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Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions

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TheTenth Amendment of theU.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[1] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions,legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

Each state has its own legislature.[2] Forty-six state legislatures hold regular sessions annually. The other four states—Montana,Nevada,North Dakota, andTexas—meet in odd-numbered years. The length of a session may be set by a state's constitution, a statute, or by the legislature and varies among the states. Special or extraordinary sessions may also be called by a state's governor or legislature over a specific subject matter during or after a regular session. Ten state legislatures havefull-time legislators which means that the legislature will meet throughout the year. All other legislators are considered part-time because they only meet for a portion of the year.[3]

This page gives information on the 2017 legislative sessions in all 50 states. Thelegislative map, which was updated weekly, shows what states adjourned and when they held regular session or special sessions. Thesession table shows the start and end date of a state's legislative session, the length of the session, and special sessions. Aglossary of terms specific to legislative sessions can also be found below the table.

Map of legislative sessions

The legislative map below showed the states that adjourned their regular scheduled sessions or were in regular or special session, or in recess. States with full-time legislators may have met throughout the year after adjourning their regularly scheduled sessions. The map was updated every Friday with information gathered byStateNet and theNational Conference of State Legislatures.

State legislative sessions

The state legislative session table below breaks down the start and end date of a state's 2017 legislative session, the length of the session, and also covered any special sessions that were called. The table is updated when any notable events occur in a state's session with information gathered byStateNet and theNational Conference of State Legislatures.

Key:

  • Not yet conveneda = Not yet convened
  • State's session adjourneda = State's session adjourned
  • State in regular sessiona = State in regular session
  • State's session is in recessa = State's session is in recess
  • State in special sessiona = State in special session
  • No regular session scheduleda = No regular session scheduled
  • This state's session is not a regular or special session.a = This state's session is not a regular or special session.
  • (*) - This statehas full-time legislators.

States

2017 state legislative sessions
StateStart dateEnd date (projected)Session length limit[4]Special sessions/Other sessions
State's session adjournedaAlabamaFebruary 7, 2017May 19, 201730 legislative days in 105 calendar days
State's session adjournedaAlaskaJanuary 17, 2017May 17, 201790 calendar days1st special session: May 18-June 16; 2nd special session: June 16-July 15; 3rd special session: July 27; 4th special session: October 23-November 21.
State's session adjournedaArizonaJanuary 9, 2017May 10, 2017Saturday of the last week in which the 100th calendar day falls
State's session adjournedaArkansasJanuary 9, 2017May 1, 2017Odd-numbered years - 60 days
Even-numbered years - 30 days		Special session: May 1-3
State's session adjournedaCalifornia*[5]December 5, 2016September 15, 2017Constitution: Even-numbered years - Nov. 30
Odd-numbered years - None
Chamber Rule: Even-numbered years - Aug. 31
Odd-numbered years - Sept. 12
State's session adjournedaColoradoJanuary 11, 2017May 10, 2017120 calendar daysSpecial session: October 2-3
State's session adjournedaConnecticutJanuary 4, 2017June 7, 2017Odd: Wednesday after the first Monday in June; Even: Wednesday after the first Monday in MayVeto session: July 24, 1st special session: July 31, 2nd special session: September 14-16, 3rd special session: October 3, 4th special session: October 25-26, 5th special session: November 14-15.
State's session adjournedaDelawareJanuary 10, 2017June 30, 2017June 30Special session: July 2
State's session adjournedaFloridaMarch 7, 2017May 8, 201760 calendar daysSpecial session: June 7-June 9
State's session adjournedaGeorgiaJanuary 9, 2017March 31, 201740 legislative days
State's session adjournedaHawaiiJanuary 18, 2017May 4, 201760 legislative days1st special session: August 28-September 1, 2nd special session: Sept. 25-26, 3rd special session: November 14.
State's session adjournedaIdahoJanuary 9, 2017March 29, 2017None
State's session adjournedaIllinois*[5]January 11, 2017May 31, 2017None1st special session: June 21-July 6, 2nd special session: July 26-July 31; 3rd special session: Senate met on August 13, House met on August 16, 4th special session: August 28-29. Veto session: October 24-November 9.
State's session adjournedaIndianaJanuary 3, 2017April 22, 2017Odd-numbered years - 61 days (April 29)
Even-numbered years - 30 days (March 14)
State's session adjournedaIowaJanuary 9, 2017April 22, 2017Odd-numbered years - 110 days
Even-numbered years - 100 days
State's session adjournedaKansasJanuary 9, 2017June 26, 2017None (odd), 90 days (even)Veto session: May 1-June 10; Legislature finished work on June 10; session adjourned sine die on June 26
State's session adjournedaKentuckyJanuary 3, 2017March 30, 2017Odd-numbered years - 30 legislative days or March 30
Even-numbered years - 60 legislative days or April 15		Veto session: March 16-27
State's session adjournedaLouisianaApril 10, 2017June 8, 2017Even-numbered years - 60 legislative days in 85 calendar days
Odd-numbered years - 45 legislative days in 60 calendar days		1st special session: February 13-22; 2nd special session: June 8-June 16
State's session adjournedaMaineDecember 7, 2016July 4, 2017Odd: 3rd Wed in June; Even: 3rd Wed in AprilThe legislature reconvened on July 20, 2017, to override vetoes and other unfinished business. Veto session: August 2. 1st special session: October 23. 2nd special session: November 6.
State's session adjournedaMarylandJanuary 11, 2017April 10, 201790 calendar days
This state's session is not a regular or special session.aMassachusetts*[5]January 4, 2017November 15, 2017Odd: 3rd Wed in November; Even: July 31Informal session: November 16, 2017 - January 2, 2018
State in regular sessionaMichigan*[5]January 11, 2017December 31, 2017None
State's session adjournedaMinnesotaJanuary 3, 2017May 22, 2017120 legislative days in 2 years, or the 1st Monday after the 3rd Saturday in May each yearSpecial session: May 23-May 26
State's session adjournedaMississippiJanuary 3, 2017March 29, 201790 calendar days; except after a gubernatorial election then 125 daysSpecial session: June 5
State's session adjournedaMissouriJanuary 4, 2017May 12, 2017May 301st special session: May 22-May 26; 2nd special session: June 12-July 25; Veto session: September 13
State's session adjournedaMontanaJanuary 2, 2017April 28, 201790 legislative days in two yearsSpecial session: November 14-16.
State's session adjournedaNebraskaJanuary 4, 2017May 23, 2017Odd-numbered years - 90 legislative days
Even-numbered years - 60 days
State's session adjournedaNevadaFebruary 6, 2017June 5, 2017120 calendar days in two years
State's session adjournedaNew HampshireJanuary 4, 2017June 22, 201745 legislative days or July 1NH House met on November 2 over the governor's veto ofHB 86.
State in regular sessionaNew Jersey*[5]January 10, 2017January 9, 2018NoneBudget hearings: March 24-May 17
State's session adjournedaNew MexicoJanuary 17, 2017March 18, 2017Odd-numbered years - 60 days
Even-numbered years - 30 days		Special session: May 24-May 30
State's session is in recessaNew York*[5]January 4, 2017December 31, 2017NoneRecess began: June 21; Special session: June 28-29
State's session adjournedaNorth CarolinaJanuary 11, 2017June 30, 2017NoneAdditional session dates: August 3, August 18-25, August 28-31, October 4-17.
State's session adjournedaNorth DakotaJanuary 3, 2017April 27, 201780 legislative days in two years
State in regular sessionaOhio*[5]January 2, 2017December 31, 2017None
State's session adjournedaOklahomaFebruary 6, 2017May 26, 2017Last Friday in MaySpecial session: September 25-November 17, December 18-TBD
State's session adjournedaOregonFebruary 1, 2017July 7, 2017Odd-numbered years - 160 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 35 calendar days		Organizational session: January 9, 2017
State's session is in recessaPennsylvania*[5]January 3, 2017December 31, 2017None
State's session adjournedaRhode IslandJanuary 3, 2017June 30, 2017NoneSession reconvened September 19 over the budget and vetoes.
State's session adjournedaSouth CarolinaJanuary 10, 2017May 11, 2017First Thurs in JuneSpecial session: June 6
State's session adjournedaSouth DakotaJanuary 10, 2017March 27, 201740 legislative daysSpecial session: June 12
State's session adjournedaTennesseeJanuary 10, 2017May 10, 201790 legislative days
State's session adjournedaTexasJanuary 10, 2017May 29, 2017140 calendar days in two yearsSpecial session: July 18-August 15
State's session adjournedaUtahJanuary 23, 2017March 9, 201745 calendar daysSpecial session: September 20
State's session adjournedaVermontJanuary 4, 2017May 18, 2017NoneVeto session: June 21
State's session adjournedaVirginiaJanuary 11, 2017February 25, 2017Odd numbered years - 30 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 60 days		Veto session: April 5
State's session adjournedaWashingtonJanuary 9, 2017April 23, 2017Odd numbered years - 105 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 60 days		1st special session: April 24-May 23, 2nd special session: May 23-June 21, 3rd special session: June 21-July 20
State's session adjournedaWest VirginiaFebruary 8, 2017April 9, 201760 calendar days1st special session: May 4-June 26, 2nd special session: October 16-17
State in regular sessionaWisconsin*[5]January 3, 2017December 31, 2017None1st special session: January 5, 2nd special session: August 1-September 15
State's session adjournedaWyomingJanuary 10, 2017March 3, 2017Odd-numbered years - 40 legislative days
Even-numbered years - approximately 20 days

