Amendment 2 on November Ballot

The Florida Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment is on the ballot in Florida as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 5, 2024.

The ballot measure would provide a state constitutional right to hunt and fish and declare that hunting and fishing are the preferred means for "responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife" and "shall be preserved forever as a public right." The amendment would not limit the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's constitutional powers.

A "yes" vote supports establishing a constitutional right to hunt and fish in Florida.

A "no" vote opposes establishing a constitutional right to hunt and fish in Florida.

Those supporting a YES vote say: Amendment 2 definitively protects our right to fish and hunt in the state of Florida and the amendment assures this for our children and grandchildren.

Martha Guyas, Southeast Fisheries Policy Director for the American Sportfishing Association states: "Florida is an incredibly important state for the sport fishing industry and is considered the Fishing Capital of the World. Our state attracts more than 4.3 million anglers who make fishing in Florida an economic engine that contributes nearly $14 billion in economic output and supports more than 120,000 jobs."

State Rep. Lauren Melo (R-80): "[The amendment] is about the heritage of Florida. Many people don’t realize the economic value fishing and hunting provides our great state, combining just over $15 billion annually. People come from all over the world to catch our tarpon and snapper and chase our turkeys and ducks. Passing this legislation is a powerful statement that we support and champion our fishing and hunting traditions, and we want to protect (them) for our future.”

Those supporting a NO vote say: The amendment is a threat to wildlife.

NoTo2: "Even though the planet has lost 69% of its wildlife over the past 50 years, this amendment would create a fundamental right in the Florida Constitution to Hunt and Fish using 'traditional methods.' ... This ill-advised amendment could be used to override protections for fish stocks such as effectively nullifying the prohibition on Gill Nets that are a wall of death in the sea."

Speak Up Wekiva: "The right to hunt and fish already exists in Florida Statutes. The NRA and its political operatives are trying to convince Floridians that hunting and fishing are in jeopardy. They are not currently, but if Amendment 2 passes it will make fishing a 'public right' opening up our waters to massive foreign commercial fishing vessels. A 'public right' is not restricted to just Florida citizens. Laws are necessary to restrict bad actors from depleting our oceans of fish and our forests of native wildlife. Do you really want to give hunters the right to walk onto your property in pursuit of a raccoon or a bear? This Amendment will lead to hunters trespassing on private property, emboldened with their new constitutional right, as they have done in other states that have passed similar amendments."

Amendments on the ballot must be approved by 60% of voters to pass.

The constitutional amendment was introduced into the Florida State Legislature as House Joint Resolution 1157 (HJR 1157) on February 24, 2023. The House approved the amendment on April 25, 2023, by a vote of 116-0. The Senate passed the amendment on April 28, 2023, by a vote of 38-1.

Information from Ballotpedia and the Florida Legislature