Isabella Carter
Floridians will vote on six proposed amendments to the state constitution in November 2024. The ACLU of Florida is supporting Amendments 3 and 4. Amendment 3, Adult Personal Use of Marijuana, would legalise the possession, purchase, and use of limited amounts of marijuana for adults 21 and older. Amendment 4, which concerns school board elections, would change them from non-partisan to partisan. Other proposed amendments include one to increase homestead exemption amounts, reducing property taxes, and another to repeal public campaign financing for statewide office candidates. One amendment proposes to preserve the right to hunt and fish, while another addresses the savings for property owners with homestead tax exemptions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of proposed constitutional amendments | 6 |
| Supporters of the amendments | Majority of the Florida Legislature, All Florida, American Sportfishing Association, Backcountry Hunter |
| Opponents of the amendments | Florida League of Cities |
| Supporting organizations | ACLU of Florida (supporting Amendments 3 and 4) |
| Amendments supported by ACLU of Florida | Amendment 3 ("Adult Personal Use of Marijuana"), Amendment 4 (no explicit name) |
| Impact of supported amendments | Legalization of marijuana for adults over 21, significant impact on freedom and liberty in Florida |
| Reasons for supporting Amendment 3 | Legalization will lead to new jobs, generate millions of dollars, and advance racial justice by reducing disproportionate arrests of Black Americans for marijuana possession |
| Reasons for supporting Amendment 4 | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
- The ACLU of Florida supports Amendment 3, legalising adult marijuana use
- Amendment 4, also supported by the ACLU, impacts freedom and liberty
- The Florida Legislature supports an amendment to preserve hunting and fishing rights
- The Florida Legislature supports repealing public campaign financing
- The Florida Legislature supports an amendment to increase homestead exemption amounts
The ACLU of Florida supports Amendment 3, legalising adult marijuana use
The ACLU of Florida is supporting Amendment 3, which seeks to legalise adult marijuana use in Florida. The organisation has recommended that voters cast a "yes" vote for Amendment 3, titled "Adult Personal Use of Marijuana". This amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot initiative that would allow Floridians aged 21 and older to possess, purchase, or use a limited amount of marijuana for recreational purposes.
The ACLU of Florida's support for Amendment 3 stems from its potential to positively impact the freedom and liberty of Floridians. The amendment aligns with the ACLU's mission to defend the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Florida. By legalising adult marijuana use, Amendment 3 is seen as a significant step forward in respecting the personal freedom of Floridians. It also addresses the disproportionate impact that the criminalisation of marijuana possession has had on the state's Black community and other marginalised communities.
According to the ACLU of Florida, the criminalisation of adult-use recreational cannabis has resulted in unnecessary incarcerations, wasting critical state resources and billions of dollars. It has also disproportionately impacted communities of colour, exacerbating racial injustices within the criminal legal system. By legalising adult marijuana use, Amendment 3 can help redirect law enforcement efforts and state resources towards creating opportunities for Floridians to thrive and addressing racial disparities.
Additionally, Amendment 3 has economic implications for the state. Legalising adult marijuana use is expected to lead to the creation of new jobs and generate millions of dollars in revenue each year. It can also alleviate the burden on taxpayers by reducing the costs associated with prosecuting simple possession crimes. The ACLU of Florida joins a growing coalition of supporters for Amendment 3, including local leaders such as Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young, and state senators from both major parties.
The ACLU of Florida encourages Floridians to vote "yes" on Amendment 3 to uphold civil liberties, advance racial justice, and promote economic benefits for the state.
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Amendment 4, also supported by the ACLU, impacts freedom and liberty
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida has supported Amendment 4, which, if passed, will significantly impact freedom and liberty in the state. The amendment, which was passed in 2018, aimed to end the permanent disenfranchisement of people with felony convictions.
Florida was previously one of the strictest states on felony disenfranchisement, but the passing of Amendment 4 demonstrated Floridians' commitment to ensuring that all citizens have an opportunity to vote. The law affected more than 1.4 million people in the state. The ACLU of Florida played an active role in the passing of the amendment, with volunteers calling over 270,000 voters, sending over 780,000 texts, and knocking on over 13,000 doors.
However, the progress made by Amendment 4 is now at risk. In 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 7066, which requires returning citizens to pay court costs, fines, and fees from their conviction or lose their right to vote. The ACLU of Florida, along with other organizations, filed a lawsuit challenging this bill, arguing that it is unconstitutional and that Florida cannot restore voting rights based on an individual's ability to pay.
Amendment 4 has also been referenced in the context of another proposed amendment for the 2024 ballot, which would limit government interference with abortion. The Florida Supreme Court approved the amendment language, and the ACLU of Florida celebrated this ruling as a triumph for democracy, allowing Floridians to decide for themselves whether they want politicians to continue interfering with abortion access.
