Keith Mack
The Florida Legislature, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives, is responsible for enacting new laws and amending or repealing existing ones in the state of Florida. The Legislature meets annually for 60 days, during which legislators propose and debate bills. These bills are first referred to committees for review and discussion before being brought before the entire chamber of the House and Senate. If a bill passes both houses, it is then approved by the Governor and becomes law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legislative body | Bicameral, composed of an upper chamber (Senate) and a lower chamber (House of Representatives) |
| Number of legislators | 160 (120 in the House and 40 in the Senate) |
| Meeting frequency | Once a year for 60 days |
| Bill proposal | Legislators propose bills, which are filed by Representatives and Senators |
| Committee review | Bills are referred to committees for review and discussion; amendments can be added |
| House and Senate vote | After committee approval, the bill is brought before the entire chamber of the House and Senate for a vote |
| Governor's role | Bills passed by both houses are approved by the Governor to become law; the Governor also has the power to veto legislation |
| Legislative session | Regular legislative sessions occur annually, with starting dates varying between January, February, and March depending on the year |
| Special sessions | May be called by the Governor, a joint proclamation of the Senate President and House Speaker, or a three-fifths vote of all legislators |
| Legislative power | The Legislature is authorized by the Florida Constitution to create, amend, and repeal state laws |
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What You'll Learn
The Florida Legislature
For a bill to become a law, it must undergo committee review and three readings on the floor of each house, with appropriate voting majorities. It must then be signed into law by the governor or enacted through a veto override approved by two-thirds of the membership of each legislative house. The Florida Legislature has the power to create and amend the laws of the state of Florida, subject to the governor's power to veto legislation.
The primary purpose of the Florida Legislature is to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing ones. It also has the power to propose amendments to the Florida Constitution. On average, the legislature passes about 300 bills into law each year.
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The Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper chamber of the Florida Legislature, which is the bicameral legislative body of the state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 senators, who are elected to four-year terms. As of 2024, Republicans hold the majority in the Senate with 27 seats, while Democrats hold 10 seats. There is one independent senator, and two seats are vacant.
The Florida Legislature meets annually for a regular legislative session lasting 60 days. During this session, senators and representatives file bills for consideration. When a bill is filed, it is referred to several committees for review and debate. Amendments or changes can be made to the bill during this process. After passing through committees, the bill is brought before the entire chamber of the House and Senate. If the bill is approved by both houses, it is then sent to the governor for approval. If the governor approves the bill, it becomes law. The governor also has the power to veto legislation.
In addition to proposing and passing bills, the Florida Senate also has the power to propose amendments to the Florida Constitution. The Senate is headed by the Senate president, who can call for special legislative sessions along with the governor or the House speaker. These special sessions are used to address specific legislative business outside of the regular session.
Overall, the Florida Senate plays a crucial role in the state's law-making process, working alongside the House of Representatives to enact, amend, or repeal laws in accordance with the Florida Constitution.
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The House of Representatives
The Florida Legislature is a bicameral body composed of an upper chamber, the Senate, and a lower chamber, the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is the lower house of the state legislature. As of January 2025, Republicans hold the majority in the House of Representatives with 86 seats, while Democrats hold 33 seats. One seat is vacant.
Through the committee process, the bill is discussed and debated, and amendments or changes can be made. After passing out of committees, the bill is brought before the entire chamber of the House and Senate. Committees can choose to approve the bill, or it can undergo further readings and voting. Successful legislation must undergo committee review, three readings on the floor of each house, with appropriate voting majorities, as required.
For a bill to become a law, it must be signed by the governor or enacted through a veto override approved by two-thirds of the membership of each legislative house.
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The Governor
The Florida Legislature meets once a year for 60 days, usually beginning in January, to address the needs of the state. Bills are filed by Representatives and Senators and are referred to committees for review and debate. After passing through committees, a bill is brought before the entire chamber of the House and Senate.
The Legislature is composed of 160 state legislators: 120 in the House and 40 in the Senate. As of 2025, Republicans hold the majority in both houses, with 86 seats in the House and 27 in the Senate.
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How a bill becomes law
In Florida, the Legislative Branch has the exclusive power to make laws. The process of turning a bill into a law involves several steps and can be slightly different depending on the house of the Legislature. The Florida Legislature meets annually for up to 60 days to discuss and debate bills.
The process begins with a legislator sponsoring a bill, which is then referred to one or more committees related to the bill's subject matter. These committees thoroughly discuss and debate the bill, allowing input from legislators, the public, and those specifically affected by the bill. Amendments or changes can be added, and the committee decides whether the bill should be amended, passed, or failed. If passed, the bill moves on to other committees or the full house.
Once a bill passes through all the necessary committees, it is brought before the entire chamber of the House and Senate. The full house then votes on the bill. If it passes in one house, it is sent to the other house for review, following the same process. A bill can go back and forth between houses until a consensus is reached, and it may fail at any point.
After passing both houses of the Legislature, the bill is prepared for signature by legislative officers and presentation to the Governor. The Governor's approval is required for a bill to become a law. The bill then becomes an act, and if approved by the Governor, it is enacted as a law.
The Florida Senate website provides resources to track bills and stay updated on their progress through the legislative process. Amendments and changes made to bills are also recorded and accessible to the public.
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Frequently asked questions
The Florida Legislature, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives, is responsible for making laws in the state of Florida.
The Florida Legislature is a bicameral body composed of an upper chamber, the Senate, and a lower chamber, the House of Representatives.
The Florida Legislature is composed of 160 state legislators, with 120 in the House and 40 in the Senate.
The Florida Legislature meets once a year for a 60-day legislative session.
Legislators propose bills, which are then referred to committees for review and debate. After passing through committees, the bill is brought before the entire chamber of the House and Senate. If the bill is approved by both houses, it is then sent to the Governor for approval. Once approved by the Governor, the bill becomes a law.
