Written by Dr. Julie A. Kent / President@flnow.org

Things to Do Today (you can do these every day, all month)

1. Ask a friend to join you (for lunch? Dinner?) to talk about the articles in this newsletter. They don’t have to agree with the articles or viewpoints, just arrange a time to talk.

2. Call Senator Ashley Moody (202) 224-3041 and Senator Rick Scott (407) 872-7161 and your House Representative and express your concerns about stopping the weaponization of intelligence agencies, counterterrorism labeling, and defense assets to target nonviolent activists, gender equality initiatives, migrant defense groups, and broader community organizations.

3. Call your Florida State Senator and Florida State Representative about demanding full reinstatement of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) offices, training, scholarships, student organizations, and workplace initiatives, including culturally responsive education, gender-equity programs, accessibility services, and anti-harassment protections.

This Week

1. Meet with your friend(s) and talk about this newsletter. It can be one on one or multiple people but use the newsletter as a guide for conversation topics.

2. Locate and attend a house party or event for a local candidate. Get out and meet the people running for office in your area.

3. Register for an upcoming FL NOW event (https://flnow.org/events/category/florida-now/list/).

This month

1. Visit https://now.org/now-foundation/love-your-body/ to find ways to get involved with the NOW Love your Body campaign.

2. Reach out to me (President@flnow.org) about joining a committee for FL NOW. We have a committee working resolutions and we are looking to start up another focused on membership and events. There are lots of ways to volunteer even if you don’t leave your house.

3. Review the candidates running on your ballot, make a plan, and vote. Many areas in Florida offer early voting. If you vote early you don’t have to be concerned about issues arising on election day. It also means you can help frive or otherwise support others in getting to the polls.

Written by Debbie Deland / Vp@flnow.org

WHY VOTE NO AND CALL TO ACTION
Florida voters will face three constitutional amendments on the 2026 ballot. Each one looks good on the surface, but the consequences for women, families, and vulnerable communities are real. FL NOW urges voters to VOTE NO on all three amendments and asks members to reach out to 20 voters to explain why they need to vote no. Here’s why.

Amendment 1: Amendment 1 would more than double the amount of money Florida must keep in the Budget Stabilization Fund, from 10% to 25% of general revenue collections. It also forces the Legislature to deposit up to a whopping $750 million every year until the fund reaches that 25% threshold.

Why this is harmful:

• $750 million annually is diverted away from current needs — not available for schools, healthcare, domestic violence programs, affordable housing, elder services, disability supports, or environmental protection.
• During a time of rising costs, population growth, and increased climate-related emergencies, Florida cannot afford to lock away money that should be serving people now.
• The amendment reduces flexibility and increases the likelihood of cuts to essential services, especially those relied upon by women, children, seniors, and lowincome families. Due to the law, the legislature must fund core services, leaving community services and support in the lurch.

Bottom line
Amendment 1 is a fiscal shell game that hides the real impact: less money for the programs Floridians need today.

Amendment 2: Amendment 2 exempts tangible personal property located on agricultural land, equipment, machinery, vehicles, and other assets from ad valorem taxation.

Why this is harmful

• It creates a new tax carveout that primarily benefits large agricultural operations, not small farmers or everyday Floridians.
• Counties will lose millions in local revenue, ~$32 Million, forcing cuts to services and community support.

Florida already faces severe funding shortages for public schools, mental health services, and infrastructure. This amendment makes it worse.

Bottom line
Amendment 2 is another special-interest tax break that drains local budgets and harms communities. It is $32 million that local government has no way to replace.

Amendment 3: Amendment 3 would exempt the first $250,000 of a homestead’s value from taxation for all levies except school district taxes, and requires a schedule for full elimination
of those taxes over time. This cuts $5 Billion in 2007 and $12 Billion Annually after that.

Core Services are somewhat protected, leaving all the cuts to come from community services and support. It also:

• Limits future property tax assessments on businesses
• Requires new residents to live in Florida five years before receiving the increased exemption
• Forces local governments to use remaining property taxes only for “core public needs”

Why this is harmful

• This amendment would gut local government budgets, threatening libraries, parks, fire rescue, public safety, senior services, and community programs.
• Some examples of possible cuts: Meals on Wheels, Support of Food Panties, Closure of Domestic Abuse Centers, Closure of Mental Health Clinics, and large cuts to public hospitals
• Local governments will have to implement new fees and increase existing fees to recover some money. This will hit renters and low-income communities hardest.
• It creates a two-tiered system where new residents pay more and longtime residents pay less, undermining fairness and stability.
• The long-term elimination of property taxes for most levies is fiscally reckless, destabilizing counties and cities across Florida for years to come.

Bottom line
Amendment 3 is a dangerous restructuring of Florida’s tax system that will devastate local services and deepen inequities. Local communities can’t afford $5 Billion then $12
Billion less revenue. They will be forced into worse than an austerity budget.

 

FL NOW’s Position: VOTE NO on All Three Amendments
These amendments:

• Reduce funding for essential services
• Create new tax loopholes
• Shift burdens onto families and local governments
• Undermine equity and stability
• Threaten programs that women, children, seniors, and marginalized communities rely on
• Will change FL for a long time for the worse since these are amendments to the Constitution, which are very hard to change once passed.
• Pre-empts local government taxation and ability to support their communities where needs are known the best and where those who pay the taxes live.
  

Florida deserves a budget and tax system that supports people, not one that locks away funds, cuts services, and privileges special interests.

CALL TO ACTION
FL NOW asks all members to reach 20 voters to talk to them about voting no on all 3 constitutional amendments. Make clear that the amendments, deceptively sound good, but aren’t.

Call 407 234-6408 for flyers or rack cards.