Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives | |
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2020–2022 Florida Legislature | |
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Type | |
Type | of the Florida Legislature |
Term limits | 4 terms (8 years) |
History | |
Founded | May 26, 1845 |
Preceded by | Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida |
Leadership | |
Speaker | |
Speaker Pro Tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
Structure | |
Seats | 120 |
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Political groups | Majority
Minority
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Length of term | 2 years |
Authority | Article III, Constitution of Florida |
Salary | $29,697/year + per diem (Subsistence & Travel)[1] |
Elections | |
Last election | November 3, 2020 (120 seats) |
Next election | (120 seats) |
Redistricting | Legislative control |
Motto | |
In God We Trust | |
Meeting place | |
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House of Representatives Chamber Florida Capitol Tallahassee, Florida | |
Website | |
Official website |
Politics of Florida |
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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 157,000 residents. Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of population figures, provided by the federal decennial census. Representatives' terms begin immediately upon their election. As of 2020, Republicans hold the majority in the State House with 78 seats; Democrats are in the minority with 42 seats.
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, using The Associated Press Stylebook, 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 2000 bills. About 1000 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.
Position | Name | Party | District |
---|---|---|---|
Speaker of the House | Chris Sprowls | Republican | 65 |
Speaker pro tempore | Bryan Avila | Republican | 111 |
Majority leader | Michael J. Grant | Republican | 75 |
Minority leaders | Bobby DuBose and Evan Jenne | Democratic | 94, 99 |
Composition[]
Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||||
End of 2016–18 legislature | 75 | 41 | 116 | 4 | ||
Start of previous (2018–20) legislature | 73 | 47 | 120 | 0 | ||
End of previous legislature | 71 | 45 | 116 | 4 | ||
Start of current (2020–22) legislature | 78 | 42 | 120 | 0 | ||
Latest voting share | 65% | 35% |
Members, 2020–2022[]
District | Name | Party | Residence | Counties represented | First Elected[14] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michelle Salzman | Rep | Pensacola | Part of Escambia | 2020 |
2 | Alex Andrade | Rep | Pensacola | Parts of Escambia and Santa Rosa | 2018 |
3 | Jayer Williamson | Rep | Pace | Parts of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa | 2016 |
4 | Patt Maney | Rep | Destin | Part of Okaloosa | 2020 |
5 | Brad Drake | Rep | DeFuniak Springs | Holmes, Jackson, Walton, Washington, part of Bay | 2014, 2008–12 |
6 | Jay Trumbull | Rep | Panama City | Part of Bay | 2014 |
7 | Jason Shoaf | Rep | Port St. Joe | Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Lafayette, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla, part of Leon | 2019* |
8 | Ramon Alexander | Dem | Tallahassee | Gadsden, part of Leon | 2016 |
9 | Allison Tant | Dem | Tallahassee | Part of Leon | 2020 |
10 | Chuck Brannan | Rep | Macclenny | Baker, Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee, part of Alachua | 2018 |
11 | Cord Byrd | Rep | Neptune Beach | Nassau, part of Duval | 2016 |
12 | Clay Yarborough | Rep | Jacksonville | Part of Duval | 2016 |
13 | Tracie Davis | Dem | Jacksonville | Part of Duval | 2016 |
14 | Angie Nixon | Dem | Jacksonville | Part of Duval | 2020 |
Wyman Duggan | Rep | Jacksonville | Part of Duval | 2018 | |
Jason Fischer | Rep | Jacksonville | Part of Duval | 2016 | |
Cyndi Stevenson | Rep | St. Augustine | Part of St. Johns | 2015* | |
Sam Garrison | Rep | Orange Park | Part of Clay | 2020 | |
Bobby Payne | Rep | Palatka | Bradford, Putnam, Union, part of Clay | 2016 | |
Yvonne Hayes Hinson | Dem | Gainesville | Parts of Alachua and Marion | 2020 | |
Chuck Clemons | Rep | Newberry | Dixie, Gilchrist, part of Alachua | 2016 | |
Joe Harding | Rep | Williston | Levy, part of Marion | 2020 | |
Stan McClain | Rep | Belleview | Part of Marion | 2016 | |
Paul Renner | Rep | Palm Coast | Flagler, parts of St. Johns and Volusia | 2015* | |
Tom Leek | Rep | Ormond Beach | Part of Volusia | 2016 | |
