The Rules: Governor's Bill Actions

Congratulations! You managed to get your bill approved by both legislative chambers before the hankies drop -- quite the rare feat considering nearly nine-tenths of the legislation filed during regular sessions doesn't make the cut. But don't pop open those champagne bottles just yet; you still need the approval -- or at least the silent consent -- of the Governor to be truly victorious.  On the other hand, if you failed to defeat legislation heading to the Governor's desk, there is still time to stop it.
According to Article III, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution, the Governor has only seven days to act on a passed bill if he is presented with the legislation during the first eight weeks of session; so you only have one week to convince the Governor to not veto (or to veto) the bill. If the bill is presented to the Governor seven days prior to Sine Die, or anytime after the legislature has adjourned sine die, then the Governor can take up to fifteen days -- that's consecutive days, not business days -- to decide on a course of action.

As always, you can track the progress of bills after they have passed both chambers on LobbyTools'  "Enrolled Bills" page. Here you will find a complete list of all bills enrolled, presented to, or approved by the Governor. Also use the "Enrolled Bills" page to filter the list for only bills you are tracking.


Rule Referenes:
Constitution of Florida
Article III, Section 8. Executive Approval and Veto

(a) Every bill passed by the legislature shall be presented to the governor for approval and shall become a law if the governor approves and signs it, or fails to veto it within seven consecutive days after presentation. If during that period or on the seventh day the legislature adjourns sine die or takes a recess of more than thrity days, the governor shall have fifteen consecutive days from the date of presentation to act on the bill. In all cases except general appropriations bills, the veto shall extend to the entire bill. The governor may veto any specific appropriations in a general appropriation bill without also vetoing the appropriation to which it relates.

(b) When a bill or any specific appropriation of a general appropriation bill has been vetoed, the governor shall transmit signed objections thereto to the house in which the bill originated if in session. If that house is not in session, the governor shall file them with the custodian of state records, who shall lay them before that house at its next regular or special session, whichever occurs first, and they shall be entered on its journal. If the originating house votes to re-enact a vetoed measure, whether in a regular or special session, and the other house does not consider or fails to re-enact the vetoed measure, no further consideration by either house at any subsequent session may be taken. If a vetoed measure is presented at a special session and the originating house does not consider it, the measure will be available for consideration at any intervening special session and until the end of the next regular session.

(c) If each house shall, by a two-thirds vote, re-enact the bill or reinstate the vetoed specific appropriation of a general appropriation bill, the vote of each member voting shall be entered on the respective journals, and the bill shall become law or the specific appropriation reinstated, the veto notwithstanding.