Florida Bill Tracking And State Guide
Everything you need to know to engage with the Senate and House
How does a bill become law in Florida?
- Drafting the Bill: A Representative requests a bill from House Bill Drafting Services, providing details or a general idea. A bill drafter helps finalize the draft, which is then assigned a bill number.
- First Reading: The bill is published with its number, sponsor, and a short description in the House Journal. The Speaker refers it to committees.
- Committee Review: Committees review the bill. The Chair decides which bills are heard. Many bills can "die" if not heard.
- Second Reading: If favorable, the bill is placed on the House Calendar for a second reading, where it is explained and questions are asked.
- Third Reading: After the second reading, the bill goes to third reading for final discussion before the vote.
- House Vote: Members vote on the bill. If passed, it is sent to the Senate with a message.
- Senate Process: The Senate may pass the bill, amend it, send it to committee, or defeat it. If amended, it returns to the House for consideration.
- Final Form: If the Senate passes the bill without amendments, the House creates an "enrolled" version, which is sent to the Governor.
- Governor's Consideration: The Governor can sign the bill, allow it to become law without a signature, or veto it. A veto can be overridden by a 2/3 vote in the Legislature.
How can a member of the public get involved in the legislative process in Florida?
A member of the public can get involved in the legislative process in Florida in several ways:
1. Contacting Legislators: Individuals can reach out to their state representatives or senators to express their opinions, provide input, or advocate for specific issues or bills. This can be done through phone calls, emails, or in-person meetings.
2. Attending Committee Meetings: Citizens can attend committee hearings where bills are discussed. This allows them to stay informed on the legislative process and voice their opinions during public comment periods.
3. Participating in Public Hearings: Public hearings are held to gather input from the community on specific legislation. Community members can attend and provide testimony regarding their views on the bills being considered.
4. Joining Advocacy Groups: Many organizations focus on specific issues (e.g., education, healthcare, environment) and actively lobby for changes in legislation. Joining these groups can amplify an individual's voice and involvement.
5. Staying Informed: Keeping track of bills and legislative sessions throughout the legislative process can help the public stay engaged and aware of important issues.
6. Using Social Media: Engaging with legislators and sharing opinions on social media platforms can raise awareness and build support for specific legislative initiatives.
7. Voting: Participating in elections is essential for influencing who represents them in the legislature and the types of laws that are enacted. Voting on ballot initiatives can also impact legislation directly.
How can FastDemocracy help me with that?
Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in Florida every year (and about 180,000 bills nationwide). If you want to be an effective advocate, you need to know where legislation of interest stands, and act quickly.
FastDemocracy's free version allows you to track an unlimited number of bills - no strings attached. We'll send you a daily or weekly email on your priority bills and give you tools to research bills and legislators.
FastDemocracy Professional is for anyone who tracks bills in a professional capacity. It features
- real-time bill, amendment and hearing alerts
- automated reporting
- team collaboration
- bill tagging for clients and stakeholders
- bill similarity detection
- ...and much more
How do I track bills in Florida?
1. Sign up here for a free FastDemocracy account.
2. Head to Tracked Topics to select issue areas you care about.
3. Use the search bar on top if you're looking for something specific.
4. Click "Track Bill" for any legislation you'd like to monitor a bit closer. That's how you add it to your Tracked Bills. You can also click on a bill to learn more, see the bill summary, most recent actions, votes, news and tweets. You can also contact legislators or share your bills on social media.
5. You can track an unlimited number of bills for free and we'll send you a daily or weekly email if your tracked legislation moves.
6. Do you need real-time alerts, outreach tools, bill lists, and professional functions? Then FastDemocracy Professional is the right fit for you.
7. Track bills on your smartphone using our free mobile app.
How do I find my local Florida Senator and Representative?
You can use the Find Your Legislators tool to find them, see their voting records, and contact them.
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Most recent bill actions in Florida, 2026 Regular Session
Relief/Estate of Danielle Maudsley/Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; Provides appropriation to compensate estate for Ms. Maudsley's death as result of alleged negligence of Trooper Daniel Cole & FHP, division of DHSMV; provides limitation on payment of compensation & attorney fees. CLAIM WITH APPROPRIATION: $1,750,000
Last Action
Filed
House • Aug 27, 2025Latest Version
Relief of Reginald Jackson by the City of Lakeland; Providing for the relief of Reginald Jackson by the City of Lakeland; providing an appropriation to compensate Mr. Jackson for injuries and damages sustained as a result of the negligence of Mike Cochran, a police officer with the Lakeland Police Department; providing a limitation on the payment of compensation and attorney fees, etc. CLAIM: $312,500
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of the Estate of Mark LaGatta by the Department of Transportation; Providing for the relief of the Estate of Mark LaGatta; providing an appropriation to compensate the estate for injuries and damages sustained by Mr. LaGatta as a result of the negligence of the Department of Transportation; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees, etc. CLAIM WITH APPROPRIATION: $2,200,000
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of Lourdes Latour and Edward Latour by Miami-Dade County; Providing for the relief of Lourdes Latour and Edward Latour by Miami-Dade County; providing an appropriation to compensate Mr. and Mrs. Latour for injuries sustained as a result of the negligence of Miami-Dade County; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees, etc. CLAIM: $500,000
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of L.P. by the Department of Children and Families; Providing for the relief of L.P., a minor, by the Department of Children and Families; providing an appropriation to compensate L.P. for injuries and damages sustained due to the negligence of employees and caseworkers of the department; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of fees and costs, etc. CLAIM WITH APPROPRIATION: $28,000,000
