Our Mission

Ought To Be a Law is a student lead service learning program sponsored by Hillsborough County Public Schools and the Florida Legislature that allows students to show community leadership by becoming active members of their local, state and national governments.

How It Works

Ought To Be a Law is a student lead service learning program sponsored by Hillsborough County Public Schools. The Ought To Be a Law program provides students the opportunity to work with the Florida State Legislature in drafting, lobbying, and presenting a real legislative issue in the States 60 day session annually.

Watch the YouTube video link to view a short documentary created by the Florida State Film School in 2007.

Legislative sponsors

Rep. Kevin Ambler Sen. Victor Crist Sen. Kelli Stargel Sen. Jack Latvala Rep. Rich Glorioso

2004-2010 2004-2010 Current Member 2010-2018 2010-2012

Rep. Jake Raburn Sen. Jeff Brandes Sen. Kathleen Passidomo Rep. Katie Edwards Rep. Susan Valdez Sen. Lauren Book

2012-2018 Current Member Current Senate President Current Member Current Member Senate Minority Leader

Sen. Janet Cruz Rep. Fentrice Driskell Sen. Jennifer Bradley

Current Member House Minority Leader Current Member

OTBAL Pleased to announce our legislative sponsor

OTBAL has officially partnered with State Representative Susan Valdez (District 62)! Representative Valdez is a former member of the Hillsborough County School Board and was subsequently elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2018, 2020, and 2022. She has expressed a real excitement for having the opportunity to work with our students on this legislative service-learning project that takes classroom learning to a nationally award-winning level!

OUR CURRENT PROJECT: - Food Allergen disclosures and food safety

This bill is designed to help ensure that food managers are properly trained in food allergen and cross contamination safety. It would provide for a poster on food allergens to be displayed in all food preparation areas where food is prepared for public consumption. The students also reached on to the Red Shoes Non-Profit organization to learn more about the impact of allergens on people with life threatening allergies. They have also taken their work to Washington DC to speak with national non-profit organizations and members of Congress. This bill is the work of students at Sickles High School in Tampa, Florida.

SPECIAL THANKS

The Ought to be a Law program would like to thank and recognize the Hillsborough Education Foundation for their generous funding grant that will allow our students the ability to travel to the capital and speak with members of the Florida House and Senate about their bill ideas during the 2023 regular session. We are pleased to welcome you as a partner in our work to provide students with this tremendous educational opportunity and life experience.

For more information about the Hillsborough Education Foundation click the logo to the left to explore their website.

"Ought To Be a Law allows students to work together to solve real world problems...you just don't get that from a textbook!"

- Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush

"It is exciting to be a part of such a great program and have a chance to watch our students be completely involved in the process!"

- Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist

"I am always glad to see the OTBAL students in Tallahassee! It is refreshing to see young people participating in our democracy!"

- Former CFO of Florida, Alex Sink