Florida’s constitutional history is unique. In less than two centuries, Florida has had six different constitutions. Our current constitution, ratified in 1968, has been amended 144 times—most recently in 2020.
Florida also boasts the greatest number of ways to amend its constitution out of any other state. There are five ways to get a proposed amendment on the statewide ballot: (1) joint resolution by the Florida Legislature; (2) Florida Constitution Revision Commission; (3) Citizens’ Initiative; (4) Constitutional Convention; and (5) Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission.
Fortunately, proposed amendments are required to be clear and straightforward. For the 2022 election cycle, there are just three amendments on the ballot for consideration, all of which are joint resolutions from the Florida Legislature. Per constitutional requirements, each of the proposed amendments concern a single subject.
It is our pleasure to provide this 2022 Amendment Guide. We hope it is of value to Florida voters as they evaluate each of the three constitutional amendments that will be presented to them on their ballot. Each amendment is unique and should be considered seriously. Repealing any amendment that has passed would require a new ballot initiative garnering 60 percent of the vote in a subsequent election.
As always, the mission of The James Madison Institute is to inform citizens so that, together, we may chart the course of making Florida an even more prosperous state. It is in that context that we offer this analysis.
Introduction:
Culminating on election day, November 8, 2022, more than 10 million Floridians will cast their votes. In addition to electing a governor, a lieutenant governor, 28 members of Congress, 120 members of the State House and 40 of the 40-member Florida Senate, the ballot tasks Floridians with voting on three proposed constitutional amendments. Constitutional initiatives play a pivotal role in the governance of the State, and thus warrant careful consideration.
For this election, the three proposed constitutional amendments on the November ballot all originate from one source: the Florida Legislature. Regardless of how a measure makes it to the ballot, all amendments require a 60 percent voting majority to pass. Additionally, each source establishes different hurdles before an amendment can reach the ballot. For a legislatively referred proposed amendment, 60 percent of both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate must agree to put the proposed amendment on the ballot. This is called a joint resolution.
As voters and engaged citizens of Florida, it is our civic duty to responsibly educate ourselves on important changes to the Florida Constitution. On the pages that follow, readers can find an analysis of each ballot initiative.
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
| Legislatively-Referred | Amendment 1 | Taxes | Prohibits flood resistance improvements to a home from being considered when determining the property’s assessed value for property taxes |
| Legislatively-Referred | Amendment 2 | Direct Democracy | Abolishing the Constitution Revision Commission |
| Legislatively-Referred | Amendment 3 | Taxes | Providing additional Homestead Property Tax exemption for certain public service workers |
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