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of H.H. by the Department of Children and Families; Providing for the relief of H.H. by the Department of Children and Families; providing an appropriation to compensate H.H. for injuries and damages sustained as a result of the negligence of the department; providing legislative intent; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of certain fees and costs, etc. CLAIM WITH APPROPRIATION: $14,926,640
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of the Estate of M.N. by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office; Providing for the relief of the Estate of M.N. by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office; providing an appropriation to compensate the estate for injuries sustained by M.N. and her subsequent death as a result of the negligence of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees, etc. CLAIM: $2,588,259
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of Heriberto A. Sanchez-Mayen by the City of St. Petersburg; Providing for the relief of Heriberto A. Sanchez-Mayen by the City of St. Petersburg; providing for an appropriation to compensate Mr. Sanchez-Mayen for injuries sustained as a result of the negligence of the City of St. Petersburg; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees, etc. CLAIM: $2,300,000
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade County; Providing for the relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade County; providing an appropriation to compensate Mr. Correa for injuries sustained as a result of the negligence of an employee of Miami-Dade County; providing a limitation on the payment of compensation and certain fees, etc. CLAIM: $4,100,000
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of Maximus Giannikos by the City of Clearwater; Providing for the relief of Maximus Giannikos by the City of Clearwater; providing for an appropriation to compensate Maximus Giannikos for injuries sustained as a result of the negligence of the City of Clearwater; providing a limitation on the payment of compensation and attorney fees, etc. CLAIM: Indeterminate
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of Maury Hernandez by the Department of Corrections; Providing for the relief of Maury Hernandez; providing an appropriation to compensate former Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Maury Hernandez for injuries and damages sustained as a consequence of the Department of Corrections’ failures to enforce probation laws, regulations, and policies; providing legislative intent that certain liens be waived; providing a limitation on the payment of compensation and attorney fees, etc. CLAIM WITH APPROPRIATION: $5,000,000
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of Patricia Ermini by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office; Providing for the relief of Patricia Ermini by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office; providing for an appropriation to compensate her for injuries sustained as a result of the negligence of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office; providing a limitation on the payment of compensation and attorney fees, etc. CLAIM: $626,770
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of L.E. by the Department of Children and Families; Providing for the relief of L.E. by the Department of Children and Families; providing an appropriation to compensate L.E. for injuries and damages sustained as a result of the negligence of the department; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees, etc. CLAIM WITH APPROPRIATION: $3,800,000
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of C.C. by the Department of Children and Families; Providing for the relief of C.C. by the Department of Children and Families; providing an appropriation to compensate C.C. for injuries and damages sustained as a result of the negligence of the department; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees and certain costs, etc. CLAIM WITH APPROPRIATION: $20,000,000
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Relief of the Estate of Danielle Maudsley by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; Providing for the relief of the Estate of Danielle Maudsley; providing an appropriation to compensate the estate for Ms. Maudsley’s death as a result of the alleged negligence of Trooper Daniel Cole and the Florida Highway Patrol, a division of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; providing a limitation on the payment of compensation and attorney fees, etc. CLAIM WITH APPROPRIATION: $1,750,000
Last Action
Filed
Senate • Aug 01, 2025Latest Version
Fentanyl Testing; Requires hospitals or hospital-based off-campus emergency departments to test for fentanyl in urine test & perform confirmation test if urine test results are positive for fentanyl; requires specified results to be retained as part of patient's clinical record for certain timeframe.
Last Action
Chapter No.2025-19, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/SB 68 (Ch. 2025-179)
legislature • Jul 23, 2025Latest Version
Relief of Darline Angervil and J.R. by the South Broward Hospital District; Providing for the relief of Darline Angervil and J.R., a minor, by the South Broward Hospital District; providing an appropriation to compensate Darline Angervil, individually and as parent and natural legal guardian of J.R., and J.R. for injuries and damages sustained as a result of negligence of the South Broward Hospital District; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees, etc. CLAIM: $6,100,000
Last Action
Chapter No. 2025-221
legislature • Jul 08, 2025Latest Version
Relief of Kristen and Lia McIntosh by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Providing for the relief of Kristen and Lia McIntosh; providing an appropriation to compensate Kristen and Lia McIntosh for injuries and damages sustained as a result of the negligence of an employee of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; providing a limitation on the payment of compensation and attorney fees, etc. CLAIM WITH APPROPRIATION: $2,252,000
Last Action
Chapter No. 2025-216
legislature • Jul 08, 2025Latest Version
Relief of Eric Miles, Jr., and Jennifer Miles by the South Broward Hospital District; Providing for the relief of Eric Miles, Jr., and Jennifer Miles, as copersonal representatives of their minor son, E.E.M., by the South Broward Hospital District, d/b/a Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital; providing for an appropriation to compensate Eric Miles, Jr., and Jennifer Miles for the injuries and damages sustained by their son as a result of the negligence of the South Broward Hospital District; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees, etc. CLAIM: $200,000
Last Action
Chapter No. 2025-220
legislature • Jul 08, 2025Latest Version
Relief of J.N., a Minor, by Hillsborough County; Providing for the relief of J.N., a minor, by Hillsborough County; providing an appropriation to Stephany Grullon, as parent and guardian of J.N., to compensate J.N. for injuries and damages she sustained as a result of the negligence of Hillsborough County in maintaining sidewalks and culvert systems; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of certain fees and costs, etc. CLAIM: $400,000
Last Action
Chapter No. 2025-219
legislature • Jul 08, 2025Latest Version
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