Jamie A. Cole – Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman https://www.wsh-law.com At the Crossroads of Business, Government & the Law Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:37:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Déjà Vu: Another Misleading Property Tax Ballot Question https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/deja-vu-another-misleading-property-tax-ballot-question/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:52:21 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=13286 Nearly 20 years ago, I filed a lawsuit challenging a proposed constitutional amendment that would have dramatically changed Florida’s property tax system. In a June 2007 special session, the Florida Legislature approved a ballot measure to create a “Super Exemption” of up to $195,000 for homesteaded properties. To improve its chances of passage, the ballot […]

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]]> Nearly 20 years ago, I filed a lawsuit challenging a proposed constitutional amendment that would have dramatically changed Florida’s property tax system. In a June 2007 special session, the Florida Legislature approved a ballot measure to create a “Super Exemption” of up to $195,000 for homesteaded properties. To improve its chances of passage, the ballot language assured voters that Florida’s well-known Save Our Homes protections would be “preserved” — even though the proposal would have actually phased those protections out. On behalf of then-Weston Mayor Eric Hersh, I challenged that language in court. Second Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Charles Francis agreed it was misleading and ordered the measure removed from the ballot.

Now history appears to be repeating itself.

During another hastily conducted special session, the Legislature approved a proposed amendment that would increase Florida’s homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 and beyond, adjusted for inflation.

Whether that is good policy is for voters to decide.

The problem is that they are not being given a fair and neutral description of what they are being asked to approve.

The Florida Constitution is the foundation of our democracy, and the right to amend it belongs to the people. That right becomes meaningless if the ballot language advocates and misleads, rather than objectively explains.

The title and summary approved by the Legislature do exactly that.

The title — “Save our homes from excessive property taxes” — is not a neutral description of the amendment’s purpose. It is a campaign slogan.

The summary endorses rather than describes. It tells voters only one side of the story — how the amendment “benefits Florida taxpayers.”

It claims the amendment is “Ensuring funding for core services.” But the amendment guarantees no funding for police, fire, schools or infrastructure. By shrinking the local tax base, it is more likely to reduce the revenue available for those services. Reasonable people can debate that tradeoff; but it cannot fairly be called “ensuring funding.”

It claims to be “Protecting small businesses,” though small businesses are never mentioned in the text of the amendment, which simply limits future assessment increases on all non-homesteaded property. Calling that “protecting small businesses” is advocacy, not explanation.

It tells voters the amendment “requires, through general law, a schedule for full elimination” of non-school property taxes on homesteaded property. The actual language requires no such thing. It merely directs the Legislature to create procedures by which local governments may choose to grant further exemptions “up to all remaining assessed valuation” — not necessarily the full amount.

Finally, the summary declares the amendment is “Ensuring fairness for Florida residents.” Yet it offers relief only to homesteaded owners. Florida residents who rent their homes are likely to see higher costs as landlords pass along higher property taxes resulting from increased millage rates. And Florida residents who establish (or re-establish) residency after Dec. 31, 2026, must wait five years for the full $250,000 exemption.

Supporters of the amendment are free to campaign for it. Opponents are free to campaign against it. That is how democracy works. But the ballot itself should not be part of the campaign.

Regardless of where one stands on property taxes, every Floridian should agree on one principle: Constitutional amendments should rise or fall on an honest, neutral explanation of what they actually do. That was the issue in 2007, when a court found voters were given a misleading description of a major property tax proposal. The policy is different today; the principle is not.

The Florida Constitution belongs to the people — not to politicians, political consultants or advertising copywriters. Before voters are asked to rewrite it, they deserve a ballot question that accurately informs rather than persuades.

Jamie A. Cole is Fort Lauderdale office managing partner of law firm Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, representing local officials and governments in matters that help improve their communities and preserve home rule power.

The Sun Sentinel originally published this article on June 8, 2026.

