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Dates of 2020 state legislative sessions

From Ballotpedia
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For the latest, visit:Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020.
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Each state has its own legislature. 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.

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, meaning the legislature meets throughout the year. All other legislators are considered part-time because they only meet for a portion of the year.[2]

This page gives information on the 2020 legislative sessions in all 50 states.

  • Thelegislative map, which was updated weekly, shows what states adjourned, were in regular session, or were special session.
  • Thesession table breaks down the start and end date of a state's legislative session, the length of the session, special sessions, andtrifecta status.
  • Themethodology Ballotpedia used to assemble the map and chart.
  • Aglossary of terms specific to legislative sessions.

Map of legislative sessions

The legislative map below shows 2020 state legislative session information. States with full-time legislators may meet throughout the year after adjourning their regularly scheduled sessions. The map was updated every Friday with information gathered byMultiState 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 2020 legislative session, the length of the session, and also covers any special sessions that were called.The table was updated weekly to reflect any notable events that occurred in a state's session. Information was gathered fromMultiState and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Key:

  • Not yet conveneda = Not yet convened
  • State's session adjourneda = State's session adjourned, suspended, or partially suspended
  • State in regular sessiona = State in regular session
  • 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.
  • (**) - This state did not adjourn on designated dates due to unfinished business.

States

2020 state legislative sessions
StateStart dateEnd date (projected)Session length limitNotesTrifecta status
State's session adjournedaAlabamaFebruary 4, 2020May 18, 202030 legislative days in 105 calendar daysRepublican
State's session adjournedaAlaskaJanuary 21, 2020May 20, 202090 calendar daysDivided
State's session adjournedaArizonaJanuary 13, 2020May 26, 2020Saturday of the last week in which the 100th calendar day fallsRepublican
State's session adjournedaArkansasApril 8, 2020April 24, 2020Odd-numbered years - 60 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 30 calendar days		Republican
State's session adjournedaCalifornia*[3]January 6, 2020August 31, 2020Constitution: Even-numbered years - Nov. 30
Odd-numbered years - None
Chamber Rule: Even-numbered years - Aug. 31
Odd-numbered years - Sept. 12		Democratic
State's session adjournedaColoradoJanuary 8, 2020June 15, 2020120 calendar daysDemocratic
State's session adjournedaConnecticutFebruary 5, 2020May 6, 2020Odd-numbered years: Wednesday after the first Monday in June
Even-numbered years: Wednesday after the first Monday in May		Special session convened July 21, 2020, through July 27, 2020.Democratic
State's session adjournedaDelawareJanuary 14, 2020June 30, 2020June 30Democratic
State's session adjournedaFloridaJanuary 14, 2020March 19, 202060 calendar daysRepublican
State's session adjournedaGeorgiaJanuary 13, 2020June 26, 202040 legislative daysSession suspended from March 13, 2020, through June 11, 2020.Republican
State's session adjournedaHawaiiJanuary 15, 2020July 10, 202060 legislative daysSession suspended March 16, 2020; reconvened May 11, 2020, through May 21, 2020; reconvened June 22, 2020.Democratic
State's session adjournedaIdahoJanuary 6, 2020March 20, 2020NoneRepublican
State's session adjournedaIllinois*[3]January 8, 2020May 23, 2020NoneDemocratic
State's session adjournedaIndianaJanuary 6, 2020March 11, 2020Odd-numbered years - April 29
Even-numbered years - March 14		Republican
State's session adjournedaIowaJanuary 13, 2020June 14, 2020Odd-numbered years - 110 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 100 calendar days		Session suspended from March 16, 2020, through June 3, 2020.Republican
State's session adjournedaKansasJanuary 13, 2020May 21, 2020Odd-numbered years - None
Even-numbered years - 90 calendar days		Special session convened from June 3, 2020, to June 4, 2020.Divided
State's session adjournedaKentuckyJanuary 7, 2020April 15, 2020Odd-numbered years - 30 legislative days
Even-numbered years - 60 legislative days		Divided
State's session adjournedaLouisianaMarch 9, 2020June 1, 2020Odd-numbered years - 45 legislative days in 60 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 60 legislative days in 85 calendar days		Session suspended from March 31, 2020, through May 4, 2020. Special session convened June 1, 2020, through June 30, 2020. Special session convened from September 28, 2020, to October 23, 2020.Divided
State's session adjournedaMaineJanuary 8, 2020March 17, 2020Odd-numbered years - 3rd Wednesday in June
Even-numbered years - 3rd Wednesday in April		Democratic
State's session adjournedaMarylandJanuary 8, 2020March 18, 202090 calendar daysDivided
State's session adjournedaMassachusetts*[3]January 1, 2020January 5, 2021Odd-numbered years - 3rd Wednesday in November
Even-numbered years - July 31		Divided
State's session adjournedaMichigan*[3]January 8, 2020December 31, 2020NoneDivided
State's session adjournedaMinnesotaFebruary 11, 2020May 17, 2020120 legislative days in 2 years, or the 1st Monday after the 3rd Saturday in May each yearSixth special session convened on November 12, 2020. Fifth special session convened from October 12, 2020, to October 15, 2020. Fourth special session convened September 11, 2020. Third special session convened on August 12, 2020. Previous special sessions were convened from July 13, 2020, to July 21, 2020, and from June 12, 2020, through June 19, 2020Divided
