WSHC+B has secured a significant victory in a challenge to the ballot language for a proposed Florida constitutional amendment that would significantly alter Florida’s property tax system. The litigation team is led by WSHC+B Broward Office Managing Partner Jamie A. Cole, along with attorneys Daniel L. Abbott and Bryan C. Siddique.
The proposed amendment would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes and reduce the cap on increases on assessment for nonhomestead properties.
Leon County Circuit Judge David Frank ruled that the proposed ballot title and summary are biased and inaccurate because they do not fairly and objectively describe the amendment for voters. The Court enjoined the Secretary of State from placing the current ballot language on the November 2026 ballot and ordered the Attorney General to prepare revised ballot language within 10 days.
The lawsuit sought to ensure that Florida voters receive fair, accurate, and legally sufficient ballot language before casting their ballots; it does not seek to deprive the voters from voting on this issue.
Jamie represents local officials and governments in legal matters that help to improve their communities and better preserve home rule power. He also represents private and public clients in complex litigation and is an accomplished appellate attorney.
Dan focuses on governmental and commercial litigation. A persuasive litigator and a seasoned appellate attorney, he represents clients in cases involving land use/zoning, employment discrimination, civil rights, constitution law, police liability and products liability in state and federal courts.
Bryan represents clients in litigation matters, drawing on his experience clerking for both the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to navigate complex legal disputes.