Glossary of state legislative session terms

Adjourn:

  • Termination of a legislative day. The date and time of the next meeting is set before adjournment.[6]

Informal session:

  • A type of session called by some states where no attendance is taken and only a few members attend the session. These sessions address day-to-day business and non-controversial bills. The bills do not require debate or a roll-call vote and must be passed unanimously. If one member objects, the measure is blocked.

Lame-duck session:

  • A legislative session where its members meet after their successors are elected.[6]

Organizational session:

  • The first day that legislators take office. The members are sworn-in and new leadership is chosen.[6]

Recess:

  • A temporary pause for a period of time in a legislative session.[6]

Regular session:

  • A state's legislative members meet for a period of time regularly scheduled by a state's constitution, a statute, or by the legislature where they write and pass bills. Forty-six state legislatures hold regular sessions annually. Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas only meet in odd-numbered years.[6]

Skeleton session:

  • In a typical skeleton session, a clerk, a presiding officer, and another legislative member are the only people present. The presiding officer will convene the session day and adjourn it minutes later.

Sine die:

  • Final adjournment of a legislative session. It is Latin for "without a day."[6]

Special session:

  • A special meeting of the legislature called by the governor or by the legislature over a specific subject matter. This is also called an extraordinary session.[6]

Veto session:

  • Legislatures may hold a veto session where the members consider all bills vetoed by the governor.[6]

See also

External links

Footnotes

Alabama (H,S) ·Alaska (H,S) ·Arizona (H,S) ·Arkansas (H,S) ·California (A,S) ·Colorado (H,S) ·Connecticut (H,S) ·Delaware (H,S) ·Florida (H,S) ·Georgia (H,S) ·Hawaii (H,S) ·Idaho (H,S) ·Illinois (H,S) ·Indiana (H,S) ·Iowa (H,S) ·Kansas (H,S) ·Kentucky (H,S) ·Louisiana (H,S) ·Maine (H,S) ·Maryland (H,S) ·Massachusetts (H,S) ·Michigan (H,S) ·Minnesota (H,S) ·Mississippi (H,S) ·Missouri (H,S) ·Montana (H,S) ·Nebraska ·Nevada (A,S) ·New Hampshire (H,S) ·New Jersey (GA,S) ·New Mexico (H,S) ·New York (A,S) ·North Carolina (H,S) ·North Dakota (H,S) ·Ohio (H,S) ·Oklahoma (H,S) ·Oregon (H,S) ·Pennsylvania (H,S) ·Rhode Island (H,S) ·South Carolina (H,S) ·South Dakota (H,S) ·Tennessee (H,S) ·Texas (H,S) ·Utah (H,S) ·Vermont (H,S) ·Virginia (H,S) ·Washington (H,S) ·West Virginia (H,S) ·Wisconsin (A,S) ·Wyoming (H,S)
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