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What does Florida Amendment 2 Mean? (General Election 2020)

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Florida Amendment 2 for the 2020 General Election is a popular and quite contentious topic this election cycle … along with every time the topic of raising minimum wage to a living wage is brought to the table.

Florida Amendment 2 – Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage – on 2020 General Election ballots reads:

“Raises minimum wage to $10.00 per hour effective September 30th, 2021. Each September 30th thereafter, minimum wage shall increase by $1.00 per hour until the minimum wage reaches $15.00 per hour on September 30th, 2026. From that point forward, future minimum wage increases shall revert to being adjusted annually for inflation starting September 30th, 2027.

State and local government costs will increase to comply with the new minimum wage levels. Additional annual wage costs will be approximately $16 million in 2022, increasing to about $540 million in 2027 and thereafter. Government actions to mitigate these costs are unlikely to produce material savings. Other government costs and revenue impacts, both positive and negative, are not quantifiable.

This proposed constitutional amendment is estimated to have a negative impact on the state budget. This impact may result in higher taxes or loss of government services in order to maintain a balanced state budget as required by the constitution.”

A laymen’s breakdown of Florida Amendment 2 on the 2020 General Election Ballot:

Amendment 2 proposes to incrementally increase Florida’s minimum wage starting on September 30, 2021, raising it from $8.56/hour to $10/hour. Each September 30 following, minimum wage would increase by $1/hour until the minimum wage reached $15/hour by 2026. Further increases would be based upon the annual rate of inflation.

There are many arguments for and against Florida Amendment 2 and raising the minimum wage to $15/hour.

Many business owners argue that raising the minimum wage will cause prices to increase, drive businesses to choose automated options (kiosks) over human employees, and negatively affect the economy. Organizations like the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and the Florida Chamber of Commerce (both made up of business owners and representatives of big businesses in Florida) oppose the amendments.

However, others argue that the current minimum wage ($8.56/hour, which is above the federal minimum wage of $7.26/hour) is a poverty rate. And opposite of the argument that this increase will drive sales prices up, supporters of Amendment 2 say when workers are paid living wages, communities can be brought out of poverty and sales at local business will increase because of this.

RELATED ARTICLE: Raising the minimum wage will help Florida succeed | Gainesville Sun

Who is sponsoring Florida Constitutional Amendment 2 on the 2020 General Election ballot?

Florida for a Fair Wage is the sponsor of Amendment 2. Orlando personal injury attorney John Morgan (of Morgan & Morgan) is the primary financial backer and vocal proponent of raising the minimum wage in Florida, having donated more than $4.5 million to the effort.

Morgan’s passion and fervent support for raising Florida’s minimum wage is a moral and religious issue, he said during an interview.

In total, more than $5.2 million has been raised in support of Amendment 2. Other major backers are the Service Employees International Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

In summary, here’s a breakdown of what it means if you vote “yes” or “no” on Florida Amendment 2 in the 2020 General Election:

  • YES vote = You support increasing the state’s minimum wage incrementally until reaching $15 per hour in September 2026.
  • NO vote = You oppose the initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage incrementally until reaching $15 in September 2026, and favor keeping the current minimum wage of $8.56 per hour.

Get more details and related articles about Amendment 2 here.

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Heather Dauphiny

Founder of We Over Me Collective. Writer, web & graphic designer, do gooder committed to learning, connecting, sharing resources, and supporting efforts to make our world more equitable and just through practical, sensible, and meaningful changes. I am chronically hopeful and believe that through collective commitment to our community, we can work together to build a better world for ALL. Let’s stop ignoring the things that make us uncomfortable.
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Florida Amendment 1 - Citizen Requirement for Voting Initiative

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Amendment Sponsor: Florida Citizen Voters

Wording on the Ballot:

This amendment provides that only United States Citizens who are at least eighteen years of age, a permanent resident of Florida, and registered to vote, as provided by law, shall be qualified to vote in a Florida election.

Because the proposed amendment is not expected to result in any changes to the voter registration process in Florida, it will have no impact on state or local government costs or revenue. Further, it will have no effect on the state’s economy.

Summary (in laymen's terms):

Amendment 1 seeks to replace one word in the Florida Constitution. The Florida Constitution currently states that “every” citizen of the U.S. who is 18 years old or older, a permanent resident of Florida, and registered to vote can vote in Florida. This amendment proposes changing “every” to “only a.”

The change would have no functional or financial effect on the state.

  • YES vote = You support amending the Florida Constitution to state that “only a citizen” of the U.S. who is 18 years old or older can vote in Florida
  • NO vote = You oppose amending the Florida Constitution, and are in favor of keeping the existing language that says “every citizen” of the U.S. who is 18 years old or older can vote in Florida.

News Coverage of the amendment:

More About Amendment 1 Here

Florida Amendment 2 - Abolishing the Constitution Revision Commission

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Amendment Sponsor: Florida Legislature

Wording on the Ballot:

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to abolish the Constitution Revision Commission, which meets at 20-year intervals and is scheduled to next convene in 2037, as a method of submitting proposed amendments or revisions to the State Constitution to electors of the state for approval. This amendment does not affect the ability to revise or amend the State Constitution through citizen initiative, constitutional convention, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, or legislative joint resolution.

Summary (from the League of Women Voters FL):

An amendment to Florida’s Constitution can get on the ballot several ways, including through a vote by the Legislature, a citizen-led petition drive, constitutional convention, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission and the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), which convenes every 20 years and whose 37 members are appointed by the governor, legislative leaders and the chief justice of the Florida Supreme court. This amendment would abolish the CRC, which last convened in 2017-18 and placed eight amendments on the 2018 ballot, several of which bundled different amendments into one question.

