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Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

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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 2023 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 2023 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 2023 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
  • 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

2023 state legislative sessions
StateStart dateEnd date (projected)Session length limit[3]Special sessions/Other sessions
State's session adjournedaAlabamaMarch 7, 2023June 6, 202330 legislative days in 105 calendar daysSpecial session from March 8, 2023 to March 16, 2023. Special session started on July 17, 2023 until July 21, 2023.
State's session adjournedaAlaskaJanuary 17, 2023May 17, 202390 calendar daysSpecial session was on May 18, 2023.
State's session adjournedaArizonaJanuary 9, 2023July 31, 2023Saturday of the last week in which the 100th calendar day fallsRecess started on May 15, 2023 until June 11, 2023, and from June 14, 2023 to July 30, 2023.
State's session adjournedaArkansasJanuary 9, 2023May 1, 2023Odd-numbered years - 60 days
Even-numbered years - 30 days		Reconvened on May 1, 2023 for formal adjourn sine die, and, if necessary, vetoes. Special session started on September 11, 2023 until September 14, 2023.
State's session adjournedaCalifornia*[4]December 5, 2022September 14, 2023Constitution: Even-numbered years - Nov. 30
Odd-numbered years - None
Chamber Rule: Even-numbered years - Aug. 31
Odd-numbered years - Sept. 12		Concurrent special session that started on December 5, 2022 has ended.
State's session adjournedaColoradoJanuary 9, 2023May 8, 2023120 calendar daysSpecial session started on November 17, 2023 until November 20, 2023.
State's session adjournedaConnecticutJanuary 4, 2023June 7, 2023Odd: Wednesday after the first Monday in June; Even: Wednesday after the first Monday in MaySpecial session started on September 26, 2023.
State's session adjournedaDelawareJanuary 10, 2023June 30, 2023May not extend past June 30Special session started on September 8, 2023.
State's session adjournedaFloridaMarch 7, 2023May 5, 202360 calendar daysSpecial session was from February 6, 2023 to February 10, 2023. Special session was from November 6, 2023 to November 9, 2023.
State's session adjournedaGeorgiaJanuary 9, 2023March 29, 202340 legislative daysSpecial session started on November 29, 2023 until December 7, 2023.
State's session adjournedaHawaiiJanuary 18, 2023May 4, 202360 legislative days
State's session adjournedaIdahoJanuary 9, 2023April 6, 2023NoneVeto recess was from April 1, 2023 to April 5, 2023.
State's session adjournedaIllinois*[4]January 11, 2023May 27, 2023NoneLame duck session started on January 4, 2023, to January 10, 2023. Veto session started on October 24, 2023 until November 9, 2023.
State's session adjournedaIndianaJanuary 9, 2023April 28, 2023Odd-numbered years - 61 days (April 29)
Even-numbered years - 30 days (March 14)
State's session adjournedaIowaJanuary 9, 2023May 4, 2023Odd-numbered years - 110 days
Even-numbered years - 100 days		Special Session was on July 11, 2023.
State's session adjournedaKansasJanuary 9, 2023April 28, 2023None (odd), 90 days (even)First adjournment ("drop dead day") on April 6, 2023. Veto session started on April 26, 2023 until April 28, 2023.
State's session adjournedaKentuckyJanuary 3, 2023March 30, 2023Odd-numbered years - 30 legislative days or March 30
Even-numbered years - 60 legislative days or April 15		Interim session started on June 6, 2023.
State's session adjournedaLouisianaApril 10, 2023June 8, 2023Even-numbered years - 60 legislative days in 85 calendar days
Odd-numbered years - 45 legislative days in 60 calendar days		Special session on property insurance scheduled was from January 30, 2023, to February 3, 2023. Veto session on July 18, 2023.
State's session adjournedaMaineDecember 7, 2022March 30, 2023Odd: 3rd Wed in June; Even: 3rd Wed in AprilSpecial session was from April 5, 2023 until July 6, 2023. Veto session was from July 25, 2023 until July 26, 2023.
State's session adjournedaMarylandJanuary 11, 2023April 10, 202390 calendar days
State's session adjournedaMassachusetts*[4]January 4, 2023November 15, 2023Odd: 3rd Wed in November; Even: July 31Formal session ended on November 15, 2023. Informal session started on November 16, 2023.
State's session adjournedaMichigan*[4]January 11, 2023November 14, 2023
State's session adjournedaMinnesotaJanuary 3, 2023May 22, 2023120 legislative days in 2 years, or the 1st Monday after the 3rd Saturday in May each year
State's session adjournedaMississippiJanuary 3, 2023April 1, 202390 calendar days; except after a gubernatorial election then 125 days
