FLORIDALegislative History
Florida House 1963
From: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/civics/idea_to_law_chart.pdf
Representatives Lawton M. Chiles Jr. (left) and Harry W. Westberry examining part of the 141 proposed bills in the House (1965)
1959 L-R: Senator Doyle E. Carlton Jr. of Wauchula & Senator W. Turner Davis of Madison
From: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/civics/idea_to_law_chart.pdf
Fla. Legislative History Documents
Hierarchy established by Courts:
1. Staff analysis2. Bills3. House and Senate Journals4. Committee hearings5. Debates6. Governor’s statements
• Tracking of new and pending statutes
• When the statutory language is ambiguous and statutory interpretation results in a “doubtful meaning” Dept. of Rev. v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 905 So. 2d 1017 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005).
When is legislativeresearch necessary?
Bill is passed by the Fla.
Legislature Bill #: S. 1840
Bill is published as
session laws in Laws of FloridaSession Law:
2009-79
Most session laws codified are arranged by subject in Fla. Statutes
Section 210.011
From Bill to Florida Statutes
Florida Legislative History
1988 – presentComplete at Archives
Some OnlineSome at FSU Libraries
Mid-1970s – 1988Complete at Archives
1969 – mid-1970sSome documentation
Pre-1969
Start with Florida Statutes or FSA cite
• Go to the history notes found at the bottom of statutes
• Identify session law numbers
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/
Look in Laws of Florida (print or online) to find the bill number
http://www.leg.state.fl.us
http://archive.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm?CFID=1640320&CFTOKEN=87978923
CAVEAT:Bills in Florida go through a lengthy process of consideration by one or more committees, as well as floor debates. However, very little documentation of this process is published.
• Not printed; recorded only on CD/ audio tape– No index– Poor tape quality– Discussion is general, not specific
• Committees keep tapes for 2 years.• Legislative Library for one year• State Archives (Need bill #, committee name, and date from bill
history to access from the Archives)
Finding Committee Hearings
• Vetoes or addresses • Available from:
• State archives • House or Senate Journals• Sometimes Governor’s website
Finding Governor signing statements
– Voting records– Text of floor amendments – Committee action– Governor’s veto statements
Not particularly useful in interpreting statutes. Courts use it to look for an accurate accounting of the formal steps taken when a law is passed, e.g., First Reading; Second Reading; Third Reading.
Finding House and Senate Journals
Finding House & Senate Journals
Research Center in print: KFF 18.H61897-current
Online: 1998-currentNext day availability when legislature is in session
Finding current and pending legislative information
http://www.flsenate.gov/
Finding current and pending legislative information
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/default.aspx