Florida Constitution ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS
Florida Constitution – Article X: Miscellaneous
[Sections 1–40+]
Article X of the Florida Constitution is a comprehensive and diverse article covering a wide variety of subjects that don't neatly fit into other constitutional categories. It includes provisions related to property rights, state symbols, natural resources, military affairs, tobacco use, animals, and more.
🔹 Highlights from Key Sections
Here are some of the notable and commonly referenced sections in Article X:
Section 1: Public Property
Declares that tidewaters and submerged lands belong to the state and are held in trust for the people.
Ensures public access to Florida’s natural waters.
Section 2: Militia
Describes the composition and regulation of Florida’s military forces.
Citizens may be called to service as part of the state militia under specified circumstances.
Section 4: Homestead; Exemptions
One of the most important sections:
Grants homestead property exemption from forced sale under most conditions.
Offers significant protection to homeowners against creditors.
Section 6: Everglades Trust Fund
Establishes the Everglades Trust Fund to support the conservation and restoration of the Everglades ecosystem.
Section 20: Limiting Cruel and Inhumane Confinement of Pigs During Pregnancy
Prohibits inhumane confinement of pregnant pigs.
An example of animal welfare being embedded in the state constitution by voter initiative.
Section 21: Access to Courts
Guarantees that the court system remains open to all for redress of injury.
A vital civil liberties protection.
Section 26: Workplace Smoking
Prohibits smoking in most indoor workplaces to protect public health.
Section 27: Marriage Defined (Now Obsolete)
Originally defined marriage as between a man and a woman.
This section has been rendered unenforceable due to federal court rulings and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.
Section 29: Medical Marijuana
Legalizes medical use of marijuana for individuals with qualifying conditions.
Empowers the state to regulate its distribution and use.
Section 32: Prohibition of Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling
Bans oil and gas drilling in Florida’s nearshore and coastal waters to protect the environment and tourism.
Section 33: Prohibition of Vaping in Enclosed Indoor Workplaces
Adds vaping to the smoking ban in indoor workplaces.
🔹 General Themes in Article X
Environmental protection (e.g., Everglades, offshore drilling)
Public health and safety (e.g., smoking bans, marijuana, animal welfare)
Individual rights and protections (e.g., homestead exemption, access to courts)
Social and cultural values, often added by ballot initiatives
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