Topic: Constitutional Amendments

The Florida Supreme Court is being asked to strike down a law that lets Gov. Rick Scott shield the complete disclosure of his finances. A former top aide to the late Gov. Reubin Askew, Jim Apthorp, filed an emergency petition Wednesday, saying a 2013 law can't shade the Sunshine Amendment

The amendment would clarify that the winner of the 2014 gubernatorial election would be able to replace three Florida Supreme Court justices slated to retire at the end of the winner's term.

Sen. Tom Lee wants to make clear the winner of the 2014 gubernatorial election would appoint the replacements of three Florida Supreme Court justices whose terms end January 2019.

Republican Allison DeFoor became chairman of Florida's Water and Land Legacy Inc., according to election papers filed this week. The political committee faces opposition from Republican leaders in the Legislature. "This is where Floridians' hearts are," DeFoor said. "It just needs to be well discussed -- exactly what is being proposed." ... Related Research: Documents, analysis and opinions on the amendment.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam last fall proposed extending the property tax exemption for renewable energy to commercial property. The bills filed this week would limit the exemption to the end-users of the energy because of concerns by utilities about competition from new energy providers.

Few environmental issues were raised during presentations by Republican speakers at the annual AP Legislative Planning Session. But Democrats Charlie Crist and Sen. Bill Montford raised the issues, and Crist said his campaign would focus on it. Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford criticized a proposed constitutional amendment to devote state revenue to land-buying. ... Related Research: Crist statements about Lake Okeechobee releases, Scott response.

But qualifying in enough congressional districts is a challenge. It appears proponents will meet the statewide threshold for ballot placement but it is unclear whether they've collected signatures equal to 8 percent of voter turnout in at least 14 congressional districts.

Sponsor of 2008 amendment calls the suit a publicity stunt.

Justices question lawyers closely as they seek to decide whether the ballot summary and title of a proposal to legalize medical use of marijuana accurately inform voters of what they're voting on, and whether the amendment deals with a single subject. ... Related Research: Constitutional Amendment Petition Form for the Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions.

The general counsels for the Florida Senate and Florida House charge that the authors of the proposed medical marijuana amendment engaged in wordsmithing in their uncommon use of the terms "debilitating," "caregivers" and "certain." In a brief filed with the Supreme Court in support of the Attorney General's request to block the proposal from the ballot, they also argued the amendment would block a patient's ability to seek redress in a court of law.

Medicinal marijuana would appear to be a taxable product in Florida. State economists trying to calculate the fiscal impact of a proposed constitutional amendment conclude lawmakers could disqualify it for an agricultural exemption by requiring a third-party seller. And the Department of Revenue is "uncomfortable" with granting marijuana a Common Household Remedy exemption. ... Related Research: Materials from EDR's Financial Impact Estimating Conference workshops on Medical Marijuana

Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford on Oct. 22 wrote that the 1994 constitutional amendment limiting the use of fishing nets and state rules had created a "legal absurdity" that was unfair to the fishermen. "I think lifting the stay in its entirety will unleash a war of epic proportions on this (mullet) population," Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Glogau said. ... Related Research: Records from the 1994 constitutional amendment and the latest legal challenge.

A proposed amendment would provide an estimated $19 billion to state Land Acquisition Trust Fund over the next 20 years. Florida's Water and Land Legacy Inc. is trying to raise $2.4 million towards collecting signatures and dealing with the legal expenses of getting the measure on the 2014 general election ballot. The Trust for Public Land and its affiliates have provided more than 40 percent of donations received so far. ... Related Research: Text of amendment, financial reports.

Sen. Eleanor Sobel insists her proposal, which is scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, is not about circumventing a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. She said it's about rights for people who love each other whether they are gay or straight. ... Related Research: Announcement from Sen. Sobel's Office, and ACLU of Florida action alert.