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]]> Jamie Cole Recognized in Florida Trend’s 2025 Florida 500 List https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/jamie-cole-recognized-in-florida-trends-2025-florida-500-list/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Thu, 23 Oct 2025 17:00:53 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=12538 WSHC+B partner and Managing Director of the Fort Lauderdale office, Jamie A. Cole was recognized in Florida Trend’s 2025 Florida 500 list as one of the state’s most influential business leaders in law. This marks Jamie’s fifth year on the Florida 500 list. Jamie was recognized for his leadership at Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + […]

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]]> WSHC+B partner and Managing Director of the Fort Lauderdale office, Jamie A. Cole was recognized in Florida Trend’s 2025 Florida 500 list as one of the state’s most influential business leaders in law. This marks Jamie’s fifth year on the Florida 500 list.

Jamie was recognized for his leadership at Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman since 1999, helping guide the firm—known for being “at the crossroads of business, government, and law”—in representing governments, individuals, and private entities across Florida. As Chair of the Broward County Bar Association’s Law Firm Committee, he also spearheaded the development of a special magistrate program aimed at enhancing professionalism and civility among attorneys in Broward County.

Florida 500 is a special annual publication that highlights executives across various economic sectors in Florida. Florida Trend editors pick the state’s most influential business leaders after a year-long research initiative.

To view Jamie’s full profile in the Florida 500, please click here.

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]]> WSHC+B Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/wshcb-attorneys-selected-for-inclusion-in-the-best-lawyers-in-america/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Thu, 21 Aug 2025 15:21:00 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=12391 Congratulations to all our attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.  Thirty-eight lawyers were recognized across nineteen distinct practice areas, and eleven attorneys were recognized as Ones to Watch. Two of our attorneys received “Lawyer of the Year” honors. Miami Office Managing […]

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]]> Congratulations to all our attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. 

Thirty-eight lawyers were recognized across nineteen distinct practice areas, and eleven attorneys were recognized as Ones to Watch.

Two of our attorneys received “Lawyer of the Year” honors. Miami Office Managing Director Mitchell A. Bierman was recognized for his work in Administrative / Regulatory Law in Miami, and Partner Michael J. Kurzman was recognized for Litigation – Construction in Fort Lauderdale.

Best Lawyers has employed the same transparent methodology for more than 35 years, based entirely on peer review. 

The following includes all Firm attorneys named and areas in which they are recognized:

Miami, FL

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Boca Raton, FL

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]]> WSHC+B Mentioned in the Martin County Press on Florida Senate Bill 180 https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/wshcb-mentioned-in-the-martin-county-press-on-florida-senate-bill-180/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Mon, 04 Aug 2025 19:58:23 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=12380 WSHC+B was featured in The Martin County Press for its leadership representing municipalities across Florida in litigation challenging Senate Bill 180. The article highlights the firm’s role in organizing a legal coalition seeking an injunction to prevent enforcement of the law in its current form. Senate Bill 180 restricts local governments from adopting land use […]

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]]> WSHC+B was featured in The Martin County Press for its leadership representing municipalities across Florida in litigation challenging Senate Bill 180. The article highlights the firm’s role in organizing a legal coalition seeking an injunction to prevent enforcement of the law in its current form.

Senate Bill 180 restricts local governments from adopting land use regulations deemed more restrictive than those in place as of July 2024. It applies retroactively to August 1, 2024, and allows applicants to challenge ordinances through a pre-suit process, with municipalities facing up to $250,000 in legal fees if unsuccessful. Though framed as a hurricane recovery measure, the law applies statewide and raises concerns about unintended consequences, including inconsistent building standards, insurance challenges, and weakened local planning authority.

Quoted in the article, WSHC+B partner Jamie Cole stated: “Senate Bill 180 significantly limits the authority of local governments to adopt land use regulations considered more restrictive or burdensome than current laws.”

WSHC+B is actively advising municipal clients statewide to review land-use and development regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, to assess potential legal risks under SB 180, and to consider the effect of the bill on their enactments that could be construed as more restrictive or burdensome than current laws.

If your municipality has questions or needs guidance on navigating the implications of Florida Senate Bill 180 and related hurricane recovery laws, please contact Jamie A. Cole (jcole@wsh-law.com) or Susan Trevarthen (strevarthen@wsh-law.com).

