Florida Legislature

Florida Legislature
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Name	Florida Legislature
Legislature	General Assembly (1822–1845), Florida Legislature (1845–present)
Houses	Senate, House of Representatives
Foundation	26 May 1845
Preceded by	Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida
Leader1 type	Senate President
Leader1	Kathleen Passidomo
Party1	(R)
Election1	November 22, 2022
Leader2 type	House Speaker
Leader2	Paul Renner
Party2	(R)
Election2	November 22, 2022
Members	160, 40 senators, 120 representatives
House1	Senate
House2	House of Representatives
Political groups1	Majority, Republican (28), Minority, Democratic (12)
Political groups2	Majority, Republican (84), Minority, Democratic (36)
Last election1	November 8, 2022
Last election2	November 8, 2022
Next election1	November 5, 2024
Next election2	November 5, 2024
Meeting place	Florida State Capitol, Tallahassee
Website	www.leg.state.fl.us

Florida Legislature. It is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida, established upon statehood in 1845. The legislature is a bicameral body consisting of an upper chamber, the Senate, and a lower chamber, the House of Representatives. It convenes in the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee and is responsible for enacting state laws, approving the state budget, and providing oversight of the executive branch.

History

The legislative history of Florida predates statehood, beginning with the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida established after the Adams–Onís Treaty ceded the territory from Spain to the United States. The first state constitution in 1845 created the modern bicameral legislature. Key historical developments include the Reconstruction era under the U.S. Congress, the ratification of the Florida Constitution of 1968, which mandated annual sessions, and pivotal shifts in political control, notably the Republican Revolution of the mid-1990s that ended over a century of Democratic dominance. Landmark sessions have addressed issues from the Florida land boom of the 1920s to the 2000 United States presidential election recount in Florida.

Structure and composition

The legislature comprises 40 members in the Florida Senate and 120 members in the Florida House of Representatives. Senators serve four-year staggered terms, with half elected every two years, while representatives serve two-year terms. Members are elected from single-member districts apportioned by population following each United States census. The Florida Constitution sets qualifications for office, including age and residency requirements. Since the late 20th century, the Republican Party has held consistent majorities in both chambers, a control solidified after the 1996 elections. The body is supported by non-partisan agencies like the Office of Legislative Services.

Powers and duties

As defined by the Florida Constitution, the legislature holds the sole power to enact statutory law, known as the Florida Statutes. It exercises the power of the purse through its passage of the General Appropriations Act. The Florida Senate holds specific authority to confirm gubernatorial appointments, including Supreme Court justices and heads of major agencies like the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It can override gubernatorial vetoes with a two-thirds vote in each chamber and has the power to propose constitutional amendments, which are then voted on by the electorate. The legislature also conducts oversight through committees like the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee.

Legislative process

A bill may be introduced in either chamber by a member and is referred to relevant standing committees, such as the Senate Appropriations Committee. It must pass three readings in each chamber, including committee review and floor votes. The House and Senate must pass identical versions before a bill is sent to the Governor of Florida. The governor may sign it, allow it to become law without a signature, or veto it; vetoes may be overridden. The legislature operates on a 60-day regular session schedule, as set by the constitution, with special sessions called by the governor or by joint proclamation of the President of the Florida Senate and the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.

Current leadership and membership

The Florida Senate is presided over by President Kathleen Passidomo, a Republican from Naples. The Majority Leader is Ben Albritton and the Minority Leader is Lauren Book. The Florida House of Representatives is led by Speaker Paul Renner, a Republican from Palm Coast. The House Majority Leader is Michael J. Grant and the House Minority Leader is Fentrice Driskell. Following the 2022 Florida elections, the partisan composition stands at 28 Republicans and 12 Democrats in the Senate, and 84 Republicans and 36 Democrats in the House.

Capitol and facilities

The legislature has convened in the Florida State Capitol complex in Tallahassee since 1845. The current 22-story high-rise capitol building, designed by architect Edward Durell Stone, opened in 1977 and is flanked by the historic Old Capitol museum. The complex houses the chambers for both the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives, along with office suites for members, the Office of the Governor of Florida, and the Supreme Court of Florida. Legislative support staff are primarily located in adjacent buildings like the Knott Building and the Pepper Building.

Category:Florida Legislature Category:State legislatures of the United States