Florida House of Representatives

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.[3] 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 2019, Republicans hold the majority in the State House with 73 seats; Democrats are in the minority with 46 seats. One seat is vacant.

Florida House of Representatives
2018–2020 Florida Legislature
Type
Type
Term limits
4 terms (8 years)
History
FoundedMay 26, 1845
Preceded byLegislative Council of the Territory of Florida
Leadership
Speaker of the House
José R. Oliva (R)
since November 20, 2018
House Speaker Pro Tempore
MaryLynn Magar[1] (R)
since November 20, 2018
House Majority Leader
Dane Eagle[1] (R)
since November 19, 2018
House Minority Leader
Kionne McGhee (D)
since November 19, 2018
Structure
Seats120
Political groups
Majority

Minority

Vacant: 1
Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle III, Constitution of Florida
Salary$29,697/year + per diem (Subsistence & Travel)[2]
Elections
Last election
November 6, 2018
(120 seats)
Next election
November 3, 2020
(120 seats)
RedistrictingLegislative control
Motto
In God We Trust
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber
Florida Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida
Website
Official website
Florida
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Florida

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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

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.[11]

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".[12] The Florida Statutes are the codified statutory laws of the state.[12]

In 2009, legislators filed 2,138 bills for consideration. On average, the Legislature has passed about 300 bills into law annually.[13]

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.[14] In 2017, 1,885 lobbyists registered to represent 3,724 entities.[14]

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.

PositionNamePartyDistrict
Speaker of the HouseJosé R. OlivaRepublican110
Speaker pro temporeMaryLynn MagarRepublican82
Majority leaderDane EagleRepublican77
Minority leaderKionne McGheeDemocratic117

Composition
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Democratic NPA Vacant
End of 2014–16 legislature 81 37 1 119 1
Start of previous (2016–18) legislature 79 41 0 120 0
End of previous legislature 75 116 4
Start of current (2018–20) legislature 73 47 0 120 0
January 11, 2019[15][16] 72 46 118 2
January 24, 2019[17] 71 117 3
June 18, 2019[18][19][20] 73 47 120 0
April 11, 2020[21] 46 119 1
Latest voting share 60.8% 39.2%

Members, 2018–2020
DistrictNamePartyResidenceCounties representedFirst Elected[22]
1 Mike Hill Rep Pensacola Part of Escambia 2018,
2014–16
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 Mel Ponder Rep Destin Part of Okaloosa 2016
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 Loranne Ausley Dem Tallahassee Part of Leon 2016,
2000–08
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 Kimberly Daniels Dem Jacksonville Part of Duval 2016
15 Wyman Duggan Rep Jacksonville Part of Duval 2018
16 Jason Fischer Rep Jacksonville Part of Duval 2016
17 Cyndi Stevenson Rep St. Augustine Part of St. Johns 2015*
18 Travis Cummings Rep Orange Park Part of Clay 2012
19 Bobby Payne Rep Palatka Bradford, Putnam, Union, part of Clay 2016
20 Clovis Watson Jr. Dem Alachua Parts of Alachua and Marion 2012
21 Chuck Clemons Rep Newberry Dixie, Gilchrist, part of Alachua 2016
22 Charlie Stone Rep Ocala Levy, part of Marion 2012
23 Stan McClain Rep Belleview Part of Marion 2016
24 Paul Renner Rep Palm Coast Flagler, parts of St. Johns and Volusia 2015*
25 Tom Leek Rep Ormond Beach Part of Volusia 2016
26 Elizabeth Fetterhoff Rep DeLand Part of Volusia 2018
27 David Santiago Rep Deltona Part of Volusia 2012
28 David Smith Rep Winter Springs Part of Seminole 2018
29 Scott Plakon Rep Longwood Part of Seminole 2014,
2008–12
30 Joy Goff-Marcil Dem Maitland Parts of Orange and Seminole 2018
31 Jennifer Sullivan Rep Mount Dora Parts of Lake and Orange 2014
32 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
35 Blaise Ingoglia Rep Spring Hill Part of Hernando 2014
36 Amber Mariano Rep Hudson Part of Pasco 2016
37 Ardian Zika Rep Land O' Lakes Part of Pasco 2018
38 Randy Maggard Rep Zephyrhills Part of Pasco 2019*
39 Josie Tomkow Rep Polk City Parts of Osceola and Polk 2018*
40 Colleen Burton Rep Lakeland Part of Polk 2014
41 Sam Killebrew Rep Winter Haven Part of Polk 2016
42 Mike La Rosa Rep St. Cloud Parts of Osceola and Polk 2012
43 John Cortes Dem Kissimmee Part of Osceola 2014
44 Geraldine Thompson Dem Orlando Part of Orange 2018
45 Kamia Brown Dem Orlando Part of Orange 2016
46 Bruce Antone Dem Orlando Part of Orange 2012
47 Anna Eskamani Dem Orlando Part of Orange 2018
48 Amy Mercado Dem Orlando Part of Orange 2016
49 Carlos Guillermo Smith Dem Orlando Part of Orange 2016
50 Rene Plasencia Rep Orlando Parts of Brevard and Orange 2014
51 Tyler Sirois Rep Cocoa Part of Brevard 2018
52 Thad Altman Rep Rockledge Part of Brevard 2016,
2003–08
53 Randy Fine Rep Melbourne Beach Part of Brevard 2016
54 Erin Grall Rep Vero Beach Indian River, part of St. Lucie 2016
55 Cary Pigman Rep Avon Park Glades, Highlands, Okeechobee, part of St. Lucie 2012
56 Melony Bell Rep Fort Meade DeSoto, Hardee, part of Polk 2018
57 Mike Beltran Rep Lithia Part of Hillsborough 2018
58 Lawrence McClure Rep Dover Part of Hillsborough 2017*
59 Adam Hattersley Dem Riverview Part of Hillsborough 2018
60 Jackie Toledo Rep Tampa Part of Hillsborough 2016
61 Dianne Hart Dem Tampa Part of Hillsborough 2018
62 Susan Valdes Dem Tampa Part of Hillsborough 2018
63 Fentrice Driskell Dem Tampa Part of Hillsborough 2018
64 J. W. Grant Rep Tampa Parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas 2015,*
2010–14
65 Chris Sprowls Rep Palm Harbor Part of Pinellas 2014
66 Nick DiCeglie Rep Indian Rocks Beach Part of Pinellas 2018
67 Chris Latvala Rep Clearwater Part of Pinellas 2014
68 Ben Diamond Dem St. Petersburg Part of Pinellas 2016
69 Jennifer Webb Dem Gulfport Part of Pinellas 2018
70 Wengay Newton Dem St. Petersburg Parts of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota 2016
71 Will Robinson Rep Bradenton Parts of Manatee and Sarasota 2018
72 Margaret Good Dem Sarasota Parts of Sarasota 2018*
73 Tommy Gregory Rep Sarasota Parts of Manatee and Sarasota 2018
74 James Buchanan Rep Osprey Part of Sarasota 2018
75 Michael J. Grant Rep Port Charlotte Charlotte 2016,
2004–08
76 Ray Rodrigues Rep Estero Part of Lee 2012
77 Dane Eagle Rep Cape Coral Part of Lee 2012
78 Heather Fitzenhagen Rep Fort Myers Part of Lee 2012
79 Spencer Roach Rep North Fort Myers Part of Lee 2018
80 Byron Donalds Rep Naples Hendry, part of Collier 2016
81 Tina Polsky Dem Boca Raton Part of Palm Beach 2018
82 MaryLynn Magar Rep Tequesta Parts of Martin and Palm Beach 2012
83 Toby Overdorf Rep Palm City Parts of Martin and St. Lucie 2018
84 Delores Hogan Johnson Dem Fort Pierce Part of St. Lucie 2018
85 Rick Roth Rep Loxahatchee Part of Palm Beach 2016
86 Matt Willhite Dem Wellington Part of Palm Beach 2016
87 David Silvers Dem West Palm Beach Part of Palm Beach 2016
88 Al Jacquet Dem Lantana Part of Palm Beach 2016
89 Mike Caruso Rep Delray Beach Part of Palm Beach 2018
90 Joseph Casello Dem Boynton Beach Part of Palm Beach 2018
91 Emily Slosberg Dem Boca Raton Part of Palm Beach 2016
92 Patricia Hawkins-Williams Dem Lauderdale Lakes Part of Broward 2016
93 Chip LaMarca Rep Lighthouse Point Part of Broward 2018
94 Bobby DuBose Dem Fort Lauderdale Part of Broward 2014
95 Anika Omphroy Dem Lauderdale Lakes Part of Broward 2018
96 Vacant Part of Broward
97 Dan Daley Dem Coral Springs Part of Broward 2019*
98 Michael Gottlieb Dem Davie Part of Broward 2018
99 Evan Jenne Dem Hollywood Part of Broward 2014
100 Joe Geller Dem Aventura Parts of Broward and Miami-Dade 2014
101 Shevrin Jones Dem West Park Part of Broward 2012
102 Sharon Pritchett Dem Miami Gardens Parts of Broward and Miami-Dade 2012
103 Cindy Polo Dem Miramar Parts of Broward and Miami-Dade 2018
104 Richard Stark Dem Weston Part of Broward 2012
105 Ana Maria Rodriguez Rep Doral Parts of Broward, Collier, and Miami-Dade 2018
106 Bob Rommel Rep Naples Part of Collier 2016
107 Barbara Watson Dem Miami Gardens Part of Miami-Dade 2011*
108 Dotie Joseph Dem North Miami Part of Miami-Dade 2018
109 James Bush Dem Miami Part of Miami-Dade 2018
110 José R. Oliva Rep Miami Lakes Part of Miami-Dade 2011*
111 Bryan Avila Rep Hialeah Part of Miami-Dade 2014
112 Nicholas Duran Dem Miami Part of Miami-Dade 2016
113 Mike Grieco Dem Miami Beach Part of Miami-Dade 2018
114 Javier Fernandez Dem South Miami Part of Miami-Dade 2018*
115 Vance Aloupis Rep Miami Part of Miami-Dade 2018
116 Daniel Perez Rep Miami Part of Miami-Dade 2017*
117 Kionne McGhee Dem Miami Part of Miami-Dade 2012
118 Anthony Rodriguez Rep Miami Part of Miami-Dade 2018
119 Juan Fernandez-Barquin Rep Kendale Lakes Part of Miami-Dade 2018
120 Holly Merrill Raschein Rep Key Largo Monroe and part of Miami-Dade 2012

