States to begin legislative sessions in 2011

December 30, 2010

MADISON, Wisconsin: On January 3, 2011, Montana and Ohio will begin their legislative sessions, the first of 48 states to begin sessions in 2011.

Two states have already begun their legislative sessions. Maine's legislature met on December 1, and California's commenced on December 6.

All 50 states will have sessions in 2011, contrasted with 2010, where only 46 states conducted regular sessions. Texas, North Dakota, and Montana were three of the four states in which the legislatures did not hold regular sessions. The fourth state, Nevada, held a special session from February 23 to March 1 dealing with the budget and education.

Month	States
January	Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
February	Oregon, Nevada, Oklahoma
March	Alabama, Florida
April	Louisiana

A detailed breakdown of legislative start dates, end dates and special election dates may be viewed on Ballotpedia's 2011 state legislative calendar. For more information on session lengths and limits, see this page.

In 2011, state budgets and redistricting are expected to be some of the most controversial issues taken up by state legislatures. With the federal stimulus dropping from state budgets, lawmakers are scrambling to fill the holes that have been created.

See also

Propositions •	Recall	• Law

• 2011 state legislative calendar
• 2010 state legislative calendar
• Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions