Based on the location where you live, you are represented in the Florida Legislature (one member in the House and one member in the Senate) and the United States Congress one member of the U. S. House of Representatives (elected from a local district) and two members of the U. S. Senate (elected by Florida). Your House of Representative member can be found by visiting the U.S. House of Representatives and typing in your zip code. Your Senators can be found by visiting the U.S. Senate and choosing your state.
Find my Florida Senator
Find my Florida Representative
Find my Member of Congress
Find my United States Senator
How a bill becomes a law (State)
Either house may originate any type of legislation, however the processes differ slightly between houses.
A legislator sponsors a bill, which is referred to one or more committees related to the bill’s subject. The committee studies the bill and decides if it should be amended, pass, or fail. If passed, the bill moves to other committees of reference or to the full house. The full house then votes on the bill.
If it passes in one house, it is sent to the other house for review. A bill goes through the same process in the second house as it did in the first. A bill can go back and forth between houses until a consensus is reached. Of course, the measure could fail at any point in the process.
How a bill becomes a law (Federal)
First, a member of the House or Senate drafts a bill and introduces it in their chamber. The bill is then considered and voted on by the committee of jurisdiction and then it is sent to the floor to be voted on by the entire chamber. The process may then be repeated in the other chamber, or a similar bill may be proceeding at the same time. Eventually, legislation that is passed by the House and Senate must go to “conference” where House and Senate members work out the differences before passing the legislation through their respective chambers. Then the bill is sent to the President to be signed into law.
For more information on how a bill becomes a law, please visit:
The Information Center on Online Sunshine or at Project Vote Smart
How to track legislation
Each bill that is introduced is given a number according to the chamber and the order in which it is introduced. Once a bill is voted on and becomes a law, it is given a reference and then becomes part of the Florida Constitution or the United States Code.
The Partnership for Florida’s Tourism follows travel and tourism issues and funding in Congress and the Florida Legislature and can provide you with the latest information. To get critical updates on tourism marketing funding and legislation and information about how you can contact Congress and your Florida Legislators, please join the Partnership today!
How to contact your Elected Officials
There are several ways to contact your members of Congress to communicate about tourism marketing funding and issues.
Contacting your elected officials can be as simple as writing an email or making a telephone call. Members of the Florida Legislature/Members of Congress have local district offices as well as offices in Tallahassee/Washington, DC. Complete contact information for these offices should be available on their websites.
By phone:
You can call your member of Congress’ DC or district office directly. Or, you can call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask the operator to connect you with the correct office.
You can call your Florida Legislators in Tallahassee or district office directly. Or, you can call the Capitol Switchboard at (850) 488-1234 and ask the operator to connect you with the correct office.
By letter:
Writing a letter to your member of the Florida Legislature/Congress can be a valuable way to communicate. It is best to both mail the letter and fax a copy because security precautions can delay Congressional mail by several weeks. Fax contact information should be available on members’ websites.
When you write to your Member of Congress, you may address your letter as follows:
The Honorable (Senator’s Name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
When you write to your Representative, you may address your letter as follows:
The Honorable (Representative’s Name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
When you write to your Member of the Florida Legislature, you may address your letter as follows:
The Honorable (Senator’s Name)
Senate Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
When you write to your Representative, you may address your letter as follows:
The Honorable (Representative’s Name)
House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
By email:
Many elected officials have web site functions that allow you to email them a message. Remember to personalize your email.
In-person meeting:
You can also meet with your elected officials or their staff in their local district office. Check out the In-District Lobby Guide for more information.
