Through a statewide referendum, the amendment achieved only 58.7% support among voters in the U.S. state of Florida, short of the 60% majority required by state law,[1] although higher than the 2006 amendment which created the 60% requirement.The amendment proposed an increase to the state's homestead tax exemption for specific groups including "teachers, police officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency-medical technicians, paramedics, child-welfare services professionals, and active-duty members of the military and Florida National Guard.

"[2] The Tallahassee Democrat cited "severe teacher and prison-security shortages" as factors contributing to the proposal of the referendum.

[3] The amendment was sponsored by Josie Tomkow, a Republican state legislator representing Polk City.

One state legislator, Democrat Bobby Powell of West Palm Beach, opposed the amendment, along with the Florida League of Women Voters, the Palm Beach Post, and the Tampa Bay Times.

There was little correlation between county partisanship and levels of support for the amendment.