this amendment did not meet the 60 percent requirement to pass.
The amendment would have given Florida the ability to opt out of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Florida Amendment 2: Veterans Disabled to Combat Injury; Homestead Property Tax Discount – Pass
With most of Florida’s precincts reporting, this amendment met the 60 percent requirement to pass.
This amendment gives disabled veterans who did not live in Florida when they entered the military a break on their property taxes. It essentially extends the homestead property tax discounts to include them.
Florida Amendment 3: State Government Revenue Limitation – Fail
With most of Florida’s precincts reporting, this amendment did not meet the 60 percent requirement to pass.
This amendment would have set the state’s revenue limit based on a formula that takes inflation and population growth into account.
Florida Amendment 4: Property Tax Limitation; Property Value Decline; Reduction for Non-Homestead Assessment Increases; Delay of Scheduled Repeal – Fail
With most of Florida’s precincts reporting, this amendment did not meet the 60 percent requirement to pass.
This amendment would have limited the allowable growth in the assessments on certain non-homestead properties from 10 percent to 5 percent. It would have also prohibited increases in assessed value on homestead properties and some non-homestead properties when market values decrease. It also intended to give first-time homesteaders an extra exemption. The amendment would have provided homestead tax exemption benefits to out-of-state residents.
Florida Amendment 5: State Courts – Fail
With most of Florida’s precincts reporting, this amendment did not meet the 60 percent requirement to pass.
This amendment would have required that Supreme Court justices appointed by the Governor also be confirmed by the Senate. It also would have enabled the court to repeal a rule through a simple majority instead of requiring the two-thirds majority vote that is now in place. In addition, it would have given the Florida House of Representatives the ability to review all files of the Judicial Qualifications Commission.
Florida Amendment 6: Prohibition on Public Funding of Abortions; Construction of Abortion Rights – Fail
With most of Florida’s precincts reporting, this amendment did not meet the 60 percent requirement to pass.
While federal law already prohibits the use of federal funds for most abortions, this amendment would have added the prohibitions into the state Constitution. The amendment would have disallowed the use of the state Constitution’s privacy clause in cases related to abortion, which means this clause couldn’t be used to defend abortion rights.
Florida Amendment 8: Religious Freedom – Fail
With most of Florida’s precincts reporting, this amendment did not meet the 60 percent requirement to pass.
This amendment would have repealed a provision in the state Constitution that bans taxpayer funding of religious institutions. The measure would have enabled the state to provide financial support to religious schools and institutions.
Florida Amendment 9: Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouse of Military Veteran or First Responder – Pass
With most of Florida’s precincts reporting, this amendment met the 60 percent requirement to pass.
This amendment gives full homestead property tax benefits to the surviving spouses of military veterans and first responders who are killed in the line of duty. The new rule requires that the deceased be a Florida resident as of Jan. 1 of the year they died.
Florida Amendment 10: Tangible Personal Property Tax Exemption – Fail
With most of Florida’s precincts reporting, this amendment did not meet the 60 percent requirement to pass.
This amendment would have raised the tangible personal property tax exemption for businesses related to furniture and equipment from $25,000 to $50,000.
Florida Amendment 11: Additional Homestead Exemption for Low-Income Seniors who Maintain Long-Term Residency on Property; Equal to Assessed Value – Pass
With most of Florida’s precincts reporting, this amendment met the 60 percent requirement to pass.
This amendment would grants full homestead property tax relief to seniors in the low-income tax bracket who have lived in their homes for 25 years or more.
Florida Amendment 12: Appointment of Student Body President to the Board of Governors of the State University – Fail
With most of Florida’s precincts reporting, this amendment did not meet the 60 percent requirement to pass.
This amendment would have changed the way the state selects student representatives to serve on the state university system’s Board of Governors.
Results are considered unofficial until they are certified by the state of Florida.
-Ed Harris-
1:37 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
What a great night for women's rights and Separation of Church & State!
Linda
1:55 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Agreed!
Who is WILLIAM BINNEY?
2:00 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
To hell with the rights of individuals!
acronymforme
6:50 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
If the Surviving Spouse of Military Veteran or First Responder gets married again... he/she should lose the exemption on their home. I voted "no" on this amendment simply because that caveat was not mentioned.