Click here to read the full article by the Martin County Press.

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]]> WSHC+B Partner Jamie Cole Quoted in The Gainesville Sun on Florida Senate Bill 180 https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/wshcb-partner-jamie-cole-quoted-in-the-gainesville-sun-on-florida-senate-bill-180/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:19:43 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=12312 WSHC+B Partner and Broward Office Managing Director Jamie A. Cole was quoted in the Gainesville Sun regarding Florida Senate Bill 180, which significantly limited the authority of local governments to adopt land use regulations considered more restrictive or burdensome than current laws. SB 180, now enrolled as Chapter 2025-190 of the Laws of Florida, prohibits […]

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]]> WSHC+B Partner and Broward Office Managing Director Jamie A. Cole was quoted in the Gainesville Sun regarding Florida Senate Bill 180, which significantly limited the authority of local governments to adopt land use regulations considered more restrictive or burdensome than current laws.

SB 180, now enrolled as Chapter 2025-190 of the Laws of Florida, prohibits local governments from imposing moratoria on redevelopment or enacting land use regulations that are “more restrictive or burdensome” for up to one year after a future hurricane makes landfall, if the community is within 100 miles of the storm track. 

Notably, it also retroactively applies a similar limitation to regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, effectively placing a freeze on local zoning authority across the entire state.  While this provision of the bill purports to affect only certain communities affected by three recent storms, it actually applies to every community in Florida due to the breadth of recent federal disaster declarations.

Jamie noted that the law could prevent local governments from adopting common-sense measures to improve resilience in areas prone to flooding. “We can learn from a hurricane, say, that certain areas flood terribly. So, if a city wants to pass an ordinance that says that if you redevelop, you’ve got to make houses a little higher. Well, now, we can’t do that.”

WSHC+B is actively advising municipal clients statewide to review land-use and development regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, to assess potential legal risks under SB 180, and to consider the effect of the bill on their enactments that could be construed as more restrictive or burdensome than current laws.

If your municipality has questions or needs guidance on navigating the implications of Florida Senate Bill 180 and related hurricane recovery laws, please contact Jamie A. Cole (jcole@wsh-law.com) or Susan Trevarthen (strevarthen@wsh-law.com).

Click here to read the full article by The Gainesville Sun.

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]]> WSHC+B Partners Featured in Law360 Article on Florida’s New Land Use Restrictions in Hurricane Legislation https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/wshcb-partners-featured-in-law360-article-on-floridas-new-land-use-restrictions-in-hurricane-legislation/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:10:02 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=12306 In a recent article published by Law360 titled “Local Restrictions in New Fla. Hurricane Law Cause Friction,” WSHC+B Partner and Broward Office Managing Director Jamie A. Cole and Partner Susan Trevarthen shared their insights on Florida Senate Bill 180, also known as the “Emergencies” bill. This sweeping new law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, aims […]

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]]> In a recent article published by Law360 titled “Local Restrictions in New Fla. Hurricane Law Cause Friction,” WSHC+B Partner and Broward Office Managing Director Jamie A. Cole and Partner Susan Trevarthen shared their insights on Florida Senate Bill 180, also known as the “Emergencies” bill. This sweeping new law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, aims to streamline hurricane recovery but has drawn criticism for significantly limiting local governments’ control over land use and zoning unrelated to any storm impact.

SB 180, now enrolled as Chapter 2025-190 of the Laws of Florida, prohibits local governments from imposing moratoria on redevelopment or enacting land use regulations that are “more restrictive or burdensome” for up to one year after a future hurricane makes landfall, if the community is within 100 miles of the storm track.

Notably, it also retroactively applies a similar limitation to regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, effectively placing a freeze on local zoning authority across the entire state.  While this provision of the bill purports to only affect certain communities affected by three recent storms, it actually applies to every community in Florida due to the breadth of recent federal disaster declarations.

Jamie A. Cole, who has substantial experience regarding home rule matters, described the legislation as an unprecedented overreach into municipal autonomy.

