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.

Written by Judi Marraccini (Information compiled from Unicef.org) / Legislative@flnow.org

On October 11^th, “International Day of the Girl“ is a global moment to celebrate girls everywhere, amplifying their voices, actions and leadership. On that day, we come together to recognize and advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights.

The theme this year is to end child marriage and invest in girls’ rights.

Investing in girls is one of the most powerful ways to build healthier families, stronger communities and more resilient societies.

The Facts

According to UNICEF’s 2026 estimates, an estimated one in five girls are married before age 18 across the world, representing approximately 650 million women and girls alive today who were married in childhood.

Nearly one in four married or partnered girls aged 15-19 have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.

Crisis, conflict and displacement continue to increase the risk of child marriage, sexual violence and maternal mortality for girls.

Girls aged 15-19 are twice as likely as boys to not be in education, employment or training. In fragile, conflict and violence-affected contexts girls are nearly 90 per cent more likely to be out of secondary school than girls in stable contexts – increasing their risk of child marriage.

What can you do locally in Florida?

The following organizations support girls:

Girl Power Rocks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit prevention and intervention social change program that promotes positive behavior, enhances social skills and improves academic performance in at-promise girls ages 11-17. They are based in Miami FL. Their mission is to protect the Power of Girls. “We envision a world where girls are nurtured and celebrated. We are committed to “Improving Our World, One Girl at a Time through local solutions that have global impact.”

Throughout their website, Girl Power Rocks, they use the phrase “at promise” instead of “at risk”.

Girls Inc. is another local organization, local chapters are in Sarasota, Pinellas and Lakeland.

Girls Inc. inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold. Their core programs and focus areas: STEM Education, Life Skills & Financial Literacy, Leadership & Advocacy, and Health & Mental Well-being.