The Rules: Special Sessions Guidelines and Tips

Quick Guide to Special Session Rules

Special sessions are subject to many of the same rules as regular sessions, with a few key differences. For example, councils and committees for both the House and Senate have to publicly notice a meeting two hours before the meeting begins. If any new meetings are noticed that were not included in the day's agenda calendar -- published the preceding evening -- then LobbyTools will send an email alert notifying you of the committee meeting time, location, and agenda (if available).

The House and Senate rules allow for the establishment of special amendment deadlines and procedures by the President, Speaker, or Rules committees. LobbyTools will send an email alert with the content of the procedural document as soon as it is made available. You should consult this special procedure for specific committee and floor amendment deadlines. In the rare event that a special procedure is not adopted, then the following rules apply.

House committee amendments must be filed one hour prior to the event begins. The Senate rules do not set forth a deadline for committee amendments; however, the committee amendment deadline must be included in the meeting notice which needs to be made public two hours before the meeting begins. Main floor amendments in the House must be filed two hours before Session convenes, and adhering floor amendments in the House must be filed one hour before Session convenes. Senate floor amendments to bills on the Special Order Calendar must be filed by 5:00 p.m. or two hours after the Special Order Calendar is announced, whichever occurs later.

Finally, since 2010 is an election year, it is important to note that campaign contributions cannot be accepted or solicited by members of the legislature during a special session.

Rule References:

House Rule 7.12(e) - Council & Committee Scheduling: Notice Deadlines during Sessions.
... During any special session, the notice shall be provided no later than 2 hours before the council or committee meeting.

House Rule 7.13(a) - Amendment Deadlines in Council and Committee
(3) During any special session, an amendment by a member who is not a member of the council or committee considering the bill shall be filed no later than 1 hour prior to the council or committee meeting.

House Rule 12.2 - Filing Deadlines for Floor Amendments
(b) After the 55th day of a regular session and during any extended or special session:
(1) Main floor amendments must be approved for filing with the Clerk not later than 2 hours before session is scheduled to convene on the day a bill appears on the Special Order Calendar in the Calendar of the House; and
(2) Amendments to main floor amendments and substitute amendments for main floor amendments must be approved for filing not later than 1 hour after the main floor amendment deadline.

House Rule 15.3 - Improper Influence; Solicitation of Campaign Contributions
(b) A member may neither solicit nor accept any campaign contribution during the 60-day regular legislative session or any extended or special session on the member's own behalf, on behalf of a political party, on behalf of any organization with respect to which the member's solicitation is regulated under s. 106.0701, Florida Statutes, or on behalf of a candidate for the House of Representatives; however, a member may contribute to the member's own campaign.

Senate Rule 13.1 - Special Session: Applicability of Senate Rules
All Senate Rules in effect on adjournment of the next preceding regular session shall apply and govern during special sessions except to the extent specifically modified or contradicted herein.

Senate Rule 13.2 - Special Session: Sessions of the Senate
The Senate shall meet each legislative day at 9:00 a.m. or pursuant to a schedule provided by the President.

Senate Rule 13.3 - Special Session: Committee meetings; schedule, notice
Committee meetings shall be scheduled by the President. Meetings of standing committees and standing subcommittees scheduled in accordance with this Rule may be held following the posting of a notice in the public corridor leading into the Senate Chamber for two (2) hours in advance of the meeting. The notice posted shall include the date, time, and place of the meeting together with the name of the introducer, short title, number of each bill to be considered, and the amendment deadline for the meeting. All other provisions for publication of notice of committee meetings are suspended.

Senate Rule 13.4 - Special Session: Delivery for introduction
All bills for introduction may be delivered to the Secretary of the Senate at any time.

Senate Rule 13.7 - Special Session: Reconsideration
A motion to reconsider shall be made and considered on the same day.

Senate Rule 13.8 - Special Session: Special Order Calendar
(1) A Special Order Calendar determining the time and priority for consideration of bills shall be submitted by the President Pro Tempore, the Minority Leader, and the Chair of the Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means.
(2) Such Special Order Calendar shall be for the next legislative day. The amendment deadline for bills on the Special Order Calendar shall be 5:00 p.m. or two (2) hours after the Special Order Calendar is announced, whichever occurs later.