“It’s not just development regulations related to hurricane recovery. It’s anything. So it just kind of opens the complete door to development,” Cole told Law360. “It’s an unbelievable intrusion into home rule authority for cities, because cities basically can no longer pass things that they think are in the best interest of their community.”

Susan Trevarthen, who leads the firm’s local government land use practice, emphasized that the law’s provision for future storms undermines the very foundation of municipal home rule power. “So what that creates is a perpetual situation where it’s chaotic and unpredictable when local governments will ever have their land-use powers again,” she said. 

The article also highlights concerns from local governments that broad, undefined terms like “more restrictive” or “burdensome” could invite lawsuits from developers, potentially discouraging necessary regulation even when public safety is at stake. Trevarthen noted that effectively, “you don’t have power if you can only use it to say yes.”

WSHC+B is actively advising municipal clients statewide to carefully review land-use and development regulations adopted since August 1, 2024, to assess potential legal risks under SB 180, and to consider the impact of the bill in their future enactments. The firm is collaborating with several cities considering constitutional challenges and is analyzing viable legal strategies to protect local authority.

Cole noted that Florida “cities are in a tough spot right now. And they’re going to have to decide whether to just abide by it or try to challenge it.”

If your municipality has questions or needs guidance on navigating the implications of Florida Senate Bill 180 and related hurricane recovery laws, please contact Jamie A. Cole (jcole@wsh-law.com) or Susan Trevarthen (strevarthen@wsh-law.com).

Click here to read the full article by Law360. 

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]]> All Four WSHC+B Managing Partners Named As SFBJ’s 2025 Power Leaders in Law & Accounting https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/all-four-wshcb-managing-partners-named-as-sfbjs-2025-power-leaders-in-law-accounting/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:05:30 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=12273 WSHC+B is proud to announce that the South Florida Business Journal has named all four of WSHC+B’s Managing Directors to its 2025 Power Leaders in Law & Accounting list. Firm Managing Director Mitchell J. Burnstein, Miami Office Managing Director Mitchell A. Bierman, Fort Lauderdale Office Managing Director Jamie A. Cole, and Boca Raton Office Managing […]

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]]> WSHC+B is proud to announce that the South Florida Business Journal has named all four of WSHC+B’s Managing Directors to its 2025 Power Leaders in Law & Accounting list.

Firm Managing Director Mitchell J. Burnstein, Miami Office Managing Director Mitchell A. Bierman, Fort Lauderdale Office Managing Director Jamie A. Cole, and Boca Raton Office Managing Director Brett J. Schneider were recognized for their leadership in shaping strategy, mentoring attorneys, and guiding WSHC+B’s continued impact.

This annual series spotlights the region’s most influential legal and financial professionals driving innovation and business growth across South Florida.

To view the full list of 2025 honorees for Power Leaders in Law & Accounting, please click here for part one and click here for part two of the list.

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]]> WSHC+B Partners Recognized in Florida Trend’s 2025 Notable Managing Partners List https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/wshcb-partners-recognized-in-florida-trends-2025-notable-managing-partners-list/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:49:41 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=12256 Firm Managing Director Mitchell J. Burnstein, Miami Office Managing Director Mitchell A. Bierman, Fort Lauderdale Office Managing Director Jamie A. Cole, and Boca Raton Office Managing Director Brett J. Schneider were recognized by Florida Trend in its annual 2025 Notable Managing Partners list. Florida Trend’s editorial review team vetted and selected individual managing partners who […]

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]]> Firm Managing Director Mitchell J. Burnstein, Miami Office Managing Director Mitchell A. Bierman, Fort Lauderdale Office Managing Director Jamie A. Cole, and Boca Raton Office Managing Director Brett J. Schneider were recognized by Florida Trend in its annual 2025 Notable Managing Partners list.

Florida Trend’s editorial review team vetted and selected individual managing partners who qualified for inclusion by meeting and exceeding specific criteria and methodology parameters that were adopted for its nomination process. The state’s most influential managing partners were selected after a year-long research initiative by the editors of Florida Trend.

