Florida House of Representatives explained
Florida House of Representatives |
Legislature: | Florida Legislature |
Coa Pic: | Seal of the Florida House of Representatives.svg |
House Type: | Lower house |
Term Length: | 2 years |
Term Limits: | 4 consecutive terms (8 years) |
Foundation: | May 26, 1845 |
Motto: | In God We Trust |
Preceded By: | Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida |
Leader1 Type: | Speaker |
Leader1: | Paul Renner (R) |
Election1: | November 22, 2022 |
Leader2 Type: | Speaker pro tempore |
Leader2: | Chuck Clemons (R) |
Election2: | November 22, 2022 |
Leader3 Type: | Majority Leader |
Leader3: | Michael Grant (R) |
Election3: | November 16, 2020 |
Leader4 Type: | Minority Leader |
Leader4: | Fentrice Driskell (D) |
Election4: | November 21, 2022 |
Members: | 120 |
Structure1: | Florida House, March 27 2024.svg |
Structure1 Res: | 250px |
Structure1 Alt: | Composition of the Florida House of Representatives |
Political Groups1: | Majority Minority
|
Salary: | $18,000/year + per diem (Subsistence & Travel)[1] |
Authority: | Article III, Constitution of Florida |
Last Election1: | November 8, 2022 (120 seats) |
Next Election1: | November 5, 2024 (120 seats) |
Meeting Place: | House of Representatives Chamber Florida Capitol Tallahassee, Florida |
Session Room: | Florida House Chamber March 2012.jpg |
Redistricting: | Legislative control |
Website: | Florida House of Representatives |
Rules: | Florida House of Representatives Rules |
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida, the Florida Senate being the upper house. Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution of Florida, adopted in 1968, defines the role of the Legislature and how it is to be constituted.[2] The House is composed of 120 members, each elected from a single-member district with a population of approximately 180,000 residents. Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of population figures, provided by the federal decennial census. Representatives' terms begin immediately upon their election.
The Republicans hold a supermajority in the State House with 83 seats; Democrats are in the minority with 36 seats. One seat is vacant.
Titles
Members of the House of Representatives are referred to as representatives. Because this shadows the terminology used to describe members of U.S. House of Representatives, constituents and the news media often refer to members as state representatives to avoid confusion with their federal counterparts.
Terms
Article III of the Florida Constitution defines the terms for state legislators.
The Constitution requires state representatives to be elected for two-year terms.
Upon election, legislators take office immediately.
Term limits
On November 3, 1992, almost 77 percent of Florida voters backed Amendment 9, the Florida Term Limits Amendment, which amended the state Constitution, to enact eight-year term limits on federal and state officials. Under the Amendment, former members can be elected again after a break.[3] In 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could not enact congressional term limits, but ruled that the state level term limits remain.[4]
Qualifications
Florida legislators must be at least twenty-one years old, an elector and resident of their district, and must have resided in Florida for at least two years prior to election.[5]
Legislative session
Each year during which the Legislature meets constitutes a new legislative session.
Committee weeks
Legislators start Committee activity in September of the year prior to the regular legislative session. Because Florida is a part-time legislature, this is necessary to allow legislators time to work their bills through the committee process, prior to the regular legislative session.[6]
Regular legislative session
The Florida Legislature meets in a 60-day regular legislative session each year. Regular legislative sessions in odd-numbered years must begin on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March. Under the state Constitution, the Legislature can begin even-numbered year regular legislative sessions at a time of its choosing.[7]
Prior to 1991, the regular legislative session began in April. Senate Joint Resolution 380 (1989) proposed to the voters a constitutional amendment (approved November 1990) that shifted the starting date of regular legislative session from April to February. Subsequently, Senate Joint Resolution 2606 (1994) proposed to the voters a constitutional amendment (approved November 1994) shifting the start date to March, where it remains. The reason for the "first Tuesday after the first Monday" requirement stems back to the time when regular legislative session began in April. regular legislative session could start any day from April 2 through April 8, but never on April 1 – April Fool's Day. In recent years, the Legislature has opted to start in January in order to allow lawmakers to be home with their families during school spring breaks, and to give more time ahead of the legislative elections in the Fall.[8]
Organizational session
On the fourteenth day following each general election, the Legislature meets for an organizational session to organize and select officers.
