User:Starrfruit/sandbox/2006-08 Florida Legislature

The 2006-08 Florida Legislature was the legislature of the U.S. state of Florida following the 2006 general election, occuring primarily during the first two years of Governor Charlie Crist's term. (It began in the final weeks of Jeb Bush's second term.) It was the 20th legislature convened under the 1968 Constitution and the 83rd since statehood in 1845.

In the November 7, 2006 elections, the Democratic Party gained seven seats in the House of Representatives, reducing the Republican majority to 78-42. In the Senate, both parties captured one seat each, resulting in a continued Republican majority of 26-14.

The legislature met in six sessions: a one-day organization session on November 21, 2006; a special session ("A") from January 16 to 22, 2007; the 2007 regular session from March 6 to May 4; a special session ("B") from June 12 to 22, 2007; a special session ("C") from October 3 to 12, 2007; an extension of that special session ("D") from October 12 to 29; and the 2008 regular session from March 4 to May 2.

Senate
There was one resignation and one subsequent special election during the course of the 2004-06 term, but the party balance was not affected.

House of Representatives
Membership changed with nine resignations, two deaths, and ten subsequent special elections. Democrats lost one seat due to a party switch weeks after the 2006 elections, but picked up two seats in special elections.

Major legislation and events
Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio called a special session ("A") for January 16–22, 2007, to address property insurance reform and a revision of the state building codes.

The 2007 regular session resulted in several major pieces of legislation: Pruitt and Rubio called a second special session ("B") for June 12–22 to consider legislation to reduce and restructure ad valorem taxes, and they called a third special session ("C") for October 3–12 to adjust the state budget in response to decreased revenues. That session was extended to October 29.
 * Law 1
 * Law 2

During the 2008 regular session, the legislature passed several significant new laws:
 * Law 1
 * Law 2