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Dates of 2019 state legislative sessions

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Each state has its own legislature.[1] 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.[2] 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, 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 2019 legislative sessions in all 50 states. The legislative map, which was updated weekly, shows what states adjourned and when they were in regular session or special session. The session table breaks down the start and end date of a state's legislative session, the length of the session, special sessions, and trifecta status. A glossary of terms specific to legislative sessions can also be found below the table.

Map of legislative sessions

The legislative map below showed 2019 state legislative session information. 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 MultiState 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 2019 legislative session, the length of the session, and covered 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 from MultiState 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.
  • (**) - This state did not adjourn on designated dates due to unfinished business.

States

2019 state legislative sessions
State Start date[4][5] End date (projected) Session length limit[6] Special sessions/Other sessions Trifecta status
State's session adjourneda Alabama March 5, 2019 May 31, 2019 30 legislative days in 105 calendar days Special session from March 6 to March 12. Republican
State's session adjourneda Alaska January 15, 2019 May 14, 2019 90 calendar days First special session: May 16-June 13.
Second special session: July 8-August 6 		Divided
State's session adjourneda Arizona January 14, 2019 May 28, 2019 Saturday of the last week in which the 100th calendar day falls Republican
State's session adjourneda Arkansas January 14, 2019 April 24, 2019 Odd-numbered years - 60 days
Even-numbered years - 30 days 		Republican
State's session adjourneda California*[7] January 7, 2019 September 13, 2019 Constitution: 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 adjourneda Colorado January 4, 2019 May 3, 2019 120 calendar days Democratic
State's session adjourneda Connecticut January 9, 2019 June 5, 2019 Odd: Wednesday after the first Monday in June; Even: Wednesday after the first Monday in May Democratic
State's session adjourneda Delaware January 8, 2019 June 30, 2019 June 30 Democratic
State's session adjourneda Florida March 5, 2019 May 3, 2019 60 calendar days Republican
State's session adjourneda Georgia January 14, 2019 April 2, 2019 40 legislative days Republican
State's session adjourneda Hawaii January 16, 2019 May 2, 2019 60 legislative days Democratic
State's session adjourneda Idaho January 7, 2019 April 11, 2019 None Republican
State's session adjourneda Illinois*[7] January 9, 2019 November 14, 2019 None Democratic
State's session adjourneda Indiana January 3, 2019 April 24, 2019 Odd-numbered years - 61 days
Even-numbered years - 30 days 		Republican
State's session adjourneda Iowa January 14, 2019 April 27, 2019 Odd-numbered years - 110 days
Even-numbered years - 100 days 		Republican
State's session adjourneda Kansas January 14, 2019 May 29, 2019 None (odd), 90 days (even) Divided
State's session adjourneda Kentucky January 8, 2019 March 29, 2019 Odd-numbered years - 30 legislative days
Even-numbered years - 60 legislative days 		Special session: July 19-24 Republican
State's session adjourneda Louisiana April 8, 2019 June 6, 2019 Even-numbered years - 60 legislative days in 85 calendar days
Odd-numbered years - 45 legislative days in 60 calendar days 		Divided
State's session adjourneda Maine December 5, 2018 June 19, 2019 Odd: 3rd Wed in June; Even: 3rd Wed in April Democratic
State's session adjourneda Maryland January 9, 2019 April 8, 2019 90 calendar days Special session on May 1 Divided
State's session adjourneda Massachusetts*[7] January 2, 2019 December 31, 2019 Odd: 3rd Wed in November; Even: July 31 Divided
State's session adjourneda Michigan*[7] January 9, 2019 December 31, 2019 None Divided
State's session adjourneda Minnesota January 8, 2019 May 20, 2019 120 legislative days in 2 years, or the 1st Monday after the 3rd Saturday in May each year Divided
State's session adjourneda Mississippi January 8, 2019 March 29, 2019 90 calendar days; except after a gubernatorial election then 125 days Republican
State's session adjourneda Missouri January 9, 2019 May 30, 2019 May 30 Special session: September 9-24 Republican
State's session adjourneda Montana January 7, 2019 April 25, 2019 90 legislative days in two years Divided
