Find Your Legislators:

Florida residents: The following links will provide lists of legislators by name & district. Your districts are listed on your voter registration card.

FLORIDA HOUSE       FLORIDA SENATE       U.S. HOUSE

If you don't have your voter registration card handy, the following link will allow you to determine your FL house & senate districts, as well as your U.S. Congressional district, by zip code:

DISTRICT LOOKUP

Non-Florida residents: Since Florida is a tourist destination state, your input on Florida issues may be given some attention by legislators, especially as it may reflect on Florida's attraction to you as a tourist or visitor.



Which Legislators to Contact:

When a bill is in committee we recommend you contact: the bill sponsor(s), the committee chair, the committee members, and your own representative (even if not on the committee).

When a bill is moving to the floor for a vote you should first contact your own representative (if a Florida resident); a faxed letter plus a follow-up phone call would be best. Both residents and non-residents might also contact either the House Speaker or Senate President, as appropriate, and the bill sponsor(s).

The following websites will allow you to enter bill numbers to review bill sponsors, original bill text & revisions; find committee assignments & committee members; and track bill progress:

FLORIDA HOUSE WEBSITE       FLORIDA SENATE WEBSITE



General Guidelines:

  1. It is good form to address letters to legislators: The Honorable [full name] with the saluation Dear [Senator or Rep.] [last name].
  2. Avoid preambles: State your concern and requested action in the first paragraph. "I am writing to request that you [vote against/amend/etc.] [HB or SB XXX]."
  3. Follow this with specific reasons justifying your request, which might be based on: unintended consequences, duplication of existing legislation, enforcement issues, police resource allocation, taxpayer costs, etc. If such can be made, a libertarian argument (unnecessary state interference with individual rights) can appeal to a broad spectrum of political philosophy, both liberal and conservative.
  4. If you are requesting an amendation, it is useful in conclusion to note what part of the bill you support, and what part you wish amended.
  5. Be brief: Try to keep the letter to one page. Don't make it an essay or a lecture.
  6. Never use personal or ad hominem attacks against any legislator—not only the one to whom you're writing, but any other legislator. You may suggest a legislator is misguided or has not fully examined bill consequences, but do not suggest nefarious or malicious intent. Never use profanity. Avoid hyperbolic and inflamatory terms like "fascist", "wackos" and the like. Make no negative religious references.
  7. Give your full name and address, and sign the letter.



Methods of Contact:

Generally, the impact of your message will be directly proportional to the effort taken in its composition and delivery. Messages should include your name and address. Also of importance, especially if a bill is moving to the floor, is the speed of message receipt. Following are general guidelines and suggestions:

  1. Original letters, sent by mail or fax, will have the greatest impact.
  2. Phone calls can be very effective especially if there is only a short time before a vote, and are received in high numbers overwhelmingly on one side of a particular issue.
  3. Emails are transmitted instantly, but may not be read immediately. Also, you can expect your email may merely be categorized as pro or con by an aide, rather than printed and saved.
  4. Form letters or emails are easily generated and therefore may not be accorded much importance unless they are overwhelming in volume. Form letters are still preferable to form emails.
  5. Petitions are useful because it is relatively easier to obtain signatures. For this very reason, one signature on a petition is accorded vastly less weight than one original letter, and petitions garnering few signatures are easily overlooked by legislators.