Gavin Howe
The process of turning a legislative bill into law in Florida involves several steps. It begins with a legislator sponsoring a bill, which is then referred to one or more committees for review and discussion. The committee can decide to amend, pass, or fail the bill. If passed, the bill moves to other committees or the full house, which then votes on it. For a bill to become a law, it must pass in both houses of the Florida Legislature and be approved by the Governor. This process ensures that ideas are thoroughly debated and considered by legislators, the public, and those affected by the bill.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How often does the Florida Legislature meet? | Once a year for a maximum of 60 days |
| Who files the bills? | Representatives and Senators |
| What happens when a bill is filed? | It is referred to several committees to be reviewed by smaller groups of members |
| What are the committee's options? | Approve, defeat or amend the bill |
| What happens if a bill is defeated in committee? | The idea is dead for the rest of the session |
| What happens if a bill passes each committee? | It is available to be voted on by the entire body of members |
| What is required for a bill to pass? | A majority of the votes in that chamber |
| What happens if a bill passes both chambers? | It goes to the Governor's office for consideration |
| What are the Governor's options? | Sign the bill, allow it to become a law without a signature, or veto it |
| What happens if the Governor vetoes a bill? | The Legislature can overturn the veto with a two-thirds vote of both chambers |
| What happens if a bill doesn't make it through the process before the end of the session? | The bill dies and must begin the process again the next year |
| What is the deadline for the Governor to sign a bill? | 7 days following presentation, or 15 days if the legislature is not in session |
What You'll Learn
Legislative branch's exclusive lawmaking power
The Florida Legislature, comprising the House and the Senate, meets annually for 60 days to discuss and address the state's needs. The Legislative Branch, as per the Constitution, has exclusive lawmaking powers.
The process of lawmaking begins with a legislator sponsoring a bill, which is then referred to one or more committees related to the bill's subject matter. The committee(s) study the bill, debating and discussing it, and deciding if it should be amended, passed, or failed. If passed, the bill moves to other committees or to the full house. The full house then votes on the bill, and if it passes, it is sent to the other house for review.
A bill goes through the same process in the second house as it did in the first, and it can go back and forth between the houses until a consensus is reached. If a bill passes in both chambers, it goes to the Governor's office for consideration. The Governor can sign the bill, allow it to become a law without their signature, or veto it. If the Governor chooses to veto, the Legislature can overturn this decision at their next meeting by a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
The Florida Legislature has the sole authority to initiate and propose bills, and with the approval of both houses and the Governor, they become laws.
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How a bill is sponsored
The first step in the process of a bill becoming a law in Florida is sponsorship. Bills can be sponsored by individual members of the legislature or by committees of the legislature. A legislator sponsors a bill, which is then referred to one or more committees related to the bill's subject matter.
Although an individual member’s bill will not be heard by a committee until it has been formally introduced, committees often hear "proposed committee bills" or "PCBs". These are bills proposed by the committees of the legislature. While these bills may eventually be formally introduced as committee bills, they are initially heard by the committee before introduction for refinement and to avoid some of the technical amending procedures required of introduced bills.
Once a committee has passed a proposed committee bill, it is formally introduced and assigned a regular bill number. A bill can be substantially amended in committee, and it becomes a committee substitute. The committee substitute may also be amended into a new committee substitute, either in the same committee or when heard by another committee. Consequently, because some bills may be heard by as many as three committees, the final bill heard by the full house may be referred to as "the Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House/Senate Bill xxx".
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Committees review bills
Committees are the heart of the legislative process in Florida. They are essential for the fact-finding groundwork and closer study of a bill than would be possible in a debate on the floor. The committee will hear from the legislator who introduced the bill, as well as from other legislators who either support or oppose it. Committees may also go outside the Legislature to learn the opinions of interested persons who are well-informed on the subject of the bill. The committee can subpoena witnesses and records and use the research facilities of the Legislature to analyze the situation in Florida and in other states. Citizens who wish to be heard are also allowed to speak at committee meetings.