Special session
Special legislative sessions may be called by the governor, by a joint proclamation of the Senate president and House speaker, or by a three-fifths vote of all legislators. During any special session the Legislature may only address legislative business that is within the purview of the purpose or purposes stated in the special session proclamation.[9]
Powers and process
The Florida House is authorized by the Florida Constitution to create and amend the laws of the U.S. state of Florida, subject to the governor's power to veto legislation. To do so, legislators propose legislation in the forms of bills drafted by a nonpartisan, professional staff. Successful legislation must undergo committee review, three readings on the floor of each house, with appropriate voting majorities, as required, and either be signed into law by the governor or enacted through a veto override approved by two-thirds of the membership of each legislative house.[10]
Its statutes, called "chapter laws" or generically as "slip laws" when printed separately, are compiled into the Laws of Florida and are called "session laws".[11] The Florida Statutes are the codified statutory laws of the state.[11]
In 2009, legislators filed 2,138 bills for consideration. On average, the Legislature has passed about 300 bills into law annually.[12]
In 2013, the Legislature filed about 2,000 bills. About 1,000 of these are "member bills." The remainder are bills by committees responsible for certain functions, such as budget. In 2016, about 15% of the bills were passed.[13] In 2017, 1,885 lobbyists registered to represent 3,724 entities.[13]
The House also has the power to propose amendments to the Florida Constitution. Additionally, the House has the exclusive power to impeach officials, who are then tried by the Senate.
Leadership
The House is headed by a speaker, elected by the members of the House to a two-year term. The speaker presides over the House, appoints committee members and committee chairs, influences the placement of bills on the calendar, and rules on procedural motions. The speaker pro tempore presides if the speaker leaves the chair or if there is a vacancy. The speaker, along with the Senate president and governor of Florida, control most of the agenda of state business in Florida.
The majority and minority caucus each elect a leader.
Composition
Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
| Total | |
---|
| | |
Republican | Democratic | Vacant |
---|
End of 2018–22 legislature | | 71 | 44 | 116 | 4 |
---|
Start of previous (2020–22) legislature | | 78 | 42 | 120 | 0 |
---|
End of previous legislature | | 76 | 118 | 2 |
---|
|
Start of current (2022–24) legislature | | 85 | 35 | 120 | 0 |
---|
December 8, 2022[14] | | 84 | 119 | 1 |
---|
May 16, 2023[15] | | 85 | 120 | 0 |
---|
June 11, 2023[16] | | 84 | 119 | 1 |
---|
June 30, 2023[17] | | 83 | 118 | 2 |
---|
December 5, 2023[18] | 84 | 119 | 1 |
---|
January 16, 2024[19] | 36 | 120 | 0 |
---|
June 30, 2024[20] | | 83 | 119 | 1 |
---|
Latest voting share | | | | | |
---|
Members, 2022–2024
District | Name | Party | Residence | Counties represented | First elected[21] | Term-limited |
---|
1 | Michelle Salzman | | Rep | Pensacola | Part of Escambia | 2020 | 2028 |
2 | Alex Andrade | | Rep | Pensacola | Parts of Escambia and Santa Rosa | 2018 | 2026 |
