Rules Committee, Florida State Senate
The Rules Committee is a standing committee of the Florida State Senate. The committee also has a standing subcommittee on Ethics and Elections.
Per the Senate Rules, committees of the Florida State Senate are assigned by the President of the Senate.[1] The rules do not specify when or how often committees are assigned. The President shall appoint a chair and vice-chair for each standing committee and subcommittee.[2] A majority makes up a committee's quorum.[3]
See rules: Rules and Manual 2020-2022
Function
The Rules Committee examines legislation in the following subject areas:
| “ | ” |
| “ | Responsibilities of the Rules committee:
Upon a determination by the Rules Chair, or the President when the complaint is against the Rules Chair, that the complaint states facts that, if true, would be a violation of the Senate Rules, the complaint shall be referred to a special master or select committee to determine probable cause. If a select committee is appointed, it shall be comprised of an odd number of members. 1. The special master or select committee shall give reasonable notice to the Senator who is alleged to have violated the Rules, shall conduct an investigation, and shall grant the Senator an opportunity to be heard. A report and recommendation shall then be prepared. 2. The report and recommendation is advisory only and shall be presented to the Rules Chair and the President as soon as practicable after the close of the investigation. 3. If the report and recommendation conclude that the facts do not support a finding of probable cause, the complaint shall be dismissed by the Rules Chair, or the President when the complaint is against the Rules Chair. 4. If the complaint is not dismissed, another select committee will be appointed and shall consider the report and recommendation, shall grant the Senator an opportunity to be heard, and shall develop its own recommendation. 5. If the select committee votes to dismiss the complaint, the chair shall dismiss the complaint. 6. Otherwise, the report and recommendation and the recommendation of the select committee shall be presented to the President. 7. The President shall present the committee’s recommendation, along with the report and recommendation, to the Senate for final action.[6][5] |
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Membership
2025-2026 legislative session
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Senate Rules Committee, 2025-2026 |
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|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (5) | Republican members (18) | Third-party members(1) |
Blaise Ingoglia (R) left this committee on July 21, 2025. [Source]
2023-2024 legislative session
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Senate Rules Committee, 2023-2024 |
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|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (5) | Republican members (15) | Third-party members(0) |
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2021-2022 legislative session
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Senate Rules Committee, 2021-2022 |
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|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (6) | Republican members (11) | Third-party members(0) |
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2019-2020 legislative session
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Senate Rules Committee, 2019-2020 |
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|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (7) | Republican members (9) | Third-party members(0) |
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Tom Lee (R) left this committee on November 03, 2020.
2017 legislative session
The following table describes committee membership at the beginning of the 2017 legislative session.
| Rules Members, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (4) | Republican members (8) | |||
| • Perry Thurston, Vice chair | • Lizbeth Benacquisto, Chair | |||
| • Lauren Book | • Rob Bradley | |||
| • Oscar Braynon | • Jeff Brandes | |||
| • Bill Montford | • Anitere Flores | |||
| • Bill Galvano | ||||
| • Jack Latvala | ||||
| • Tom Lee | ||||
| • Wilton Simpson | ||||
2015 legislative session
The following table describes committee membership at the beginning of the 2015 legislative session.
| Rules Members, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (4) | Republican members (9) | |||
| • Darren Soto, Vice chair | • David Simmons, Chair | |||
| • Audrey Gibson | • Lizbeth Benacquisto | |||
| • Arthenia Joyner | • Miguel Diaz de la Portilla | |||
| • Bill Montford | • Don Gaetz | |||
| • Bill Galvano | ||||
| • Jack Latvala | ||||
| • Tom Lee | ||||
| • Joe Negron | ||||
| • Garrett Richter | ||||
2013-2014
The following table describes committee membership at the beginning of the 2013 legislative session.
| Rules Members, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (5) | Republican members (10) | |||
| • Christopher Smith, Vice chair | • John Thrasher, Chair | |||
| • Gwen Margolis | • Lizbeth Benacquisto | |||
| • Bill Montford | • Miguel Diaz de la Portilla | |||
| • Jeremy Ring | • Bill Galvano | |||
| • Eleanor Sobel | • Andy Gardiner | |||
| • Jack Latvala | ||||
| • Tom Lee | ||||
| • Joe Negron | ||||
| • Garrett Richter | ||||
| • David Simmons | ||||
2011-2012
The following table describes committee membership for the 2011 legislative session.
| Rules Members, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (4) | Republican members (9) | |||
| • Larcenia Bullard | • John Thrasher, Chair | |||
| • Gwen Margolis | • JD Alexander, Vice chair | |||
| • Gary Siplin | • Anitere Flores | |||
| • Christopher Smith | • Don Gaetz | |||
| • Andy Gardiner | ||||
| • Dennis Jones | ||||
| • Joe Negron | ||||
| • Garrett Richter | ||||
| • Stephen Wise | ||||
2009-2010
The following table describes committee membership for the 2009 legislative session.
| Rules Members, 2009 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (7) | Republican members (13) | |||
| • Dave Aronberg | • J.D. Alexander | |||
| • Ted Deutch | • Lee Constantine | |||
| • Charlie Justice | • Victor Crist | |||
| • Alfred Lawson | • Don Gaetz | |||
| • Gary Siplin | • Rudy Garcia | |||
| • Christopher Smith | • Andy Gardiner | |||
| • Eleanor Sobel | • Dennis Jones | |||
| • Evelyn Lynn | ||||
| • Joe Negron | ||||
| • Ronda Storms | ||||
| • John Thrasher | ||||
| • Alex Villalobos | ||||
| • Stephen Wise | ||||
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Florida Senate, "Rules and Manual 2020-2022," November 17, 2020(Rule 1.5)
- ↑ The Florida Senate, "Rules and Manual 2020-2022," November 17, 2020(Rule 2.20)
- ↑ The Florida Senate, "Rules and Manual 2020-2022," November 17, 2020(Rule 2.17)
- ↑ Florida State Senate, "Subject Area Trends for Senate Committees," accessed February 5, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Florida Senate, "Rules and Manual 2020-2022," November 17, 2020(Rule 1.43)