Elizabeth Fetterhoff | Rep | DeLand | Part of Volusia | 2018 | |
Webster Barnaby | Rep | Deltona | Part of Volusia | 2020 | |
David Smith | Rep | Winter Springs | Part of Seminole | 2018 | |
Scott Plakon | Rep | Longwood | Part of Seminole | 2014, 2008–12 | |
Joy Goff-Marcil | Dem | Maitland | Parts of Orange and Seminole | 2018 | |
31 | Keith Truenow | Rep | Tavares | Parts of Lake and Orange | 2020 |
Anthony Sabatini | Rep | Howey-in-the-Hills | Part of Lake | 2018 | |
33 | Brett Hage | Rep | Oxford | Sumter, parts of Lake and Marion | 2018 |
34 | Ralph Massullo | Rep | Lecanto | Citrus, part of Hernando | 2016 |
Blaise Ingoglia | Rep | Spring Hill | Part of Hernando | 2014 | |
Amber Mariano | Rep | Hudson | Part of Pasco | 2016 | |
Ardian Zika | Rep | Land o' Lakes | Part of Pasco | 2018 | |
Randy Maggard | Rep | Zephyrhills | Part of Pasco | 2019* | |
Josie Tomkow | Rep | Polk City | Parts of Osceola and Polk | 2018* | |
Colleen Burton | Rep | Lakeland | Part of Polk | 2014 | |
Sam Killebrew | Rep | Winter Haven | Part of Polk | 2016 | |
Fred Hawkins | Rep | St. Cloud | Parts of Osceola and Polk | 2020 | |
Kristen Arrington | Dem | Kissimmee | Part of Osceola | 2020 | |
Geraldine Thompson | Dem | Orlando | Part of Orange | 2018 | |
Kamia Brown | Dem | Orlando | Part of Orange | 2016 | |
46 | Travaris McCurdy | Dem | Orlando | Part of Orange | 2020 |
Anna Eskamani | Dem | Orlando | Part of Orange | 2018 | |
Daisy Morales | Dem | Orlando | Part of Orange | 2020 | |
Carlos Guillermo Smith | Dem | Orlando | Part of Orange | 2016 | |
Rene Plasencia | Rep | Orlando | Parts of Brevard and Orange | 2014 | |
Tyler Sirois | Rep | Cocoa | Part of Brevard | 2018 | |
Thad Altman | Rep | Rockledge | Part of Brevard | 2016, 2003–08 | |
53 | Randy Fine | Rep | Melbourne Beach | Part of Brevard | 2016 |
Erin Grall | Rep | Vero Beach | Indian River, part of St. Lucie | 2016 | |
Kaylee Tuck | Rep | Sebring | Glades, Highlands, Okeechobee, part of St. Lucie | 2020 | |
Melony Bell | Rep | Fort Meade | DeSoto, Hardee, part of Polk | 2018 | |
Mike Beltran | Rep | Lithia | Part of Hillsborough | 2018 | |
Lawrence McClure | Rep | Dover | Part of Hillsborough | 2017* | |
Andrew Learned | Dem | Brandon | Part of Hillsborough | 2020 | |
Jackie Toledo | Rep | Tampa | Part of Hillsborough | 2016 | |
Dianne Hart | Dem | Tampa | Part of Hillsborough | 2018 | |
Susan Valdes | Dem | Tampa | Part of Hillsborough | 2018 | |
Fentrice Driskell | Dem | Tampa | Part of Hillsborough | 2018 | |
Traci Koster | Rep | Tampa | Parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas | 2020 | |
Chris Sprowls | Rep | Palm Harbor | Part of Pinellas | 2014 | |
Nick DiCeglie | Rep | Indian Rocks Beach | Part of Pinellas | 2018 | |
Chris Latvala | Rep | Clearwater | Part of Pinellas | 2014 | |
Ben Diamond | Dem | St. Petersburg | Part of Pinellas | 2016 | |
Linda Chaney | Rep | St. Pete Beach | Part of Pinellas | 2020 | |
Michele Rayner | Dem | St. Petersburg | Parts of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota | 2020 | |
71 | Will Robinson | Rep | Bradenton | Parts of Manatee and Sarasota | 2018 |
72 | Fiona McFarland | Rep | Sarasota | Parts of Sarasota | 2020 |
73 | Tommy Gregory | Rep | Sarasota | Parts of Manatee and Sarasota | 2018 |
James Buchanan | Rep | Osprey | Part of Sarasota | 2018 | |
Michael J. Grant | Rep | Port Charlotte | Charlotte | 2016, 2004–08 | |
Adam Botana | Rep | Bonita Springs | Part of Lee | 2020 | |
Mike Giallombardo | Rep | Cape Coral | Part of Lee | 2020 | |
Jenna Persons | Rep | Fort Myers | Part of Lee | 2020 | |
Spencer Roach | Rep | North Fort Myers | Part of Lee | 2018 | |
Lauren Melo | Rep | Naples | Hendry, part of Collier | 2020 | |
Kelly Skidmore | Dem | Boca Raton | Part of Palm Beach | 2006–10, 2020 | |
John Snyder | Rep | Palm City | Parts of Martin and Palm Beach | 2020 | |
Toby Overdorf | Rep | Palm City | Parts of Martin and St. Lucie | 2018 | |
Dana Trabulsy | Rep | Fort Pierce | Part of St. Lucie | 2020 | |
Rick Roth | Rep | Loxahatchee | Part of Palm Beach | 2016 | |
Matt Willhite | Dem | Wellington | Part of Palm Beach | 2016 | |
David Silvers | Dem | West Palm Beach | Part of Palm Beach | 2016 | |
Omari Hardy | Dem | Lake Worth Beach | Part of Palm Beach | 2020 | |
89 | Mike Caruso | Rep | Delray Beach | Part of Palm Beach | 2018 |
Joseph Casello | Dem | Boynton Beach | Part of Palm Beach | 2018 | |
Emily Slosberg | Dem | Boca Raton | Part of Palm Beach | 2016 | |