Megan Hendricks
6:59 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Actually, what you said about amendment 1 isn't correct. The supreme court stated that the federal healthcare law is constitutional, and therefore states are not able opt out of it. All the amendment would have done was send a message to Washington that Floridians don't like Obamacare. But, it would't have had any merit from a constitutional standpoint.
S.O.Powell
12:42 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Hi Megan! "Surprisingly", the Supreme Court did rule the health care mandate "constitutional", but only because its proponents (Democrats) suddenly switched from calling it a 'penalty" to calling it a "tax", even though all along they (including the President) insisted it was a penalty and definitely not a tax, after all their "promise" was not to raise taxes, and despite the fact that the bill itself even said it was a penalty (not a "tax"). However, according to the Constitution, any piece of legislation that generates revenue, tax, etc. MUST ORIGINATE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. And "Obamacare" did NOT originate in the House, it originated in the Senate; Therefore, the truth is that it is NOT "constitutional" . It does in fact violate the Constitution, but I guess that doesn't matter any more - although some of us think it SHOULD matter.
Michael D.
3:40 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Actually it was originally crafted in the House in November of 2009. It was restructured by the Senate in 2010. Which is a legal part of the process called the reconcillation process.
Sandy Heins
8:13 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I cannot understand why anyone wouldn't love Obamacare. Our family is already using it and it's great. My grand daughter has an audoimmune disease. She's in college and is able to be on her parents insurance, otherwise she probably would have tried to get into a college in Massachusetts so she could use their healthcare. (that by the way was one good thing Romney did for Mass) And my Medicare costs have GONE DOWN. You know it wasn't the insurance company that decided to be nice and lower it's prices. No, it is Obama's healthcare. Thanks President Obama
Michael Malterer
9:21 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
You're not familiar with the 10th Ammendment to the United States Constitution?
Michael D.
9:33 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
Michael,
Up until the 10th amendment was quite power full until the 1860's. Then when some states used their 10th amendment rights, their was a war. After the war the 10th amendment lost a lot of power. That is why Federal Laws are more powerful than Sate laws.
Who is WILLIAM BINNEY?
1:19 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Megan Hendricks,
Like Michael said, check out the 10th Amendment. The States created the Federal Govt, therefore the States have the ultimate power. Go read the 10th Amendment, it's right there in black and white.
Isn't there a Federal Law stating marijuana is illegal? What do you think the States are doing when they vote for legalizing medical marijuana.........or like last week when WA and CO voted to completely decriminalize it? That's the States NULLIFYING Federal Law.
Who are people in DC to tell all 330 millions of us what to do? That may be the world you prefer to live, but it isn't how Justice is served and sure and the hell isn't the Liberty afforded under that Constitution you fail to understand.
Oh, did you see there were 4 other States to basically nullify the individual mandate of Obamacare?
Who is WILLIAM BINNEY?
1:30 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Sandy Heins,
You need to be thanking people like my family for your cheaper Medicare costs. You know, the Medicare cost I've already been paying for my entire working life. So in addition to helping fund Medicare through the fruits of my labor..........the President you hail believes I should purchase a product I do not want.
Please tell me why I should be applauding this? Should I applaud you saving money as I am forced to purchase something I do not want?
Or should I applaud because the insurance for my 4 children and wife doubled.........and this upcoming year it will rise again........all due to implementing Obamacare......and guess what caused the biggest increase??? Allowing ADULTS to remain on their parents insurance.
I do realize we have a nation of grown children, but c'mon, up to the age of 26 is still considered a child? Grow up people.
By they way Sandy, that medical system you seem to hail is hindering that autoimmune disease from being healed. I have no idea what she has, but I guarantee you she will not find the healing she needs from a MD........but at least at least you guys are saving money as my middle class family is forced to subsidize it. Yep, you are right....I'm not sure why we all do not love Obamacare.
Who is WILLIAM BINNEY?
1:33 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
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Ray B
9:39 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Gee, that makes all the thousands of people getting their LAYOFF notices this week because of DemObamaCare, feel better about losing their jobs! Such a grand piece of legislation that "you had to read in order to find out what's in it"(N. Pelosie). So much for BHO looking out for the little guy!!!