Representing our offices throughout South Florida, each WSHC+B managing partner plays a key role in advancing the firm’s development throughout the region. Their commitment and leadership has made them recognized in the profession, mentors within their teams, and advocates for their communities.

Click here to view Florida Trend’s Legal Elite – Notable Managing Partners list.

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]]> WSHC+B Attorneys Recognized as 2025 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars https://www.wsh-law.com/news-updates/wshcb-attorneys-recognized-as-2025-super-lawyers-and-rising-stars/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:02:44 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=12217 WSHC+B is pleased to announce that 12 of our attorneys have been named to the 2025 Florida Super Lawyers list, with two additional attorneys recognized as Rising Stars. Super Lawyers recognizes distinguished attorneys who have undergone a rigorous screening process and are ultimately selected for inclusion in their annual list of exceptional legal professionals. Published […]

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]]> WSHC+B is pleased to announce that 12 of our attorneys have been named to the 2025 Florida Super Lawyers list, with two additional attorneys recognized as Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers recognizes distinguished attorneys who have undergone a rigorous screening process and are ultimately selected for inclusion in their annual list of exceptional legal professionals. Published by Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyers is a rating service of attorneys from more than 70 practice areas and determines its rankings through independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. Only the top 5 percent of outstanding lawyers in Florida are rated by Super Lawyers, while no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers under 40 years old or who have practiced for fewer than 10 years are selected as Rising Stars.

The firm’s recognized attorneys are listed below.

Miami

Recognized as Super Lawyers

Fort Lauderdale

Recognized as Super Lawyers

Recognized as Rising Stars

Boca Raton

Recognized as Super Lawyers

Recognized as Rising Stars

● Jeremey Rosner

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]]> Client Alert: Florida Legislature Retroactively Prohibits Any More Restrictive Regulations on Development from 2024 to 2027 and Beyond https://www.wsh-law.com/blog/client-alert-florida-legislature-retroactively-prohibits-any-more-restrictive-regulations-on-development-from-2024-to-2027-and-beyond/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Mon, 12 May 2025 20:44:23 +0000 https://www.wsh-law.com/?p=12083 In a sweeping attack on the home rule authority of every city and county in the state of Florida, the Florida Legislature has adopted Senate Bill 180 (SB 180) with a last-minute amendment that prohibits all local government initiated ordinances that impose more restrictive or burdensome comprehensive plan amendments, land development regulations, or procedures concerning […]

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]]> In a sweeping attack on the home rule authority of every city and county in the state of Florida, the Florida Legislature has adopted Senate Bill 180 (SB 180) with a last-minute amendment that prohibits all local government initiated ordinances that impose more restrictive or burdensome comprehensive plan amendments, land development regulations, or procedures concerning review, approval, or issuance of site plans, development permits, or development orders for the period commencing August 1, 2024, through October 1, 2027. SB 180 also bans local moratoria on construction, reconstruction, or redevelopment of property damaged by a hurricane during the same timeframe. Critically, the amended law applies retroactively, declaring such ordinances null and void ab initio.

To enforce compliance, SB 180 empowers residents and businesses to bring civil actions against local governments to obtain declaratory and injunctive relief, along with recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs, if a local government fails to announce its intent to repeal such ordinance within 14 days of receiving written demand, and proceeds to repeal such ordinance within 30 days.

Although the amendment appears to be limited in its impact and apply only to counties identified in Federal Disaster Declarations for Hurricanes Debby (DR-4806), Helene (DR-4828), and Milton (DR-4834), those declarations collectively cover every county and municipality in Florida.

SB 180 is currently pending presentation to the Governor. Local governments should immediately review all ordinances adopted since August 1, 2024, and assess whether any fall within the scope of this sweeping state preemption. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us to discuss: Jamie A. Cole (jcole@wsh-law.com); Susan Trevarthen (strevarthen@wsh-law.com); Chad S. Friedman (cfriedman@wsh-law.com); or Roger C. Pou (rpou@wsh-law.com).

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