*Elected in a special election.

District map
Current districts and party composition of the Florida House of Representatives
  Democratic Party
  Republican Party

Past composition of the House of Representatives
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).

See also

References
  1. "House Majority Leadership Team". Florida House of Representatives.
  2. "The 2017 Florida Statutes F.S. 11.13 Compensation of members". Florida Legislature.
  3. "CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA". Florida Legislature. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  4. "Vote Yes On Amendment No. 9 To Begin Limiting Political Terms". Sun-Sentinel.
  5. "Florida Backs Article V Convention for Constitutional Amendment on Congressional Term Limits". Sunshine State News.
  6. "CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA". Florida Legislature.
  7. "Editorial:Advice to Legislature:Pursue limited agenda". Florida Today.
  8. "CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA". Florida Legislature.
  9. Buzzacco-Foerster, Jenna (February 18, 2016). "Proposal to move 2018 session to January heads House floor". Florida Politics. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  10. "The Florida Constitution". Florida Legislature.
  11. "The Florida Senate Handbook" (PDF). Florida Senate.
  12. "Statutes & Constitution: Online Sunshine". Florida Legislature. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  13. Flemming, Paul (March 8, 2009). Capital Ideas: Lawmakers face 2,138 proposals. Florida Today.
  14. Cotterell, Bill (March 7, 2017). "Legislative session by the numbers". Florida Today. Melbourne,Florida. pp. 5A.
  15. Republican Halsey Beshears (District 7) resigned after being appointed secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. McAuliffe, Danny (January 12, 2019). "Mike Watkins opens cash lead in race for House District 7". Florida Politics. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  16. Democrat Jared Moskowitz (District 97) resigned after being appointed director of the Division of Emergency Management. Huriash, Lisa (December 6, 2018). "DeSantis chooses South Florida Democrat as state's emergency management leader". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  17. Republican Danny Burgess (District 38) resigned after being appointed executive director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. "Danny Burgess approved as head of Veterans' Affairs". Florida Politics. January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  18. Republican Jason Shoaf was elected to District 7. "Republican Jason Shoaf wins House District 7 special election". Florida Politics. June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  19. Republican Randy Maggard was elected to District 38. Irwin Taylor, Janelle (June 18, 2019). "Randy Maggard takes landslide victory over Democratic challenger in Pasco Special Election". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  20. Democrat Dan Daley was elected to District 97 effective this date. Nicol, Ryan (June 18, 2019). "Dan Daley ready to be seated months after securing House seat". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  21. Democrat Kristin Jacobs (District 96) died. Swisher, Skyler (April 11, 2020). "Kristin Jacobs, a Broward state representative and advocate for the environment, dies at 60". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  22. And previous terms of service, if any.
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