Albritton(R) follows former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R), and Senator Alexis Calatayud (R) in opposing the measure; Florida TaxWatch and The Wall Street Journal editorial board have also warned against it
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (October 20, 2026) – Florida Senate President Ben Albritton has announced he will vote against Amendment 3, the proposed constitutional amendment on homestead tax exemptions, property assessments and local spending restrictions. His statement, shared today on social media, makes him the latest Republican leader to break with the measure ahead of the November 3 election.
Albritton, a native of Florida’s Heartland, warned that the amendment would hit rural Florida hardest.
“Amendment 3 would eliminate up to 30% of resources for Florida’s rural counties, gutting essential support for law enforcement, emergency response services and critical infrastructure,” Albritton said. “During my time in the Florida Legislature, I’ve voted for billions of dollars in tax cuts for Florida families, and I’ll keep fighting to make sure that Floridians will keep more of what they earn. Tax relief shouldn’t fall hardest on the communities least able to absorb it.”
Albritton pointed to the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which convenes next year, as the right venue to design property tax reform that is “meaningful, reasonable and balanced.”
“As I always have, I stand proudly with the Florida Sheriffs, first responders and my neighbors across rural Florida,” he said. “I will vote against Amendment 3.”
A growing conservative chorus
Albritton’s announcement comes weeks after his predecessor, former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples), said she would also vote no, and afar Republican Senator Alexis Catalayd said she would vote no.
Florida TaxWatch, the state’s independent, nonpartisan taxpayer watchdog, recommends a “No” vote on Amendment 3 in its 2026 Taxpayer’s Guide to the constitutional amendments. TaxWatch warned that the proposal would worsen the existing shift of billions in property taxes onto non-homestead property, and that without guardrails on local spending, lost revenue would simply be passed on to other property owners or replaced with other taxes, fees and assessments.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board, among the nation’s most prominent conservative voices on tax policy, called Amendment 3 a “poorly designed measure” in a June editorial, “Florida Makes a Property Tax Mistake.” The Journal warned that shrinking the tax base this way would push local governments to shift the burden onto commercial real estate, apartment buildings and business equipment, leaving renters, seasonal residents and businesses paying more.
Public safety stands united
They join a broad public safety coalition opposing Amendment 3, including the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, the Florida Police Chiefs Association, the Florida Professional Firefighters and the Florida Fire Chiefs Association. Property taxes fund most local services in Florida, and police and fire protection are typically the largest line item in local budgets.
State economists at the Revenue Estimating Conference project that if passed Amendment 3 would cut local non-school property tax revenue by roughly $4.95 billion in fiscal year 2027-28 and nearly $11.9 billion a year once fully phased in. The amendment includes no replacement funding for law enforcement, fire rescue or emergency medical services.
For information on how to get involved, visit www.VoteNoOnAmendment3.com.
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