The Florida legislative session began on March 4, 2025. It was originally scheduled to end on May 2, 2025, but was extended to June 6, 2025. The session was extended to allow lawmakers to complete the budget and other related items. The final adjourned date is June 30, 2025.
Here's a breakdown of key dates:
Start: March 4, 2025
Original Adjournment: May 2, 2025
Extended Adjournment: June 6, 2025
Final Adjournment: June 30, 2025
So, it appears we may have a while to go to keep watching for bill activity and messaging/calling plus getting signatures on the petition. As of this morning, the bill CS/HB 4061 is still just 'enrolled,' as it has been since April 30th.
A little ‘SuperGrok’ info about bill process:
In Florida, the legislative process for a proposed bill includes several stages, from introduction to potential enactment into law. When a bill is enrolled, it means that it has passed both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate, has been signed by the legislative officers (the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate), and is prepared as a final document in the house of origin under the supervision of the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House. At this stage, the bill is ready to be packaged (i.e., formally transmitted or presented) to the Governor for consideration. However, if the bill is enrolled but not packaged to the Governor, specific outcomes and deadlines apply, as outlined below.
What Happens if a Bill is Enrolled but Not Packaged to the Governor?
Enrolled Bill Status:
An enrolled bill is the final version of the bill, incorporating all amendments, and is signed by the legislative officers. It is prepared for presentation to the Governor or, in some cases, for direct transmittal to the Secretary of State (e.g., for memorials or resolutions that do not require gubernatorial action).
If the bill is enrolled but not yet packaged or transmitted to the Governor, it remains in the possession of the legislature (typically in the house of origin). The transmission to the Governor is a procedural step arranged between legislative leadership and the Governor’s staff, and there is no strict deadline for when this must occur.
Potential Outcomes:
Transmission to the Governor: The bill can still be packaged and sent to the Governor at a later time, as long as the legislative session has not ended or other procedural barriers have not arisen. Once transmitted, the Governor has a limited time to act:
If the bill is presented to the Governor during the legislative session, the Governor has 7 days to sign it, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature.
If the bill is presented after the legislature adjourns sine die (the final adjournment of the session), the Governor has 15 days from the date of presentation to sign or veto it. If no action is taken, the bill becomes law without the Governor’s signature.
Failure to Transmit: If the enrolled bill is not packaged and sent to the Governor before the legislative session ends, it may remain in limbo. The bill does not automatically die, but practical and procedural factors may prevent its transmission:
Legislative leadership may choose not to send the bill due to strategic reasons, such as prioritizing other legislation or awaiting further negotiation with the Governor’s office.
If the bill is not transmitted by the end of the session, it may effectively stall unless a special session is called or the bill is reintroduced in a future session.
Special Cases:
Bills Not Requiring Gubernatorial Action: Certain measures, such as memorials or resolutions, are not sent to the Governor and are instead transmitted directly to the Secretary of State after enrollment. If such a bill is enrolled but not packaged, it may still be sent to the Secretary of State for filing, bypassing the Governor entirely.
Veto Override Considerations: If a bill is enrolled but not sent to the Governor, it cannot be vetoed. However, if it is later transmitted and vetoed, the legislature may attempt to override the veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber during the next session.
At What Point Does a Bill Stop Being Eligible to Be Packaged and Sent to the Governor?
There is no explicit constitutional or statutory deadline in Florida that prohibits an enrolled bill from being packaged and sent to the Governor after the legislative session ends. However, several practical and procedural factors determine when a bill may no longer be eligible for transmission:
End of the Legislative Session:
The Florida Legislature meets for a 60-day regular session each year (typically starting in January or March, depending on the election cycle). Once the session adjourns sine die, the legislature’s authority to act on bills, including packaging and transmitting enrolled bills, is generally suspended unless a special session is called.
If an enrolled bill is not transmitted to the Governor before the session ends, it may remain in the custody of the house of origin (Senate or House). Without a special session or other legislative action, the bill is unlikely to be sent to the Governor, effectively stalling its progress. In practice, this often means the bill “dies” unless reintroduced in a future session.
Special Sessions:
If a special session is called by the Governor or the legislature, enrolled bills from the regular session could theoretically be packaged and transmitted during the special session, provided the special session’s scope includes such action. However, special sessions are typically focused on specific issues, and transmitting old bills is rare.
New Legislative Session:
Bills that are enrolled but not transmitted do not carry over automatically to the next legislative session. Florida’s legislative process requires bills to complete their journey (from introduction to gubernatorial action) within a single session. If an enrolled bill is not sent to the Governor before the session ends, it effectively loses its eligibility to proceed unless:
The bill is reintroduced as a new bill in the next session.
A special session is called to address unfinished business, including the transmission of enrolled bills.
In practice, the start of a new session (with new bill numbers and priorities) typically marks the point at which an enrolled bill from a prior session is no longer eligible for transmission.
Practical Barriers:
Legislative Intent and Prioritization: Legislative leadership (e.g., the Speaker of the House or Senate President) may decide not to transmit an enrolled bill due to political or strategic reasons, such as negotiations with the Governor or prioritization of other bills. This decision can effectively halt the bill’s progress, even if it remains technically eligible for transmission.
Administrative Delays: The process of packaging and transmitting bills involves coordination between the legislature and the Governor’s office. Administrative delays or oversights could prevent transmission, but these are not governed by strict deadlines.
Constitutional and Statutory Context:
The Florida Constitution (Article III, Section 8) governs the Governor’s role in the legislative process but does not specify a deadline for when the legislature must transmit enrolled bills. The lack of a deadline means that, in theory, an enrolled bill could be sent to the Governor at any time, but in practice, this is constrained by the session’s end and the start of a new session.
For bills to take effect, they must be signed, allowed to become law without a signature, or passed over a veto. If an enrolled bill is never transmitted, it cannot complete this process and thus cannot become law.
Summary
If a bill is enrolled but not packaged to the Governor, it remains in the legislature’s possession and can still be transmitted later, as there is no strict deadline for transmission. However, practical barriers (e.g., session adjournment, legislative priorities) may prevent this.
The bill stops being eligible to be packaged and sent when the legislative session adjourns sine die and no special session is called to address it, or when a new session begins, as bills do not carry over. In practice, this means the bill effectively “dies” unless reintroduced in a future session.
Key Sources: The Florida Senate’s FAQ and glossary provide detailed insights into the enrollment and transmission process, while the Florida Constitution outlines the Governor’s role and deadlines for action once a bill is presented.
Thanks, as always!
Ali Johnston