3 | Joel Rudman | | Rep | Navarre | Parts of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa | 2022 | 2030 |
4 | Patt Maney | | Rep | Destin | Part of Okaloosa | 2020 | 2028 |
5 | Shane Abbott | | Rep | DeFuniak Springs | Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, Walton, Washington | 2022 | 2030 |
6 | Philip Griffitts | | Rep | Panama City | Bay | 2022 | 2030 |
7 | Jason Shoaf | | Rep | Port St. Joe | Dixie, Franklin, Gulf, Hamilton, Lafayette, Liberty, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla, parts of Jefferson and Leon | 2019* | 2028 |
8 | Gallop Franklin | | Dem | Tallahassee | Gadsden, part of Leon | 2022 | 2030 |
9 | Allison Tant | | Dem | Tallahassee | Madison, parts of Jefferson and Leon | 2020 | 2028 |
10 | Chuck Brannan | | Rep | Macclenny | Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Union, part of Alachua | 2018 | 2026 |
11 | Sam Garrison | | Rep | Orange Park | Part of Clay | 2020 | 2028 |
12 | Wyman Duggan | | Rep | Jacksonville | Part of Duval | 2018 | 2026 |
13 | Angie Nixon | | Dem | Jacksonville | Part of Duval | 2020 | 2028 |
14 | Kimberly Daniels | | Dem | Jacksonville | Part of Duval | 2022, 2016-20 | 2030 |
15 | Dean Black | | Rep | Jacksonville | Nassau, part of Duval | 2022 | 2030 |
16 | Kiyan Michael | | Rep | Jacksonville | Part of Duval | 2022 | 2030 |
17 | Jessica Baker | | Rep | Orange Park | Part of Duval | 2022 | 2030 |
18 | Cyndi Stevenson | | Rep | St. Augustine | Part of St. Johns | 2015* | 2024 |
19 | Paul Renner | | Rep | Palm Coast | Flagler, part of St. Johns | 2015* | 2024 |
20 | Bobby Payne | | Rep | Palatka | Putnam, parts of Clay, Marion and St. Johns | 2016 | 2024 |
21 | Yvonne Hayes Hinson | | Dem | Gainesville | Parts of Alachua and Marion | 2020 | 2028 |
22 | Chuck Clemons | | Rep | Newberry | Gilchrist, Levy, part of Alachua | 2016 | 2024 |
23 | Ralph Massullo | | Rep | Lecanto | Citrus, part of Marion | 2016 | 2024 |
24 | Ryan Chamberlin | | Rep | Belleview | Part of Marion | 2023* | 2032 |
25 | Taylor Yarkosky | | Rep | Clermont | Part of Lake | 2022 | 2030 |
26 | Keith Truenow | | Rep | Tavares | Part of Lake | 2020 | 2028 |
27 | Stan McClain | | Rep | Ocala | Parts of Lake, Marion and Volusia | 2016 | 2024 |
28 | Tom Leek | | Rep | Ormond Beach | Part of Volusia | 2016 | 2024 |
29 | Webster Barnaby | | Rep | Deltona | Part of Volusia | 2020 | 2028 |
30 | Chase Tramont | | Rep | Port Orange | Parts of Brevard and Volusia | 2022 | 2030 |
31 | Tyler Sirois | | Rep | Merritt Island | Part of Brevard | 2018 | 2026 |
32 | Thad Altman | | Rep | Indialantic | Part of Brevard | 2016, 2003–08 | 2024 |
33 | Randy Fine | | Rep | Melbourne Beach | Part of Brevard | 2016 | 2024 |
34 | Robbie Brackett | | Rep | Vero Beach | Indian River, part of Brevard | 2022 | 2030 |
35 | Tom Keen | | Dem | Orlando | | 2024* | 2032 |
36 | Rachel Plakon | | Rep | Longwood | Part of Seminole | 2022 | 2030 |
37 | Susan Plasencia | | Rep | Orlando | Parts of Orange and Seminole | 2022 | 2030 |
38 | David Smith | | Rep | Winter Springs | Part of Seminole | 2018 | 2026 |
39 | Doug Bankson | | Rep | Apopka | Parts of Orange and Seminole | 2022 | 2030 |
40 | LaVon Bracy | | Dem | Ocoee | Part of Orange | 2022 | 2030 |
41 | Bruce Antone | | Dem | Orlando | Part of Orange | 2022, 2012-20, 2002-06 | 2030 |
42 | Anna Eskamani | | Dem | Orlando | Part of Orange | 2018 | 2026 |
