Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions

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The Tenth Amendment of the U.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, and Texas—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 have full-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. The legislative map, which was updated weekly, shows what states adjourned and when they held regular session or special sessions. The session table shows the start and end date of a state's legislative session, the length of the session, and special sessions. A glossary 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 by StateNet and the National 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 by StateNet 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'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 state has full-time legislators.

States

2017 state legislative sessions
State Start date End date (projected) Session length limit[4] Special sessions/Other sessions
State's session adjourneda Alabama February 7, 2017 May 19, 2017 30 legislative days in 105 calendar days
State's session adjourneda Alaska January 17, 2017 May 17, 2017 90 calendar days 1st 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 adjourneda Arizona January 9, 2017 May 10, 2017 Saturday of the last week in which the 100th calendar day falls
State's session adjourneda Arkansas January 9, 2017 May 1, 2017 Odd-numbered years - 60 days
Even-numbered years - 30 days 		Special session: May 1-3
State's session adjourneda California*[5] December 5, 2016 September 15, 2017 Constitution: Even-numbered years - Nov. 30
Odd-numbered years - None
Chamber Rule: Even-numbered years - Aug. 31
Odd-numbered years - Sept. 12
State's session adjourneda Colorado January 11, 2017 May 10, 2017 120 calendar days Special session: October 2-3
State's session adjourneda Connecticut January 4, 2017 June 7, 2017 Odd: Wednesday after the first Monday in June; Even: Wednesday after the first Monday in May Veto 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 adjourneda Delaware January 10, 2017 June 30, 2017 June 30 Special session: July 2
State's session adjourneda Florida March 7, 2017 May 8, 2017 60 calendar days Special session: June 7-June 9
State's session adjourneda Georgia January 9, 2017 March 31, 2017 40 legislative days
State's session adjourneda Hawaii January 18, 2017 May 4, 2017 60 legislative days 1st special session: August 28-September 1, 2nd special session: Sept. 25-26, 3rd special session: November 14.
State's session adjourneda Idaho January 9, 2017 March 29, 2017 None
State's session adjourneda Illinois*[5] January 11, 2017 May 31, 2017 None 1st 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 adjourneda Indiana January 3, 2017 April 22, 2017 Odd-numbered years - 61 days (April 29)
Even-numbered years - 30 days (March 14)
State's session adjourneda Iowa January 9, 2017 April 22, 2017 Odd-numbered years - 110 days
Even-numbered years - 100 days
State's session adjourneda Kansas January 9, 2017 June 26, 2017 None (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 adjourneda Kentucky January 3, 2017 March 30, 2017 Odd-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 adjourneda Louisiana April 10, 2017 June 8, 2017 Even-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 adjourneda Maine December 7, 2016 July 4, 2017 Odd: 3rd Wed in June; Even: 3rd Wed in April The 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 adjourneda Maryland January 11, 2017 April 10, 2017 90 calendar days
This state's session is not a regular or special session.a Massachusetts*[5] January 4, 2017 November 15, 2017 Odd: 3rd Wed in November; Even: July 31 Informal session: November 16, 2017 - January 2, 2018
State in regular sessiona Michigan*[5] January 11, 2017 December 31, 2017 None
State's session adjourneda Minnesota January 3, 2017 May 22, 2017 120 legislative days in 2 years, or the 1st Monday after the 3rd Saturday in May each year Special session: May 23-May 26
State's session adjourneda Mississippi January 3, 2017 March 29, 2017 90 calendar days; except after a gubernatorial election then 125 days Special session: June 5
State's session adjourneda Missouri January 4, 2017 May 12, 2017 May 30 1st special session: May 22-May 26; 2nd special session: June 12-July 25; Veto session: September 13
State's session adjourneda Montana January 2, 2017 April 28, 2017 90 legislative days in two years Special session: November 14-16.
State's session adjourneda Nebraska January 4, 2017 May 23, 2017 Odd-numbered years - 90 legislative days
Even-numbered years - 60 days
State's session adjourneda Nevada February 6, 2017 June 5, 2017 120 calendar days in two years
State's session adjourneda New Hampshire January 4, 2017 June 22, 2017 45 legislative days or July 1 NH House met on November 2 over the governor's veto of HB 86.
State in regular sessiona New Jersey*[5] January 10, 2017 January 9, 2018 None Budget hearings: March 24-May 17
State's session adjourneda New Mexico January 17, 2017 March 18, 2017 Odd-numbered years - 60 days
Even-numbered years - 30 days 		Special session: May 24-May 30
State's session is in recessa New York*[5] January 4, 2017 December 31, 2017 None Recess began: June 21; Special session: June 28-29
State's session adjourneda North Carolina January 11, 2017 June 30, 2017 None Additional session dates: August 3, August 18-25, August 28-31, October 4-17.
State's session adjourneda North Dakota January 3, 2017 April 27, 2017 80 legislative days in two years
State in regular sessiona Ohio*[5] January 2, 2017 December 31, 2017 None
State's session adjourneda Oklahoma February 6, 2017 May 26, 2017 Last Friday in May Special session: September 25-November 17, December 18-TBD
State's session adjourneda Oregon February 1, 2017 July 7, 2017 Odd-numbered years - 160 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 35 calendar days 		Organizational session: January 9, 2017
State's session is in recessa Pennsylvania*[5] January 3, 2017 December 31, 2017 None
State's session adjourneda Rhode Island January 3, 2017 June 30, 2017 None Session reconvened September 19 over the budget and vetoes.
State's session adjourneda South Carolina January 10, 2017 May 11, 2017 First Thurs in June Special session: June 6
State's session adjourneda South Dakota January 10, 2017 March 27, 2017 40 legislative days Special session: June 12
State's session adjourneda Tennessee January 10, 2017 May 10, 2017 90 legislative days
State's session adjourneda Texas January 10, 2017 May 29, 2017 140 calendar days in two years Special session: July 18-August 15
State's session adjourneda Utah January 23, 2017 March 9, 2017 45 calendar days Special session: September 20
State's session adjourneda Vermont January 4, 2017 May 18, 2017 None Veto session: June 21
State's session adjourneda Virginia January 11, 2017 February 25, 2017 Odd numbered years - 30 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 60 days 		Veto session: April 5
State's session adjourneda Washington January 9, 2017 April 23, 2017 Odd 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 adjourneda West Virginia February 8, 2017 April 9, 2017 60 calendar days 1st special session: May 4-June 26, 2nd special session: October 16-17
State in regular sessiona Wisconsin*[5] January 3, 2017 December 31, 2017 None 1st special session: January 5, 2nd special session: August 1-September 15
State's session adjourneda Wyoming January 10, 2017 March 3, 2017 Odd-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

  1. ↑ Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed May 20, 2017
  2. ↑ Whitehouse.gov, "State & Local Government," accessed May 21, 2017
  3. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "LEGISLATIVE SESSION LENGTH," accessed May 21, 2017
  4. ↑ NCSL, "Legislative Session Lengths," accessed December 14, 2014
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 This state has full-time legislators. The legislature may meet throughout the year after adjourning their regularly scheduled sessions.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 National Conference of State Legislatures, "GLOSSARY OF LEGISLATIVE TERMS," accessed May 19, 2017
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