The modern Florida Constitution was adopted in 1968.
But it鈥檚 still being written.
Floridians have voted to modify the state鈥檚 governing charter in almost every election cycle since then.
In this year鈥檚 legislative session, lawmakers are trying to constitutional amendments on the ballot. They鈥檙e simultaneously trying to for citizens to do the same.
Floridians can expect plenty of headlines about this throughout the year.
Though distinct processes, the legislative and citizens鈥� initiative methods can both achieve the same big result: a new law of the land.
Here is what鈥檚 important to know.
Citizens' initiative process
In recent years, Floridians have approved a number of widely wanted changes that state leaders either disliked or ignored. These were put on the ballot by citizens:
And in 2026, voters may see a slew of on the ballot.
That that would bring recreational marijuana to the state 鈥� doing that fell short of approval.
constitutional protections for those with home insurance, and a different proposal would .
But to actually appear on the 2026 ballot, they would have to make it through the state鈥檚 citizens鈥� initiative process.
That鈥檚 not an easy task, especially of lawmakers making it more burdensome and expensive.
To for the ballot, it must get nearly 900,000 Floridian signatures.
It then goes to the Florida Supreme Court for review. Justices must decide if a proposed amendment鈥檚 language adheres to a single subject and isn鈥檛 misleading.
That鈥檚 proven to be a challenge for some groups pushing citizens' initiatives. got nixed in 2021, for example. The , the Supreme Court rejected another targeting assault weapons.
But the court did approve two high profile amendments in 2024 that would鈥檝e expanded marijuana and abortion access. from Gov. Ron DeSantis, even though he appointed most of the justices.
and political committees, the governor launched a fierce campaign against those amendments.
They ultimately fell percentage points short of passage.
The 60% approval threshold required of constitutional amendments presents another challenge. only require a simple majority.
That once was the case in Florida, but voters in 2006 approved a legislatively placed amendment that raised it. (Ironically, the 鈥測es鈥� 60%.)
Something to watch:
Following the 2024 ballot measure battle, Republican lawmakers, citing fraud concerns, are to the petition process 鈥� changes that many Democrats and voting rights advocates say would make it significantly harder.
One proposal, though, would ban the use of public funds to advocate for or against a ballot measure.
Legislature's amendment process
As Florida lawmakers contemplate making the amendment-placing process tougher for citizens, they鈥檙e also eyeing their own 2026 ballot measures.
For them to get something , proposed measures must pass the Senate and House by a three-fifths vote.
Since Republicans have the legislative supermajority, any measure the party at large wants to put on the ballot has a good chance of getting there.
READ MORE: Florida lawmakers defy DeSantis in rift over state budget
The governor cannot veto it, and there鈥檚 no mandatory state Supreme Court review. Voters still have to approve it with at least 60% approval.
But, would create new taxes and fees or increase existing ones must be approved by two-thirds of lawmakers before going to voters.
Lawmakers have of proposed amendments for the 2025 legislative session.
Some of the ones already moving through the Capitol would set on county commissioners and school board members, eliminate the 鈥渓ieutenant governor鈥� position a 鈥淐ommissioner of Government Efficiency,鈥� increased property taxes when improvements are made to prevent flood damage.
Other amendment methods
It鈥檚 not just citizens and the Legislature that can suggest constitutional changes.
A 37-member 鈥溾�� convenes every two decades to make proposals. It鈥檚 made up of the Florida attorney general and appointees from the governor, legislative leadership and the state Supreme Court鈥檚 chief justice.
This won鈥檛 happen again until 2037.
Sooner to come a 鈥溾�� is supposed to convene in 2027. The last time it did so was also the first time: 2007. Meant to make tax and budget proposals, it was created through constitutional amendments.
Amendments that would raise or create new taxes and fees would have to be approved by at least two-thirds of Florida voters.
If you have any questions about the legislative session, you can ask the Your Florida team .
This story was produced by WUSF as part of a statewide journalism initiative funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Copyright 2025 WUSF 89.7