43 | Johanna López | | Dem | Orlando | Part of Orange | 2022 | 2030 |
44 | Rita Harris | | Dem | Orlando | Part of Orange | 2022 | 2030 |
45 | Carolina Amesty | | Rep | Windermere | Parts of Orange and Osceola | 2022 | 2030 |
46 | Kristen Arrington | | Dem | Kissimmee | Part of Osceola | 2020 | 2028 |
47 | Paula Stark | | Rep | St. Cloud | Parts of Orange and Osceola | 2022 | 2030 |
48 | Sam Killebrew | | Rep | Winter Haven | Part of Polk | 2016 | 2024 |
49 | Melony Bell | | Rep | Fort Meade | Part of Polk | 2018 | 2026 |
50 | Jennifer Canady | | Rep | Lakeland | Part of Polk | 2022 | 2030 |
51 | Josie Tomkow | | Rep | Polk City | Part of Polk | 2018* | 2026 |
52 | John Temple | | Rep | Wildwood | Sumter, part of Hernando | 2022 | 2030 |
53 | Jeff Holcomb | | Rep | Spring Hill | Parts of Hernando and Pasco | 2022 | 2030 |
54 | Randy Maggard | | Rep | Zephyrhills | Part of Pasco | 2019* | 2028 |
55 | Kevin Steele | | Rep | Hudson | Part of Pasco | 2022 | 2030 |
56 | Brad Yeager | | Rep | New Port Ritchey | Part of Pasco | 2022 | 2030 |
57 | Adam Anderson | | Rep | Palm Harbor | Part of Pinellas | 2022 | 2030 |
58 | Kim Berfield | | Rep | Clearwater | Part of Pinellas | 2022, 2000-06 | 2030 |
59 | Berny Jacques | | Rep | Seminole | Part of Pinellas | 2022 | 2030 |
60 | Lindsay Cross | | Dem | St. Petersburg | Part of Pinellas | 2022 | 2030 |
61 | Linda Chaney | | Rep | St. Pete Beach | Parts of Pinellas and Hillsborough (unpopulated) | 2020 | 2028 |
62 | Michele Rayner | | Dem | St. Petersburg | Parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas | 2020 | 2028 |
63 | Dianne Hart | | Dem | Tampa | Part of Hillsborough | 2018 | 2026 |
64 | Susan Valdes | | Dem | Tampa | Part of Hillsborough | 2018 | 2026 |
65 | Karen Gonzalez Pittman | | Rep | Tampa | Part of Hillsborough | 2022 | 2030 |
66 | Traci Koster | | Rep | Tampa | Part of Hillsborough | 2020 | 2028 |
67 | Fentrice Driskell | | Dem | Tampa | Part of Hillsborough | 2018 | 2026 |
68 | Lawrence McClure | | Rep | Dover | Part of Hillsborough | 2017* | 2026 |
69 | Danny Alvarez | | Rep | Brandon | Part of Hillsborough | 2022 | 2030 |
70 | Mike Beltran | | Rep | Lithia | Parts of Hillsborough and Manatee | 2018 | 2026 |
71 | Will Robinson | | Rep | Bradenton | Part of Manatee | 2018 | 2026 |
72 | Vacant | | | Part of Manatee | | |
73 | Fiona McFarland | | Rep | Sarasota | Part of Sarasota | 2020 | 2028 |
74 | James Buchanan | | Rep | Osprey | Part of Sarasota | 2018 | 2026 |
75 | Michael J. Grant | | Rep | Port Charlotte | Parts of Charlotte and Sarasota | 2016, 2004–08 | 2024 |
76 | Spencer Roach | | Rep | North Fort Myers | DeSoto, parts of Charlotte and Lee | 2018 | 2026 |
77 | Tiffany Esposito | | Rep | Fort Myers | Part of Lee | 2022 | 2030 |
78 | Jenna Persons | | Rep | Fort Myers | Part of Lee | 2020 | 2028 |
79 | Mike Giallombardo | | Rep | Cape Coral | Part of Lee | 2020 | 2028 |
80 | Adam Botana | | Rep | Bonita Springs | Parts of Collier and Lee | 2020 | 2028 |
81 | Bob Rommel | | Rep | Naples | Part of Collier | 2016 | 2024 |
82 | Lauren Melo | | Rep | Naples | Hendry, part of Collier | 2020 | 2028 |
83 | Kaylee Tuck | | Rep | Sebring | Glades, Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee | 2020 | 2028 |
84 | Dana Trabulsy | | Rep | Fort Pierce | Part of St. Lucie | 2020 | 2028 |
85 | Toby Overdorf | | Rep | Palm City | Parts of Martin and St. Lucie | 2018 | 2026 |