James Bege
11:11 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
So important that ALL voters read the Amendment provisions ahead of time.It's not just the presidential election but we vote Senate and amendments as well! This goes for both parties! I think that explanations of the proposed amendments should be written in layman's terms. I understood them but most people don't take the time to read and dissect! If you did, good for you!
Michael D.
11:21 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I had good pamplet a friend found online with the pro/cons and three different explanation of each admendment. I shared it with people. I knew how I was going to vote before I entered the booth on the admendments.
Liberty lover Bill
7:04 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
To Samuel Clemens ( and others inflicted with like views) individual rights is what made America one of the greatest societies this planet has ever known. For thousands of years individual rights was non existent. The people have always been ruled by some form of priest class or king leaving the common man subject to their whims. Along comes the idea of individual rights and became a game changer for humanity. The founders believed that man was subject to no other man. As an INDIVIDUAL you had a right to life, liberty, and property which no king or priest could admonish, reduce, or deny the individual without due process.
Now, pay attention Samuel, this is where I prove your ignorance. In a "Democracy" (which is what our public schools systems teach) the majority rule. We can look at this as mob-rule if you'd like Sammy. In a mob ruled society 51% of the people can vote to put Samuel in a cotton field to pick cotton from dawn to dusk without pay and without the right to petition a government for inhumane treatment. In a society with INDIVIDUAL PROTECTIONS under a rule of law, even if 98% of the people voted to put Samuel in chains to pick cotton for the betterment of Samuel's master, Samuel can flip off the 98% of the people who voted his fate because INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS protects Samuel from becoming someone's slave. So Sammy boy, you might want to re think your position.
Who is WILLIAM BINNEY?
1:42 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Liberty Lover Bill,
You obviously haven't read anything I have posted on the Patch.
I'm not on of the wolves voting what's for dinner, I am always the sheep......but unlike the rest of the sheeple in the country, I will not submit to the unlawful authority.
Democracy=Mob rule
Republic=Law rule
I am well aware of the reality, hence me railing against the injustices I see. I sincerely wish all would look up the definition of Liberty and then tell me how much Liberty we have in America today.
My mainstay sign for protests always has one side saying "Legalize Liberty"..........Bill, you are attempting to preach to the choir........ Now only if we can get more and more to join our choir.
Karen
7:29 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
It is a sad day when we admonish the right to life of the unborn and leave that right up to someone else. I was always taught that every life had a purpose...how does our constitution protect those without a voice?
RD
1:17 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
You people are idiots. Voting YES on Amendment 1 wouldn't have given Florida the right to opt out of Obamacare, it's a federal law that's been upheld by the US Supreme Court. It just would have let people say they don't like it and waste about $20 million tax dollars losing in court. Seriously, attempt to report facts rather than your wish list.
Jc Mcmullen
6:13 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
Sorry to disagree but several states have already passed the same law and I would rather spend 20million fighting it than a couple of trillion paying for it!
Who is WILLIAM BINNEY?
1:35 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
10th Amendment......read it sometime RD. I wouldn't say you are an idiot, but definitely ignorant of the facts.
RD
1:22 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
Oh, BS you're pro-life and the poor unborn. How about the pregnant woman who's been diagnosed with cancer? Why should she have to sacrifice her life? You can't be pro-life if you're sentencing that woman to death. If you don't want to have an abortion, don't have one. Spare me your life begins at conception. If that's the case, then let men carry the fetal matter to term because it can't survive outside the womb otherwise. Then let's see how they feel about abortion and rape.
Who is WILLIAM BINNEY?
1:37 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
What does pregnancy have to do with cancer????????????
RD
1:41 am on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Ugh! Men. I know this is hard for you to understand but pregnant women can also have cancer. When this happens, a choice needs to be made between the mother's life and the fetus. Since you are against abortions, you are putting the mother's life at risk to bear the child. This makes you a one-man death panel playing judge and jury over a situation you really have absolutley no business making any decisions about. So much for pro-life since you have now killed the mother.
As far as the 10th Amendment goes, you have an interesting interpretation. Keep getting your information from Fox News, Sam.