State's session adjournedaMississippiJanuary 7, 2020October 10, 202090 calendar days; except after a gubernatorial election then 125 daysSession suspended effective July 1, 2020. Session previously suspended from March 18, 2020, through May 7, 2020. Session reconvened from August 10, 2020, to October 2, 2020.Republican
State's session adjournedaMissouriJanuary 8, 2020May 15, 2020May 30Second special session held from November 5, 2020, to December 16, 2020. Special session held from July 27, 2020, to September 16, 2020. Veto session convened on September 16, 2020.Republican
No regular session scheduledaMontanaNo regular legislative sessionNo regular legislative session90 legislative days in two yearsDivided
State's session adjournedaNebraskaJanuary 8, 2020August 13, 2020Odd-numbered years - 90 legislative days
Even-numbered years - 60 days		Session suspended from March 16, 2020; reconvened July 20, 2020 to August 13, 2020.Republican
State's session adjournedaNevadaNo regular legislative sessionNo regular legislative session120 calendar days in two yearsSecond special session convened from July 31, 2020, to August 5, 2020. A previous special session was convened on July 8, 2020, to July 19, 2020.Democratic
State's session adjournedaNew HampshireJanuary 8, 2020June 30, 202045 legislative days or July 1Session suspended from March 14, 2020, through June 11, 2020.Divided
State's session adjournedaNew Jersey*[3]January 14, 2020December 17, 2020NoneDemocratic
State's session adjournedaNew MexicoJanuary 21, 2020February 20, 2020Odd-numbered years - 60 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 30 calendar days		Democratic
State's session adjournedaNew York*[3]January 8, 2020December 31, 2020NoneRecessed June 10, 2020, reconvened July 20, 2020.Democratic
State's session adjournedaNorth CarolinaApril 28, 2020September 3, 2020NoneIn recess beginning July 8, 2020, reconvened September 2, 2020, through September 3, 2020.Divided
No regular session scheduledaNorth DakotaNo regular legislative sessionNo regular legislative session80 legislative days in two yearsRepublican
State's session adjournedaOhio*[3]January 6, 2020December 31, 2020NoneRepublican
State's session adjournedaOklahomaFebruary 3, 2020May 22, 2020Last Friday in MayRepublican
State's session adjournedaOregonFebruary 3, 2020March 5, 2020Odd-numbered years - 160 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 35 calendar days		Second special session convened on August 10, 2020. A previous special session was convened on June 24, 2020, to June 26, 2020.Democratic
State's session adjournedaPennsylvania*[3]January 7, 2020November 30, 2020NoneDivided
State's session adjournedaRhode IslandJanuary 7, 2020August 30, 2020NoneSession reconvened from December 16, 2020, to December 18, 2020. Session suspended March 16, 2020; reconvened June 12, 2020, through June 18, 2020; reconvened July 13, 2020, through July 16, 2020.Democratic
State's session adjournedaSouth CarolinaJanuary 14, 2020June 25, 2020First Thursday in JuneReconvened June 23, 2020, through June 25, 2020. Senate reconvened September 2, 2020, through September 3, 2020. Both chambers reconvene September 15, 2020, through September 24, 2020.Republican
State's session adjournedaSouth DakotaJanuary 14, 2020March 30, 202040 legislative daysRepublican
State's session adjournedaTennesseeJanuary 14, 2020June 19, 202090 legislative daysSession suspended from March 19, 2020, through June 1, 2020. Special session convened from August 10, 2020, to August 12, 2020.Republican
No regular session scheduledaTexasNo regular legislative sessionNo regular legislative session140 calendar days in two yearsRepublican
State's session adjournedaUtahJanuary 27, 2020March 12, 202045 calendar daysRepublican
State's session adjournedaVermontJanuary 7, 2020August 30, 2020NoneSession in recess after June 26, 2020, reconvened August 25, 2020, to September 25, 2020.Divided
State's session adjournedaVirginiaJanuary 8, 2020March 12, 2020Odd numbered years - 30 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 60 calendar days		Special session held from August 18, 2020, to November 9, 2020.Democratic
State's session adjournedaWashingtonJanuary 13, 2020March 12, 2020Odd numbered years - 105 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 60 calendar days		Democratic
State's session adjournedaWest VirginiaJanuary 8, 2020March 7, 202060 calendar daysRepublican
State's session adjournedaWisconsin*[3]January 14, 2020May 13, 2020NoneSpecial session convened August 31, 2020.Divided
State's session adjournedaWyomingFebruary 10, 2020March 12, 2020Odd-numbered years - 40 legislative days
Even-numbered years - 20 legislative days		Republican

Methodology

Ballotpedia considered four sources when compiling the data in the map and chart above:

  1. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
  2. FiscalNote
  3. MultiState
  4. Statescape


The four sites each contained a mix of projected end dates for the legislative sessions. Ballotpedia used a projected end date if three sites had the same date. If two websites had the same date but two had a different matching date, Ballotpedia used the date provided by the NCSL.

Glossary of state legislative session terms

Adjourn:

  • Termination of a legislative session. The date and time of the next meeting is set before adjournment.[4]

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.[4]

Organizational session:

  • The first day that legislators take office. The members are sworn in and new leadership is chosen.[4]

Recess:

  • A temporary pause for a period of time in a legislative session.[4]

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.[4]

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."[4]

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.[4]

Trifecta:

  • A trifecta occurs when one political party holds the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house in a state's government.

Veto session:

  • Legislatures may hold a veto session where the members consider all bills vetoed by the governor.[4]

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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