Two former Florida mayors and a new nonprofit sued in Leon County Circuit Court on June 11, 2026, claiming the ballot language for HJR 1F—a property tax amendment set for November—is unconstitutionally biased and misleading. The plaintiffs, Thomas Campenni (former mayor of Stuart) and Michael Davey (former mayor of Key Biscayne), along with Save Our Voters From Misleading Ballot Language, Inc., argue the ballot title reads like a campaign slogan rather than a neutral description of the measure. The lawsuit names Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Attorney General James Uthmeier as defendants.
The ballot title approved by lawmakers is 'SAVE OUR HOMES FROM EXCESSIVE PROPERTY TAXES.' Plaintiffs say this language is not a factual summary of the amendment but a sales pitch. They note the measure has no connection to the 1992 'Save Our Homes' cap on property tax increases, yet it borrows the familiar name while adding the phrase 'excessive property taxes,' which they claim is emotionally charged and misleading. The lawsuit does not challenge the amendment's substance but focuses on the wording voters will see on November ballots.
The complaint, filed by Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, argues the legislature crafted a ballot summary that functions as a campaign advertisement. The plaintiffs contend that the phrase 'excessive property taxes' implies a specific policy stance not addressed in the amendment itself. They also point out that the ballot summary fails to explain the amendment's actual provisions, such as changes to how property values are assessed for tax purposes.
The lawsuit seeks a court order declaring the ballot language unconstitutional. If successful, the case could force lawmakers to rewrite the title and summary before the November election. The defendants have not yet responded to the complaint. The case highlights growing concerns about the clarity and neutrality of ballot language in Florida, where voters often face complex amendments with politically charged titles.