A YES vote would:

Eliminate the Constitution Revision Commission, which was created in 1968 and meets every 20 years to consider changes to the state Constitution.

Leaves four ways for a constitutional amendment to get on the ballot: through the Legislature, a citizen-led initiative, constitutional convention, or the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission.

A NO vote would:

Preserve the state’s Constitution Revision Commission and its ability to present amendments to the voters every 20 years.

News Coverage of the amendment:

Florida Amendment 3 - Additional Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Specified Critical Public Service Workforce

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Amendment Sponsor: Florida Legislature

Wording on the Ballot:

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to grant an additional homestead tax exemption for nonschool levies of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of homestead property owned by classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and Florida National Guard members. This amendment shall take effect January 1, 2023.

Summary (from the League of Women Voters FL):

This amendment would authorize the state Legislature to create a new homestead exemption of up to $50,000 for certain public service employees, including “classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and members of the Florida National Guard.” The exemption means property owners in these professions can subtract $50,000 from the assessed value of their property, which will reduce their local property tax bills. The exemption would be in addition to the standard $50,000 homestead exemptions Floridians already receive on their primary residence. The new exemption would not apply to assessments for school taxes. The Legislature has already passed a companion bill that, if the constitutional amendment is passed by 60% of Florida’s voters, will create the new exemption and make it effective on Jan. 1, 2023.

A Yes vote would:

  • Allow the Legislature to create a new homestead exemption up to $50,000.
  • Exclude the exemption from assessments for school property taxes.
  • Cost local governments $85.9 million in lost revenue for fiscal year 2023-24, growing to $96 million in fiscal year 2026-27. The state would make up for the losses in Florida’s 29 “fiscally constrained” counties, primarily rural counties in the Panhandle and South Florida’s interior.
  • Trigger a companion bill that puts the new exemption into effect as of Jan. 1, 2023.


A No vote would:

  • Reject giving lawmakers the ability to create a new homestead exemption for certain public service occupations up to $50,000.
  • Have no effect on property tax revenue collected by local governments.
  • Render moot the bill that would have created the new homestead exemption if the amendment had passed.

News Coverage of amendment 3:

Florida Amendment 4 - Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments

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Amendment Sponsor: Keep Our Constitution Clean PC

Wording on the Ballot:

Requires all proposed amendments or revisions to the state constitution to be approved by the voters in two elections,
instead of one, in order to take effect. The proposal applies the current thresholds for passage to each of the two elections.

It is probable that the proposed amendment will result in additional state and local government costs to conduct elections in Florida. Overall, these costs will vary from election cycle to election cycle depending on the unique circumstances of each ballot and cannot be estimated at this time. The key factors determining cost include the number of amendments appearing for the second time on each ballot and the length of those amendments. Since the maximum state cost is likely less than $1 million per cycle but the impact cannot be discretely quantified, the change to the state’s budget is unknown. Similarly, the economic impact cannot be modelled, although the spending increase is expected to be below the threshold that would
produce a statewide economic impact. Because there are no revenues linked to voting in Florida, there will be no impact on
government taxes or fees.

THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS AMENDMENT CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO AMBIGUITIES AND UNCERTAINTIES SURROUNDING THE AMENDMENT’S IMPACT.

News Coverage of the amendment:

Summary (in laymen's terms):

Requires voter-approved constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at a second general election

Summary: Amendment 4 seeks to require that all proposed amendments and revisions to the Florida constitution be voted on and approved by 60% of voters in two consecutive general elections in order to pass. The current process allows an amendment to become part of the constitution after reaching 60% approval in one general election.

  • YES vote = You support requiring voter-approved constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at a second consecutive general election to become effective.
  • NO vote = You oppose requiring voter-approved constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at a second consecutive general election to become effective.


If this passes…

  • Voters’ ability to amend our constitution and act as a check on the state legislature when it fails to act in the best interest of Floridians will be significantly limited
  • Corporations and special interest groups that are well-funded will have second chances to defeat amendments that initially pass (with 60% of the vote)
  • Citizen initiatives will require significantly more time and money investments in order to successfully pass voter-led initiatives


Supporters: Keep Our Constitution Clean, Florida Chamber of Commerce

Opponents: Southern Poverty Law Center, Common Cause, The League of Women Voters of Florida, ACLU, AFL-CIO, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, Service Employees International Union, New Florida Majority, Florida Civic Engagement Table, Organize Florida, Florida Immigrant Coalition

Orange County - Rent Stabilization Ordinance

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Wording on the Ballot:

Shall the Orange County Rent Stabilization Ordinance, which limits rent increases for certain residential rental units in multifamily structures to the average annual increase in the Consumer Price Index, and requires the
County to create a process for landlords to request an exception to the limitation on the rent increase based on an opportunity to receive a fair and reasonable return on investment, be approved for a period of one
year?

Summary (in laymen's terms):

If passed, the rent stabilization measure would cap many rents in the county to the rise in the consumer price index for one year. 

News Coverage of the MEASURE:

Orange County - Transportation System Surtax

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Wording on the Ballot:

Shall a Charter County and Regional Transportation System Surtax at the rate of one percent (1%) be levied in Orange County, Florida for a period of 20 years with
revenue deposited into a trust fund dedicated exclusively to transportation and transit improvement uses authorized by law, with oversight and accountability for the revenue provided by a citizen oversight board and the elected comptroller, as approved by the Board of County Commissioners?

Summary (in laymen's terms):

Orange County is proposing a one-cent sales tax dedicated to transportation projects, infrastructure, technology, transit, and safety. The proposed surtax is projected to generate $600 million annually in County revenues, representing $11.9 billion over 20 years.

News Coverage: