The Orlando Democrats are part of an unlikely coalition speaking out against Amendment 3.
By Gabrielle Russon
(Source: Florida Politics)
Calling Amendment 3 a scam, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost is warning that renters will be stuck with higher housing costs if voters approve the constitutional amendment in November.
“There are so many renters across Central Florida, including myself, that will be impacted if Amendment 3 is enacted,” Frost said in a message to the 3 million households in the state renting. “If Amendment 3 passes, your rent will go up. And we want to make sure all renters across the state of Florida understand that impact.”
Frost and term-limited state Rep. Anna Eskamani held a news conference in Orlando to voice their concerns about the ballot initiative that Floridians will be deciding in November.
Eskamani, who is running for Orlando Mayor in 2027, and Frost are progressive Democrats joining unlikely allies such as the Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida TaxWatch and several business groups against Amendment 3.
If at least 60% of voters approve it in November, the constitutional amendment would increase the state’s non-school homestead exemptions to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, and tie further increases in 2029 annually to inflation.
New Florida residents would be required to wait five years to get the full property tax break.
Some fear that local governments could raise taxes on businesses and apartment complexes, which could shift the costs to renters.
Frost warned that Amendment 3 would be a blow to Florida renters, who already face rent prices higher than the national average and receive few legal protections as tenants.
Eskamani said the idea that Amendment 3 is “a solution to affordability is a complete farce.”
“The affordability crisis is real,” Eskamani said, accusing the Republican-controlled Legislature of failing to pass reforms to regulate property insurance or for-profit utility companies and refusing to tackle universal childcare.
“So what instead Gov. (Ron) DeSantis did was demonize local governments and then present a proposal that was reviewed in 27 hours,” Eskamani said.
The Legislature voted to put Amendment 3 on the ballot during a three-day Special Session in June without lawmakers commissioning any economic studies on the proposal.
“It was not something that was researched. In fact, the Florida Legislature allocated $1 million to study the topic,” Eskamani said. “The Governor vetoed that because the Governor does not want you to know what the consequences are.”