Legislation of Interest
Staff in the Office of the General Counsel posts bills that advance or involve an official Florida Bar legislative position, bills being monitored but not presently addressed by any official Florida Bar legislation position, and bills of interest for select voluntary bar groups of The Florida Bar. These may be accessed on the Legislation of Interest webpage. If there is interest in a bill not listed, please email email Joni Hooks and include the bill number(s) and any additional information needed.
Links and Resources for Bar Groups
Any group interested in advocating a position related to any bill or other legislative issue must first comply with official Bar policies governing such advocacy.
Legislative bill texts and analyses can be viewed via Online Sunshine — the Florida Legislature’s official website. You can use either the House of Representatives or the Senate link to look up bill information.
If more in-depth bill tracking is desired, you can create Legislative tracking accounts on both the House (Florida House of Representatives – Legislative Tracking Login Page), and Senate (Senate Tracker Login – The Florida Senate), websites. Once you set up an account, these tracking systems can be personalized to follow specific issues of importance and can be set up to receive automatic email alerts when the status of those items changes.
Because legislative sessions are in flux, you should visit the Bar and Florida Legislature’s websites regularly. Updates to The Florida Bar site may show new listings of bar groups that could be interested in a particular bill.
If you need assistance, email Joni Hooks or call her at 800-342-8060 ext. 5662.
IMPORTANT FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION DATES
Although legislative sessions only last for 60 days, throughout the year there are committee meetings and other important dates including Organizational Session and bill filing deadlines.
2022-2024 Attorney Legislators
Contact a State Legislator
What The Florida Bar is Advocating
The Master List of Legislative Positions includes all Bar, section, division and committee positions for the 2022-2024 legislative biennium. All legislative positions expire at the conclusion of each legislative biennium.
Legislative positions of The Florida Bar and its committees are officially noticed in the Bar News edition immediately after approval by the Board of Governors. Under Rule 2-9.3(b)-(e) , Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, within 45 days of this notice, members may file a written objection to any of these positions that are funded by membership fees. Objections are considered for a refund of that portion of mandatory fees applicable to any contested legislative position.
Section positions are advanced with the voluntary dues and separate resources of those groups — and in their name only.
How to Submit a Request
Voluntary bar groups that wish to take a position, whether new or rollover, must complete a Legislative or Political Activity Request Form. This worksheet will help groups prepare and share information before submitting an official request. As shown on the worksheet, proposed legislative or political action must be circulated to all bar entities that may be interested in the issue. The Notice of Position Request to Interested Parties Form should be used to solicit input. Voluntary bar groups may submit proposals to the Legislation Committee before receiving comments but only after providing proposals to interested entities.
See Step-By-Step Instructions
For the Bar and mandatory bar groups that wish to take a position, whether new or rollover, there is a different form and process. Email the General Counsel’s Office for information.
How The Florida Bar Advocates
Rules Regulating The Florida Bar Relating to Legislative Activities: The Florida Bar’s legislative activities are addressed the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, as promulgated by the Supreme Court of Florida.
Standing Board Policy and Procedure: The Florida Bar’s legislative program is further shaped by its own operational guidelines, in the 900 Series of the Standing Policies of the Board of Governors.
Key Contact Program
The Florida Bar needs the assistance of lawyers and lay persons who are politically active and knowledgeable about the issues on its agenda; who are personally acquainted with lawmakers; and who would be willing to present the Bar’s views when requested. Volunteers are kept informed about the Bar’s political agenda and serve as local components of a statewide network that augments the Bar’s Tallahassee-based legislative resources.
Join the Key Contact Program
Here you’ll find The Florida Bar’s legislative positions, information about Bar advocacy and other information related to in the legislative process. For continuing coverage of matters following legislative session, read the The Florida Bar News and Legislation of Interest to the Legal Profession. Visit our Board Legislation Committee.