State's session adjourneda Nebraska January 9, 2019 May 31, 2019 Odd-numbered years - 90 legislative days
Even-numbered years - 60 days 		Republican
State's session adjourneda Nevada February 4, 2019 June 3, 2019 120 calendar days in two years Democratic
State's session adjourneda New Hampshire January 2, 2019 June 30, 2019 45 legislative days or July 1 Veto session: September 18 Divided
State's session adjourneda New Jersey*[7] January 9, 2019 January 14, 2020 None Democratic
State's session adjourneda New Mexico January 15, 2019 March 16, 2019 Odd-numbered years - 60 days
Even-numbered years - 30 days 		Democratic
State's session adjourneda New York*[7] January 9, 2019 January 8, 2020 None Democratic
State's session adjourneda North Carolina January 9, 2019 October 31, 2019 None Reconvened from November 13-15 over redistricting. Reconvened on January 14, 2020, over redistricting, vetoes, and healthcare. Divided
State's session adjourneda North Dakota January 3, 2019 April 26, 2019 80 legislative days in two years Republican
State's session adjourneda Ohio*[7] January 7, 2019 December 31, 2019 None Republican
State's session adjourneda Oklahoma February 4, 2019 May 31, 2019 Last Friday in May Republican
State's session adjourneda Oregon January 22, 2019 June 30, 2019 Odd-numbered years - 160 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 35 calendar days 		Democratic
State's session adjourneda Pennsylvania*[7] January 1, 2019 December 18, 2019 None Divided
State's session adjourneda Rhode Island January 1, 2019 June 30, 2019 None Democratic
State's session adjourneda South Carolina January 8, 2019 May 21, 2019 First Thurs in June Republican
State's session adjourneda South Dakota January 8, 2019 March 29, 2019 40 legislative days Republican
State's session adjourneda Tennessee January 8, 2019 May 2, 2019 90 legislative days Special session: August 23 Republican
State's session adjourneda Texas January 8, 2019 May 27, 2019 140 calendar days in two years Republican
State's session adjourneda Utah January 28, 2019 March 14, 2019 45 calendar days Republican
State's session adjourneda Vermont January 9, 2019 May 29, 2019 None Divided
State's session adjourneda Virginia January 9, 2019 February 24, 2019 Odd numbered years - 30 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 60 days 		First special session: April 11, 2018 - January 8, 2019 (adjourned)
Second special session: August 30, 2018 - January 8, 2019 (adjourned)
Third special session: July 9, 2019 - November 18, 2019 (adjourned) 		Divided
State's session adjourneda Washington January 14, 2019 April 28, 2019 Odd numbered years - 105 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 60 days 		Democratic
State's session adjourneda West Virginia January 9, 2019 March 9, 2019 60 calendar days Special session: March 10 to July 31. Republican
State's session adjourneda Wisconsin*[7] January 7, 2019 December 31, 2019 None Divided
State's session adjourneda Wyoming January 8, 2019 February 28, 2019 Odd-numbered years - 40 legislative days
Even-numbered years - approximately 20 days 		Republican

Glossary of state legislative session terms

Adjourn:

  • Termination of a legislative session. The date and time of the next meeting is set before adjournment.[8]

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.[8]

Organizational session:

  • The first day that legislators take office. The members are sworn in and new leadership is chosen.[8]

Recess:

  • A temporary pause for a period of time in a legislative session.[8]

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.[8]

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."[8]

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.[8]

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.[8]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Whitehouse.gov, "State & Local Government," accessed November 8, 2018
  2. ↑ Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed November 8, 2018
  3. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Legislative session length," accessed March 5, 2019
  4. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2019 state legislative calendar," November 9, 2018
  5. ↑ Quorum, "2019 state legislative calendar," accessed November 9, 2018
  6. ↑ NCSL, "Legislative Session Lengths," accessed December 14, 2014
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 This state has full-time legislators. The legislature may meet throughout the year after adjourning their regularly scheduled sessions.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 National Conference of State Legislatures, "GLOSSARY OF LEGISLATIVE TERMS," accessed May 19, 2017
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