Patricia Hawkins-Williams | Dem | Lauderdale Lakes | Part of Broward | 2016 | |
Chip LaMarca | Rep | Lighthouse Point | Part of Broward | 2018 | |
Bobby DuBose | Dem | Fort Lauderdale | Part of Broward | 2014 | |
Anika Omphroy | Dem | Lauderdale Lakes | Part of Broward | 2018 | |
Christine Hunschofsky | Dem | Parkland | Part of Broward | 2020 | |
Dan Daley | Dem | Coral Springs | Part of Broward | 2019* | |
Michael Gottlieb | Dem | Davie | Part of Broward | 2018 | |
Evan Jenne | Dem | Hollywood | Part of Broward | 2014 | |
Joe Geller | Dem | Aventura | Parts of Broward and Miami-Dade | 2014 | |
Marie Woodson | Dem | Hollywood | Part of Broward | 2020 | |
Felicia Robinson | Dem | Miami Gardens | Parts of Broward and Miami-Dade | 2020 | |
Tom Fabricio | Rep | Miramar | Parts of Broward and Miami-Dade | 2020 | |
Robin Bartleman | Dem | Weston | Part of Broward | 2020 | |
105 | David Borrero | Rep | Sweetwater | Parts of Broward, Collier, and Miami-Dade | 2020 |
Bob Rommel | Rep | Naples | Part of Collier | 2016 | |
Christopher Benjamin | Dem | Miami Gardens | Part of Miami-Dade | 2020 | |
Dotie Joseph | Dem | North Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2018 | |
James Bush | Dem | Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2018 | |
110 | Alex Rizo | Rep | Hialeah | Part of Miami-Dade | 2020 |
Bryan Avila | Rep | Hialeah | Part of Miami-Dade | 2014 | |
Nicholas Duran | Dem | Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2016 | |
113 | Mike Grieco | Dem | Miami Beach | Part of Miami-Dade | 2018 |
Demi Busatta Cabrera | Rep | Coral Gables | Part of Miami-Dade | 2020 | |
Vance Aloupis | Rep | Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2018 | |
Daniel Perez | Rep | Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2017* | |
Kevin Chambliss | Dem | Florida City | Part of Miami-Dade | 2020 | |
Anthony Rodriguez | Rep | Miami | Part of Miami-Dade | 2018 | |
Juan Fernandez-Barquin | Rep | Kendale Lakes | Part of Miami-Dade | 2018 | |
Jim Mooney | Rep | Islamorada | Monroe and part of Miami-Dade | 2020 |
*Elected in a special election.
District map[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Florida_House_of_Representatives.png/400px-Florida_House_of_Representatives.png)
Past composition of the House of Representatives[]
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).
See also[]
- Florida Democratic Party
- Elections in Florida
- Florida State Capitol
- Government of Florida
- List of Speakers of the Florida House of Representatives
- Republican Party of Florida
- The Florida Channel
References[]
- ^ "The 2017 Florida Statutes F.S. 11.13 Compensation of members". Florida Legislature.
- ^ "CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA". Florida Legislature. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- ^ "Vote Yes On Amendment No. 9 To Begin Limiting Political Terms". Sun-Sentinel.
- ^ "Florida Backs Article V Convention for Constitutional Amendment on Congressional Term Limits". Sunshine State News.
- ^ "CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA". Florida Legislature.
- ^ "Editorial:Advice to Legislature:Pursue limited agenda". Florida Today.
- ^ "CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA". Florida Legislature.
- ^ Buzzacco-Foerster, Jenna (February 18, 2016). "Proposal to move 2018 session to January heads House floor". Florida Politics. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- ^ "The Florida Constitution". Florida Legislature.
- ^ "The Florida Senate Handbook" (PDF). Florida Senate.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Statutes & Constitution: Online Sunshine". Florida Legislature. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
- ^ Flemming, Paul (March 8, 2009). Capital Ideas: Lawmakers face 2,138 proposals. Florida Today.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Cotterell, Bill (March 7, 2017). "Legislative session by the numbers". Florida Today. Melbourne,Florida. pp. 5A.
- ^ And previous terms of service, if any.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Florida House of Representatives. |
- Official Site Florida House
- Official Site Florida Elections Division
- The House Journal, the official record of actions taken by the House and its committees, full text online in the University of Florida's Digital Collections
- Florida House of Representatives
- Florida Legislature
- Government of Florida
- 1839 establishments in Florida Territory
- State lower houses in the United States