Statutes are laws passed by state legislatures (state laws) and by the United States Congress (federal laws). Statutes are one of the primary sources of law in the United States (sometimes referred to as statutory law) and cover a wide variety of legal topics. Courts often rely on statutes to resolve legal disputes (lawsuits) by applying the relevant statutes to the particular set of factual circumstances underlying the dispute.

Courts generally seek the clear and plain meaning of a statute, and if the court finds a statute ambiguous or “ambiguous on its face” (looking only at the words as written) the court may attempt to determine what the legislature intended in enacting the statute—known as legislative intent.

Related statutes are sometimes compiled in groups and referred to as codes—such as the penal code, the family code, or the code of civil procedure. Statutes may be amended (changed) or repealed (eliminated) by the legislature or Congress or declared unconstitutional (and thus unenforceable) by a court.

In Florida, as in all states, statutes are laws enacted by the state legislature. These laws, along with federal laws passed by the United States Congress, form a significant part of the legal framework governing various aspects of life and business within the state. Florida's statutes address a broad range of topics, from criminal law to business regulations, and are used by courts to adjudicate disputes. When interpreting statutes, Florida courts strive to ascertain the plain meaning of the text. If a statute is deemed ambiguous, courts may look into legislative intent to interpret the law correctly. Florida's statutes are organized into codes based on related subject matter, such as the Florida Statutes, which include the criminal code, family law code, and civil procedure code, among others. The Florida Legislature has the authority to amend or repeal statutes, and courts have the power to strike down statutes that are found to be unconstitutional.