Glossary
committee death
A bill that the committee it was referred to never takes up. Under Senate Rule 4.31 no bill may be considered by the Senate unless at least one committee has first reported it favorably, short of unanimous consent, and under Rule 4.6 the Senate President decides which committees a bill goes to. A bill nobody hears never reaches a floor vote, so no legislator is ever recorded against it.
Verified
Why it matters in Florida
It is the quietest way to stop a bill, and it leaves the thinnest paper trail. A measure with public support can fail without a single recorded vote against it, because the vote that would have created the record never happens.
Florida example
Senate Rule 4.31 is the gate. A bill that no committee reports favorably cannot be considered by the Senate at all, short of unanimous consent. Rule 4.6 puts the referral decision with the Senate President. A bill that is never taken up therefore never reaches a floor vote, and no senator is ever recorded opposing it.
Citations
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Florida Senate Rules 2024-2026, Rule 4.31, unanimous consent required
Except by unanimous consent of those Senators present at a sitting, no bill shall be considered by the Senate if the bill or a companion measure has not been first reported favorably by at least one (1) Senate committee.
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Florida Senate Rules 2024-2026, Rule 4.6(1), reference generally
All bills, including those that are strictly local in nature, shall be referred by the President to appropriate committees and standing subcommittees.
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Florida Senate Rules 2024-2026, Rule 4.7(1), unfavorable report
if any committee to which the bill is referred makes an unfavorable report on said bill, that report shall be filed with the Senate and no further consideration given by other committees except by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those Senators present while sitting.