Abortion

Supported by about 1 million voters who signed petitions, Amendment 4 would protect abortion access in the state of Florida.

The proposal would allow abortions without condition until viability, which is estimated to be at about 24 weeks of pregnancy. It also allows abortions when a healthcare provider deems it necessary to protect a patient’s health, without any limit on when that determination could occur.

If voters back the amendment, they would be overturning Florida’s six-week abortion ban that passed the state Legislature last year and is set to take effect in May. That law also includes limited health exceptions for abortions conducted later in pregnancy.

The proposal has been polarizing since the state Supreme Court ruled that it passed muster to be on the November ballot. Conservatives have described it as an “extreme” proposal that allows abortion “until birth.” Abortion-rights groups say that’s false.

DeSantis has also claimed the amendment would override a law that requires that parents give an affirmative “yes” for their child to have an abortion. Others have claimed it would affect Florida’s mandatory 24-hour waiting period, which took effect in 2022. The courts are likely to decide.

If approved, amendment 3 will go into effect in January 2025.

Property Taxes

Amendment 5 could give homeowners more savings on their property taxes by adjusting one of the state’s homestead exemptions for inflation.

In Florida, properties are taxed using a formula that includes “millage rates” assessed by local governments, like cities and school boards, and the value of a home.

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