State's session adjournedaMissouriJanuary 4, 2023May 12, 2023May 30Veto session started on September 13, 2023.
State's session adjournedaMontanaJanuary 2, 2023May 2, 202390 legislative days in two years
State's session adjournedaNebraskaJanuary 4, 2023June 1, 2023Odd-numbered years - 90 legislative days
Even-numbered years - 60 days
State's session adjournedaNevadaFebruary 6, 2023June 5, 2023120 calendar days in two yearsSpecial session was on June 6, 2023. Special session was from June 7, 2023 to June 14, 2023.
State's session adjournedaNew HampshireJanuary 4, 2023June 29, 202345 legislative days or July 1Veto session moved from mid September 2023, to January 3, 2024. Veto session on October 26, 2023.
State's session adjournedaNew Jersey*[4]January 10, 2023January 8, 2024None
State's session adjournedaNew MexicoJanuary 17, 2023March 18, 2023Odd-numbered years - 60 days
Even-numbered years - 30 days
State's session adjournedaNew York*[4]January 4, 2023June 21, 2023NoneSenate adjourned on June 10 and Assembly reconvened from June 20, 2023 to June 21, 2023.
State's session adjournedaNorth CarolinaJanuary 11, 2023October 25, 2023NoneNon-voting session days started on November 29, 2023, until November 30, 2023. And started on December 20, 2023, until December 21, 2023.
State's session adjournedaNorth DakotaJanuary 3, 2023April 29, 202380 legislative days in two yearsSpecial session started on October 23, 2023 until October 25, 2023.
State in regular sessionaOhio*[4]January 2, 2023December 31, 2024None
State's session adjournedaOklahomaFebruary 6, 2023May 26, 2023Last Friday in MaySpecial concurrent session started on May 17, 2023 until July 31, 2023 (extended on June 12, 2023 from June 30, 2023). Special session held from October 3 to October 4, 2023.
State's session adjournedaOregonJanuary 17, 2023June 25, 2023Odd-numbered years - 160 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 35 calendar days
State's session adjournedaPennsylvania*[4]January 3, 2023December 13, 2023NoneSpecial session was on January 9, 2023. The Senate reconvened on August 30, 2023.
State's session adjournedaRhode IslandJanuary 3, 2023June 16, 2023None
State's session adjournedaSouth CarolinaJanuary 10, 2023May 11, 2023First Thurs in JuneSpecial session was from May 16, 2023 to June 14, 2023.
State's session adjournedaSouth DakotaJanuary 10, 2023March 27, 202340 legislative daysVeto recess was from March 10, 2023 to March 26, 2023
State's session adjournedaTennesseeJanuary 10, 2023April 21, 202390 legislative daysSpecial session started on August 21, 2023 until August 29, 2023.
State's session adjournedaTexasJanuary 10, 2023May 29, 2023140 calendar days in two yearsFirst special session started on May 29, 2023 and ended June 27, 2023. Second special session started on June 27, 2023, and ended on July 13, 2023. Special session on attorney general impeachment was held from September 5 to September 16, 2023. Special session on school vouchers started on October 9, 2023 until November 7, 2023. Special session started on November 7, 2023, until December 5, 2023.
State's session adjournedaUtahJanuary 17, 2023March 3, 202345 calendar daysSpecial session was on May 17, 2023. Special session was on June 14, 2023.
State's session adjournedaVermontJanuary 4, 2023May 12, 2023NoneVeto session started on June 20, 2023.
State's session adjournedaVirginiaJanuary 11, 2023February 25, 2023Odd numbered years - 30 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 60 days		Reconvened (veto) session started on April 12, 2023. Special session was on September 6, 2023.
State's session adjournedaWashingtonJanuary 9, 2023April 23, 2023Odd numbered years - 105 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 60 days		Special session started on May 16, 2023.
State's session adjournedaWest VirginiaJanuary 11, 2023March 11, 202360 calendar daysSpecial session was from August 6, 2023 to August 8, 2023.
State in regular sessionaWisconsin*[4]January 3, 2023January 6, 2025NoneSpecial session was from September 20, 2023 to November 14, 2023.
State's session adjournedaWyomingJanuary 10, 2023March 3, 2023Odd-numbered years - 40 legislative days
Even-numbered years - approximately 20 days

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.[5]

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.[5]

Organizational session:

  • The first day that legislators take office. The members are sworn in and new leadership is chosen.[5]

Recess:

  • A temporary pause for a period of time in a legislative session.[5]

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.[5]

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."[5]

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.[5]

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.[5]

See also

External links

Footnotes

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