SJR 1742 would require three-fifths vote of both the House and Senate to raise taxes
The Florida Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance and Tax, chaired by Senator Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland), today passed SJR 1742, Supermajority Vote Required to Increase State Tax Revenues by Increasing State Taxes. The legislation proposes an amendment to Florida’s Constitution to require a law that imposes a new tax, increases the rate or amount of a tax, or expands a tax base, and that results in a net increase in state revenues, be approved by three-fifths of the membership of each house of the Legislature.
“Every dollar spent on taxes is one less that a family has to pay the mortgage, invest in a child’s college education, or save for the future. Families across our state plan their budgets carefully to make every dollar count, and this legislation ensures lawmakers do the same by giving voters a chance to make it harder for future legislatures to raise their taxes,” said Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart).
“Families across Florida understand the sacrifice it takes to increase family revenue by working extra hours, or taking on a second job, and they do not make those difficult decisions lightly,” said Senator Stargel. “Likewise, raising state revenues by taking more money from the pockets of hardworking Floridians should be difficult. This amendment gives voters a chance to make it harder for the Legislature to raise state taxes, and I am pleased to see it pass our committee today.”
The amendment proposed in SJR 1742 will take effect on January 8, 2019, if approved by sixty percent of the voters.
