Florida legislature: Going, going, gone

by Lisa M Hurley, Legislative Director
Florida Association of Counties
Special to Historic City News

To the surprise of legislators and lobbyists alike the House adjourned Sine Die Tuesday; they just went home and will not adjourn again as part of the 2105 regular session. What does this mean?

Many are still trying to figure out the details but there are a few things that are clear, we are headed to a Special Session to address the budget and many, many bills died today. Any bill not passed by the full House is now dead.

Bills passed by the House and sent to the Senate can either be brought up and passed “as is” (assuming its companion bill made it through the committee process) or defeated; but no more back and forth between the chambers can occur.

Special Session must have a specific call – which means that when either the Governor or Legislature calls the Special Session they will have to stipulate which topics are to be covered during the special session. This provides state leadership with some wiggle room as to what is included in the call.

It also leaves the rest of us wondering and waiting for clarity.

Clear as mud? Definitely.