Bills

How to Submit Bills

Bill writing is a major component of our legislative process. It serves to create, amend, or abolish laws. All students attending the conference should write bills. The Official Florida Model Legislature Bill Tracker is posted online with legislation as it is accepted. 

A "bill tracker" allows participants to quickly view the status of a bill in relation to its chamber or committee, and whether it has effectively "died". 


2016 Florida Model Legislature Bill Tracker is available here! 
 
Agenda Topic List will give participants an idea of possible legislation that may be covered at the conference.

Bill Submission Deadlines
Florida Model Legislature September 30, 2016
**ONLY legislation that is germane (applicable to the business of the Florida Legislature) will be accepted. Any legislation that is not relevant and NOT the business/duty of the legislature will be rejected. Please be sure to include a "background summary" of your bill. This summary should give a brief history of the issue, sort of a current situation analysis. This summary will help conference participants understand the issue/bill.

Using the Legislation (Bill) Template:

In order to use the Legislation (Bill) Template, you will need to "download" the document. You can either download and save the template at one time, or download (open) the template, create your legislation, and then save the document with the appropriate name.

To "download" the legislation template, complete the following steps (*NOTE this may vary based on the internet browser you use, these instructions are for Microsoft Internet Explorer):
  1. Click on the "Bill Template" hyperlink located in the "Resources" section to your right, on this page.
  2. A "pop-up" window should appear and present three options (Open, Save, and Save as).
  3. Select  "Open". *NOTE: if an Internet Explorer Security window pops up, select "Allow". This will allow internet explorer to open your word processing application.
  4. After the background downloading is completed, your word processing program should open the document. *NOTE: For some applications (word processing) the document may open in "protected view." Before you can edit the document, you'll need to "Enable Editing."
  5. Draft your legislation then save the document.
  6. Depending on what chamber you're assigned to (House of Representatives or Senate), you will preface (before) your bill title with HB or SB.
    1. For example, if you are assigned to the House of Representatives and the title of your bill is Hydraulic Fracturing. You'd save your bill as "HB Hydraulic Fracturing". Similarly, if you are assigned to the Senate and the title of your bill is Everglades Restoration, you'd save your bill as "SB Everglades Restoration". 
    2. Using these naming conventions will ensure your bill is assigned to the appropriate legislative chamber and staff.
If you decide to "Save or Save As" instead of downloading first, you'd complete Step 1, 2, and 6. After the document has "downloaded" you should be given the option to "Open." Open the document, draft your legislation, and then save.

Submit your legislation using the instructions found under the "Resources" section in the right column of this page and the document title "How to Write & Submit a Bill." Submit your bill using the "Submit Your Bill Here!" link. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have ANY questions!

Resources

How to Write & Submit a Bill
Bill Template
Bill Format/Sample Bill

Submit Your Bill Here!

Visit our Legislative News web page as a "starting" point for your research into current legislative issues.

Previous Bills

2015 Florida Model Legislature Bill Tracker

November-2014 Florida Model Legislature Bill Tracker

May-2014 Florida Model Legislature Bill Tracker

2013 Florida Model Legislature Bill Tracker 

2012 Florida Model Legislature Bill Tracker

2011 Florida Model Legislature Bill Tracker

***Please Do not plagiarize bills from previous years.***