Delegate and Voting Information

Delegate Information

About the House of Delegates

The FMA House of Delegates (House) is comprised of delegates representing the following groups:

  • FMA officers
  • FMA Board of Governors (elected members only)
  • FMA component county and recognized specialty medical societies
  • Specialty Society Section
  • Young Physician Section
  • Resident & Fellow Section
  • Medical Student Section
  • Florida Medical Association Alliance

The business of the House is established by a blend of tradition and requirements of the Charter and Bylaws, and includes:
  1. Setting policy for the FMA by acting on recommendations from the Board of Governors and resolutions presented by component county medical societies, recognized specialty medical societies, special sections and Delegates.
  2. Hearing addresses and reports from the Treasurer, Speaker, and outgoing and incoming Presidents.
  3. Presenting awards recognizing distinguished work by members of the FMA and others whom the FMA decides to honor.
  4. Electing FMA officers, board members and AMA Delegates/Alternates.

Additional presentations may be arranged by the Speaker or by request of a member of the House with unanimous consent of the House for discussion. The first House is scheduled to meet on Saturday, August 3, from 8 - 9:30 a.m., followed by four Reference Committee hearings from 10 - 11:30 a.m. The House will reconvene on Sunday, August 4, from 8 a.m. - noon. For a complete guide to the process by which the FMA House transacts business, click here. The 2023 speakers  recorded the presentation below, entitled "House of Delegates Orientation," which may be helpful, particularly for new delegates.

 

Schedule of Events (subject to change)
Friday, August 2
  • Afternoon: Credentials and Standing Rules Committee
Saturday, August 3
  • 6 - 8 a.m.: Caucus Meetings
  • 8 - 9:30 a.m.: House of Delegates – First Session
  • 10 - 11:30 a.m.: Reference Committee Hearings
  • 2 p.m.: Voting Opens
  • 12:30 - 2 p.m.: Good Government Luncheon
Sunday, August 4
  • 6 - 7:30 a.m.: Caucus Meetings
  • 7 - 8 a.m.: Delegate Credentialing
  • 8 a.m.: Voting Closes
  • 8 a.m. - noon: House of Delegates – Second Session
  • 12:30 - 3 p.m.: 2024-2025 Board of Governors Post Convention Meeting
Delegate Entitlements and Certification

Each society represented in the House is required to provide the FMA with the names of delegates by May 17. With the exception of the FMA Alliance, each delegate is required to be an active dues paying member in good standing with the FMA. County and specialty medical society executive directors are responsible for providing the names of all delegates and alternates by May 17. Submit rosters to events@flmedical.org or by fax 850-224-6627. Changes to delegate rosters for contested election voting will not be made after the registration desk closes Friday, August 2. Delegate changes for the House of Delegates will be made throughout the weekend.

Delegates – County Medical Societies
Each component county medical society is entitled to representation in the House as follows: One (1) voting delegate for every forty (40) active/current dues paying members of the FMA (or fraction thereof) as of December 31, 2023. No delegate may represent more than one organization. Please make every effort to select Delegates and Alternates who are able to attend the FMA Annual Meeting in its entirety. For a list of refer here.

Delegates – Specialty Medical Societies

Each recognized specialty medical society is entitled to representation in the House as follows:
One (1) voting delegate for every forty (40) active/current dues paying members of the FMA (or fraction thereof). No delegate may represent more than one organization. Please make every effort to select Delegates and Alternates who are able to attend meeting in its entirety.

For a list of entitlements click here. If you do not see your society listed, please contact Adam Baust, by email at events@flmedical.org or by phone 850-224-6496.

Delegates – FMA Board of Governors, Sections and Other
Delegate entitlements for FMA Sections, FMAA and elected members of the FMA Board of Governors can be found by clicking here.

Resolutions

Business is introduced into the House through the presentation of resolutions by delegates on behalf of their county or specialty medical society, section or as an individual. Resolutions received by Friday, May 17, 5 p.m. ET,  will be published in the FMA Delegate Handbook. Resolutions received after May 17, 5 p.m. ET, and prior to Friday,  June 7, 5 p.m. ET, will be published in the Handbook Addendum. For additional information on resolutions refer to the attached procedures and instructions. Prior to submitting resolutions, it is recommended that you review the current FMA Policy Compendium and the summary of actions from the 2023 House of Delegates.

Review resolutions in the Testimony portal

Late Resolutions

Resolutions received after 5 p.m. ET, June 7, and prior to 11 a.m., August 2, will be considered late and referred to the Credentials and Standing Rules Committee for review. The Credentials and Standing Rules Committee is responsible for determining whether the late-filed resolution should be considered as business of the House. Sponsors of late resolutions are required to attend the Credentials and Standing Rules Committee on Friday, August 2 and formally request consideration by the House, paying particular attention to addressing the reason(s) why the resolution could not have been submitted in a “more timely fashion." This will give them some guidance as to what they should focus on rather than coming to discuss the merits of the resolution's content.

FMA Reference Committees

Reference Committees are groups of at least five delegates, who are not current officers or members of the Board of Governors, selected by the Speakers to conduct open hearings on matters of business of the House of Delegates. All members of the Reference Committee are voting members. Having heard discussion on the subject before it, the Committee draws up a report with recommendations to the House for disposition of its items of business. To serve on a reference committee, please click here. The deadline for reference committee nominations was May 17.

Online testimony will be open to delegates on Monday, July 1 at 9 a.m. ET and close on Friday, July 12 at 9 p.m. ET. Delegates may submit testimony on any properly filed resolution. Delegates who choose to submit testimony must indicate their support or opposition of each respective resolution. The Reference Committees will meet in executive session during the week of July 8-12 to create a Reference Committee report. The reports will be published online prior to the start of the FMA Annual Meeting. Delegates will have the opportunity to debate the committee’s recommendation during in-person Reference Committee hearings on August 3.

Reference Committee Descriptions


Voting Information

Elective Office
FMA Officers, select seats on the FMA Board of Governors, and AMA Delegates/Alternates are elected by the House. Any active member in good standing seeking to run for elective office should notify Brittany Jackson at the FMA at bjackson@flmedical.org by June 7 for publication in the FMA Delegate Handbook. Voting will open Saturday, August 3, at 2 p.m. and close Sunday, August 4, at 8 a.m. A list of open seats and announced candidates can be found here. For a guide to the election process, refer to the FMA Election Process and Campaign Rules.