The presiding officer refers bills to one or more committees for review. There are three types of committees: standing, select, and conference. Standing committees are established by the Senate and the House of Representatives for the management of their business. They are established by authority of rules separately adopted by the Senate and the House. The appointment of committee members and the designation of committee chairs and vice-chairs are made in the Senate by its President and in the House by its Speaker. Proposed legislation is referred to a standing committee, which then has the responsibility of passing judgment on that legislation. Each committee may originate legislation within its field of expertise.
Committees may vote to take the following actions on a bill: favorable, favorable with amendments, favorable with committee substitute, unanimously favorable, or unfavorable. If a bill is passed by a committee, it moves to other committees or to the full house. If it passes in one house, it is sent to the other house for review, going through the same process again. A bill can go back and forth between houses until a consensus is reached.
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Votes and passing
The Florida Legislature meets once a year for 60 days to discuss and debate the state's needs and concerns. Bills are filed by Representatives and Senators for consideration during this session. Once a bill is filed, it is referred to one or more committees related to the bill's subject. The committees study the bill, debating and discussing it, and deciding if it should be amended, passed, or failed. Committees can approve, defeat, or amend the bill. If a bill is defeated in committee, the idea is dead for the rest of the session.
If the bill passes the committee stage, it moves to other committees of reference or to the full house. The full house then votes on the bill. If it passes in one house, it is sent to the other house to go through the same process. A bill can go back and forth between the houses until a consensus is reached, or it can fail at any point. Each bill must be passed by both chambers before it can become a law.
Once a bill has passed both chambers, it goes to the Governor's office for their consideration. The Governor can sign the bill, allow it to become a law without their signature, or veto it. If the Governor chooses to veto a bill, the Legislature can overturn this with a two-thirds vote of both chambers the next time they meet. If a bill doesn't make it through the entire process before the end of the session, it dies and must begin the process again the next year.
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The Governor's role
The Governor plays a crucial role in the legislative process in Florida. The Florida Legislature, consisting of the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives, meets annually for sixty consecutive days to address the needs of the state. During this time, bills are filed by representatives and senators for consideration. Once a bill has passed through the legislative process, it is sent to the Governor's office for their consideration.
The Governor has three options: they can sign the bill, allow it to become a law without their signature, or veto it. If the Governor chooses to veto a bill, the Legislature can override this decision by a two-thirds vote of both chambers during their next meeting. This demonstrates the Governor's ability to influence the legislative process and shape the laws that are passed in Florida.
The Governor also has the power to call for special sessions of the Legislature, outside of the regular annual session. This can be done independently or through a joint proclamation issued by the Senate President and House Speaker. This ability to convene the Legislature provides the Governor with further influence over the legislative agenda and the creation of laws.
In summary, while the Florida Legislature proposes and passes bills, the Governor's role is significant as they have the final say on whether a bill becomes a law. Their ability to veto legislation and call for special sessions gives them a key role in the lawmaking process in Florida.
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Frequently asked questions
A legislator sponsors a bill, which is referred to one or more committees related to the bill's subject. The committee studies the bill and decides if it should be amended, pass, or fail. If passed, the bill moves to other committees or to the full house. The full house then votes on the bill. If it passes in one house, it is sent to the other house for review. A bill must pass by receiving a majority of the votes in both chambers before it becomes a law. If approved by both chambers, it goes to the Governor, who can sign the bill, allow it to become a law without their signature, or veto it.
A legislator proposes a bill, which is then referred to one or more committees for review and debate. The committee can approve, defeat, or amend the bill. If a bill is passed by a committee, it moves to the next committee or to the full house. The bill must pass in one house before being sent to the other for review. A bill can go back and forth between houses until a consensus is reached.
Once a bill has been approved by both chambers, it goes to the Governor's office for consideration. The Governor has three options: they can sign the bill, allow it to become a law without their signature, or veto it. If the Governor vetoes a bill, the Legislature can overturn this decision with a two-thirds vote of both chambers.
The Florida Legislature meets once a year for up to 60 days to address the state's needs. The regular legislative session starts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March.