86 | John Snyder | | Rep | Stuart | Parts of Martin and Palm Beach | 2020 | 2028 |
87 | Mike Caruso | | Rep | Delray Beach | Part of Palm Beach | 2018 | 2026 |
88 | Jervonte Edmonds | | Dem | West Palm Beach | Part of Palm Beach | 2022* | 2030 |
89 | David Silvers | | Dem | West Palm Beach | Part of Palm Beach | 2016 | 2024 |
90 | Joseph Casello | | Dem | Boynton Beach | Part of Palm Beach | 2018 | 2026 |
91 | Peggy Gossett-Seidman | | Rep | Highland Beach | Part of Palm Beach | 2022 | 2030 |
92 | Kelly Skidmore | | Dem | Boca Raton | Part of Palm Beach | 2020, 2006–10, | 2028 |
93 | Katherine Waldron | | Dem | Wellington | Part of Palm Beach | 2022 | 2030 |
94 | Rick Roth | | Rep | West Palm Beach | Part of Palm Beach | 2016 | 2024 |
95 | Christine Hunschofsky | | Dem | Parkland | Part of Broward | 2020 | 2028 |
96 | Dan Daley | | Dem | Coral Springs | Part of Broward | 2019* | 2028 |
97 | Lisa Dunkley | | Dem | Sunrise | Part of Broward | 2022 | 2030 |
98 | Patricia Hawkins-Williams | | Dem | Lauderdale Lakes | Part of Broward | 2016 | 2024 |
99 | Daryl Campbell | | Dem | Fort Lauderdale | Part of Broward | 2022* | 2030 |
100 | Chip LaMarca | | Rep | Lighthouse Point | Part of Broward | 2018 | 2026 |
101 | Hillary Cassel | | Dem | Hollywood | Part of Broward | 2022 | 2030 |
102 | Michael Gottlieb | | Dem | Davie | Part of Broward | 2018 | 2026 |
103 | Robin Bartleman | | Dem | Weston | Part of Broward | 2020 | 2028 |
104 | Felicia Robinson | | Dem | Miami Gardens | Parts of Broward and Miami-Dade | 2020 | 2028 |
105 | Marie Woodson | | Dem | Hollywood | Part of Broward | 2020 | 2028 |
106 | Fabián Basabe | | Rep | Miami Beach | Part of Miami-Dade | 2022 | 2030 |
107 | Christopher Benjamin | | Dem | Miami Gardens | Part of Miami-Dade | 2020 | 2028 |
108 | Dotie Joseph | | Dem | North Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2018 | 2026 |
109 | Ashley Gantt | | Dem | Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2022 | 2030 |
110 | Tom Fabricio | | Rep | Miami Lakes | Part of Miami-Dade | 2020 | 2028 |
111 | David Borrero | | Rep | Sweetwater | Part of Miami-Dade | 2020 | 2028 |
112 | Alex Rizo | | Rep | Hialeah | Part of Miami-Dade | 2020 | 2028 |
113 | Vicki Lopez | | Rep | Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2022 | 2030 |
114 | Demi Busatta Cabrera | | Rep | Coral Gables | Part of Miami-Dade | 2020 | 2028 |
115 | Alina Garcia | | Rep | Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2022 | 2030 |
116 | Daniel Perez | | Rep | Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2017* | 2026 |
117 | Kevin Chambliss | | Dem | Florida City | Part of Miami-Dade | 2020 | 2028 |
118 | Mike Redondo | | Rep | Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2023* | 2032 |
119 | Juan Carlos Porras | | Rep | Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2022 | 2030 |
120 | Jim Mooney | | Rep | Islamorada | Monroe and part of Miami-Dade | 2020 | 2028 | |
Past composition of the House of Representatives
See main article: Political party strength in Florida. From 1874 to 1996, the Democratic Party held majorities in the Florida House of Representatives. Following sizable GOP gains in the 1994 election, which significantly reduced the Democratic Party majority in the Florida House, Republicans captured a majority in the 1996 election. The Republican Party has been the majority party since that time in the House.
