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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.

Gov. Rick Scott: Two Years of Louisiana Tax Increases Makes Florida Better Destination for Business

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Gov. Scott to Tell Louisiana Business Owners to Move to Florida

Governor Rick Scott today announced he will be leading a domestic trade mission to Louisiana this week to convince more businesses to move to Florida. During the trade mission, Governor Scott will meet with Louisiana companies to share how Florida is making it easier for families and job creators to succeed and why they should consider moving their operations to Florida.
Governor Scott said, “While we are fighting to cut taxes and make it harder for politicians to raise taxes in Florida, Louisiana is doing the exact opposite. In fact, for nearly two years, Governor John Bel Edwards has been continuously working to raise taxes instead of reaching a long-term solution for their state’s financial crisis. Passing the buck to Louisiana families and business owners, who are already overburdened by high personal income and business taxes, is clearly not working. Louisiana’s unemployment rate is larger than the national average and their job growth rate is more than three times lower than Florida’s.
“Louisiana leaders should look to Florida to see how to achieve economic growth. Florida faced a $4 billion budget deficit when I became Governor in 2010, but over the past seven years, we have completely turned around Florida’s economy without raising taxes. With no income tax, a low business tax and a business-friendly environment, Florida is the perfect location for Louisiana business owners and families who want to keep more of their hard-earned money. I look forward to sharing this message during our domestic trade mission this week and ultimately welcoming more Louisiana job creators to Florida.”
Additional details on the trade mission will be announced in the coming days.