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The Florida Legislature supports an amendment to preserve hunting and fishing rights
Amendment 2 proposes to provide and preserve a state constitutional right to hunt and fish. It also declares that hunting and fishing are the preferred means of "responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife." This includes the use of traditional methods such as gill nets. Supporters of the amendment, including the majority of the Florida Legislature, argue that it is necessary to protect the cultural heritage of Florida and to prevent hunting and fishing bans, as have been considered in other states. They also highlight the economic value of these industries to the state, with hunting and fishing contributing nearly $14 billion in economic output and supporting over 120,000 jobs.
However, there are opponents to the amendment who argue that it is unnecessary and could undermine current management practices and regulations. They fear that it may lead to indiscriminate killing and pose a threat to wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole. Some critics, such as the Sierra Club, support hunting and fishing for recreation and as management tools but find the proposal poorly written. They believe that the amendment could ultimately result in a decrease in what is available to hunt and fish.
Despite these concerns, the Florida Legislature maintains its support for Amendment 2, emphasizing the importance of preserving the state's cultural heritage and economic interests associated with hunting and fishing.
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The Florida Legislature supports repealing public campaign financing
Florida voters initially adopted Amendment 11 in 1998, which provided for public campaign financing for statewide offices. The amendment was approved with 64.12% of voters in favor and 35.88% opposed. In 2010, the Florida State Legislature referred Amendment 1 to the ballot to repeal the constitutional provision providing for public campaign financing. The amendment received 52.49% of the vote in favor but was defeated because constitutional amendments in Florida require a 60% supermajority vote to be adopted.
In 2024, the legislature again placed an amendment on the ballot to repeal public campaign financing from the constitution. The Senate voted 28 Yes/11 No, and the House voted 82 Yes/29 No on SJR 1114. The legislature also passed a bill in 2024 to repeal the entire Florida Election Campaign Financing Act if Amendment 6 passes. Florida’s public campaign financing system has been widely used by Republican and Democratic candidates alike. In 2022, both major party candidates for Governor, Chief Financial Officer, and Attorney General received public dollars and agreed to limit their spending.
Supporters of this amendment, including the majority of the Florida Legislature, state that this financing, which comes from Florida’s general fund, could be used for other programs such as education, healthcare, or housing. Additionally, if the program is repealed, wealthy donors and special interest groups would no longer be limited in the amounts they can contribute to these candidates.
Florida's public campaign financing program is a matching program for small-dollar donations. This means candidates can only receive public funds as a match to contributions made by individual Florida residents who contribute $250 or less. It also means that the contributions of small-dollar donors are worth one or two times what they would otherwise be worth to the candidate. In this way, the program provides both a funding source that does not come from special interests and a direct financial incentive for candidates to seek a broad base of support from ordinary Floridians. To qualify for the matching funds, candidates must limit their campaign spending to a total of $2.00 for each registered Florida voter (for gubernatorial candidates) or $1.00 for each registered Florida voter (for cabinet candidates). This amendment would remove these spending limits.
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The Florida Legislature supports an amendment to increase homestead exemption amounts
The Florida Legislature passed the amendment on largely party lines, with Republican sponsors arguing that it would help with the cost of owning a home. Specifically, the amendment would increase the homestead exemption amount each January 1st, starting in 2025, if the Consumer Price Index increases. This would result in reduced property taxes on primary residences, providing greater savings for property owners who apply for homestead property tax exemptions.
Supporters of the amendment, including the majority of the Florida Legislature, believe that it could lead to significant savings for homeowners. They argue that public education has become polarized due to cultural issues reflected in new legislation, and a candidate's party affiliation may influence their vote on controversial school board issues.
However, opponents of the amendment, including Democrats and the Florida League of Cities, disagree. They argue that the amendment would reduce revenue for cities and counties by millions of dollars, potentially affecting essential services. The Florida League of Cities has not officially taken a stance against the amendment, but league officials have spoken out against it during the legislative session.
It is worth noting that, in 2022, a similar amendment was proposed to provide an additional homestead property tax exemption for certain public service workers. This previous amendment received 58.68% of the vote but failed to meet the state's 60% supermajority requirement for adopting constitutional amendments.
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Frequently asked questions
The ACLU of Florida is supporting Amendment 3, which would legalise the adult personal use of marijuana.
Supporters of the amendment include All Florida, American Sportfishing Association, Backcountry Hunter, and the majority of the Florida Legislature.
Supporters include the majority of the Florida Legislature, who argue that it could lead to more savings for property owners who apply for homestead property tax exemptions.
