Live Your Dream in Florida
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Learning Resources
Great Introduction to the workings of Committees
Learn unique terms & meanings
Learn unique terms & meanings
Data Sources
Florida House of Representatives
Campaign Finance
The finance database contains all contributions and expenditures reported to the Florida Division of Elections since January 1, 1996. For candidates, the campaign finance database contains all contributions and expenditures reported to the Division since the candidacy was announced, beginning with the 1996 election.
Committees are used to accumulate and exchange funds outside of regular campaign contributions. Political Action Committees (PAC) are the most common. Many politicians maintain one or more as do most organizations who lobby the state government. Once a committee is located the individual donations and expenditures may be viewed.
Lobbyists can register with the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, or both. This site allows you to search by principal or by the lobbyist. You may also see compensation reports. Lobbyists can work in other capacities, such as consultants, so the fact they are not registered as a lobbyist for an entity does not preclude them from working for that entity.
Other Legislative Offices
Office of Legislative Services
This office houses the Division of Law Revision which oversees revisions to the statutes. Here is a document that explains what they do and also how statutes are numbered: Preface16.pdf
Office of Economic & Demographic Research
The Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR) is a research arm of the Legislature principally concerned with forecasting economic and social trends that affect policy making, revenues, and appropriations.
Watch the Legislature at Work
Watch Committee hearings Live on the Florida Channel.
Click the picture to connect.
The Florida Channel Video Library, Schedules, and Resources.
How an Idea becomes Law
Legislation is created for numerous purposes. The two we are most often concerned with are creating new laws and modifying existing laws. Existing laws are codified into statutes from legislation which has been passed into law. The Florida House of Representatives, through its House Bill Drafting Service, has created guidelines for drafting legislation. The current edition is 2014. It covers the following areas:
A copy can be obtained by clicking on the picture.
The Senate also produced a manual in 2009. Download it by clicking on the picture.