Additional information on the past composition of the Florida House of Representatives can be found in Allen Morris's The Florida Handbook (various years, published every two years for many years).
Notable people
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: The 2017 Florida Statutes F.S. 11.13 Compensation of members.. Florida Legislature.
- Web site: Constitution of the State of Florida. Florida Legislature. December 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20081208105533/http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=constitution&submenu=3&tab=statutes#A3S01. December 8, 2008. dead.
- Web site: Vote Yes On Amendment No. 9 To Begin Limiting Political Terms. Sun-Sentinel. December 7, 2017. July 18, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180718105217/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-10-27/news/9202250950_1_term-limits-national-constitutional-amendment-state-ballots. dead.
- Web site: Florida Backs Article V Convention for Constitutional Amendment on Congressional Term Limits. Sunshine State News.
- Web site: CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. Florida Legislature.
- Web site: Editorial:Advice to Legislature:Pursue limited agenda . Florida Today.
- Web site: CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. Florida Legislature.
- Web site: Proposal to move 2018 session to January heads House floor. Buzzacco-Foerster. Jenna. 2016-02-18. Florida Politics. 2016-02-18.
- Web site: The Florida Constitution. Florida Legislature.
- Web site: The Florida Senate Handbook. Florida Senate.
- Web site: Statutes & Constitution: Online Sunshine. Florida Legislature. 26 September 2013.
- Book: Flemming, Paul . Capital Ideas: Lawmakers face 2,138 proposals . Florida Today . March 8, 2009.
- News: Bill. Cotterell . Legislative session by the numbers. Florida Today. Melbourne,Florida. 5A. March 7, 2017 .
- Republican Joe Harding (District 24) resigned after being indicted on federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. News: Joe Harding resigns after wire fraud, money laundering indictment . Schorsch . Peter . 2022-12-08. Florida Politics. 2022-12-08.
- Republican Ryan Chamberlin elected to replace Joe Harding (District 24). News: Ogles . Jacob . 2023-05-17 . Full House: Ryan Chamberlin wins HD 24 Special Election . Florida Politics . 2023-05-24.
- Republican Juan Fernandez-Barquin (District 118) resigned after being appointed Miami-Dade County clerk of court. News: DeSantis names Republican ally to succeed Miami-Dade’s longtime Democratic clerk . Hanks . Douglas . 2023-06-09. Miami Herald. 2023-06-12.
- Republican Fred Hawkins (District 35) resigned after being hired as president of South Florida State College. Web site: Representative Fred Hawkins - Florida House of Representatives. www.myflordiahouse.gov. 2021-08-07.
- Republican Mike Redondo elected to replace Juan Fernandez-Barquin (District 118). News: Republican Mike Redondo wins special election for Miami-Dade seat in Florida House . Johnson . Alyssa . 2023-12-05. Miami Herald. 2023-12-12.
- Democrat Tom Keen elected to replace Fred Hawkins (District 35). Web site: Ogles. Jacob. Tom Keen flips HD 35 from red to blue in critical Special Election. Florida Politics. January 16, 2024. January 16, 2024.
- Republican Tommy Gregory (District 72) resigned after being hired as president of State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota. Web site: Tommy Gregory. Florida House of Representatives. July 7, 2024.
- And previous terms of service, if any.