The House Journal is the official record of actions taken by the House and its committees. Among other things, it includes the titles of bills introduced, the full text of amendments considered, and a breakdown of how each Representative voted on matters taken up during floor sessions.

The House Journal is not a verbatim record of debates. A day given over to lengthy argument on an important bill may include but a few brief entries. A day on which scores of local bills are passed necessitates numerous pages in the Journal, although little debate, in the sense of argument, has occurred.

The Journal is of vital significance to the courts who look to it as an accurate accounting of the formal steps taken when a law is passed. It is also a vital reference for any issue that comes before the Legislature.

The Journal of each day’s proceedings is available the next day from the House Duplicating Center and on the Internet. Libraries, schools, and other interested groups may review the Journal through the My Florida House web page at http://www.myfloridahouse.gov.