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Senate Passes Proposed Constitutional Amendment Requiring Supermajority Vote for Tax Increases

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Florida voters can require two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate to raise taxes

The Florida Senate today passed HJR 7001, Supermajority Vote for State Taxes or Fees. The legislation proposes an amendment to Florida’s Constitution to require that a state tax or fee imposed, authorized, or raised by the Legislature, be approved by two-thirds of the membership of each house of the Legislature.

“Florida families plan their budgets carefully to make every dollar count and the Legislature exercises the same attentiveness when appropriating the tax dollars Floridians send us,” said Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart). “Just like Florida families, state government should live within its means.”

“When families across Florida have to find a way to pay for medical bills, braces, a new car, or a broken appliance, they have to sacrifice either by cutting expenses or increasing revenues by working extra hours, or taking on a second job,” said Senator Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance and Tax, who presented HJR 7001 on the Senate floor. “State government should be just as diligent with determining when to make cuts and when to increase revenues. This important legislation gives voters a chance to make it harder for the Legislature to raise state taxes and fees.”

The amendment proposed in HJR 7001 will take effect on January 8, 2019, if approved by sixty percent of the voters.

Constitutional Amendment Requiring Three-Fifths Vote for Tax Increases Passes First Senate Committee

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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.

ICYMI: TCPalm: Commissioner Thurlow-Lippisch: How to Submit Your Idea for a Constitutional Amendment

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Guest Column: “How to Submit Your Idea for a Constitutional Amendment”
TC Palm
By Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, Commissioner, Constitution Revision Commission
August  28, 2017
The Florida Constitution belongs to the people of Florida and is the foundational document of our state government. In that same spirit, I am issuing an open invitation to all interested Floridians to get involved in the Constitution Revision Commission.
Don’t be afraid! The commission is for you, the public.
Although the words “Constitution Revision Commission” might sound intimidating, the process is not. Getting involved is easy, and you have many options to share your comments, ideas and proposals with the commission.
As commissioners, our job is to examine the Florida constitution and propose changes for voter consideration on Florida’s 2018 general election ballot. During this process, we consider proposed constitutional changes submitted by Floridians.
The commission is considering Sept. 22 as the deadline to submit public proposals. Many have already been submitted. We encourage all interested Floridians to submit their proposals as soon as possible!
Read the entire guest column by CRC Commissioner Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch here.
ABOUT THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMISSION (CRC)
Once every twenty years, Florida’s Constitution provides for the creation of a thirty-seven member revision commission for the purpose of reviewing Florida’s Constitution and proposing changes for voter consideration. The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) meets for approximately one year, traveling the State of Florida, identifying issues, performing research and possibly recommending changes to the Constitution. Any amendments proposed by the CRC would be placed on the 2018 General Election ballot. For additional information, visit flcrc.gov. Follow the CRC on Twitter (@FloridaCRC) and Instagram (@FloridaCRC). Like the CRC on Facebook (@FloridaCRC).