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.

## Contents

* 1 Map of legislative sessions
* 2 State legislative sessions
* 2.1 States
* 3 Glossary of state legislative session terms
* 4 See also
* 5 External links
* 6 Footnotes

## Map of legislative sessions[edit]

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[edit]

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:

* a = Not yet convened
* a = State's session adjourned
* a = State in regular session
* a = State's session is in recess
* a = State in special session
* a = No regular session scheduled
* a = This state's session is not a regular or special session.
* (*) - This state has full-time legislators.

### States[edit]

2017 state legislative sessions

State | Start date | End date (projected) | Session length limit[4] | Special sessions/Other sessions
a Alabama | February 7, 2017  | May 19, 2017  | 30 legislative days in 105 calendar days  |
a 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.
a Arizona | January 9, 2017  | May 10, 2017  | Saturday of the last week in which the 100th calendar day falls  |
a Arkansas | January 9, 2017  | May 1, 2017  | Odd-numbered years - 60 days
Even-numbered years - 30 days  | Special session: May 1-3
a 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  |
a Colorado | January 11, 2017  | May 10, 2017  | 120 calendar days  | Special session: October 2-3
a 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.
a Delaware | January 10, 2017  | June 30, 2017  | June 30  | Special session: July 2
a Florida | March 7, 2017  | May 8, 2017  | 60 calendar days  | Special session: June 7-June 9
a Georgia | January 9, 2017  | March 31, 2017  | 40 legislative days  |
a 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.
a Idaho | January 9, 2017  | March 29, 2017  | None  |
a 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.
a Indiana | January 3, 2017  | April 22, 2017  | Odd-numbered years - 61 days (April 29)
Even-numbered years - 30 days (March 14)  |
a Iowa | January 9, 2017  | April 22, 2017  | Odd-numbered years - 110 days
Even-numbered years - 100 days  |
a 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
a 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
a 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
a 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.
a Maryland | January 11, 2017  | April 10, 2017  | 90 calendar days  |
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
a Michigan*[5] | January 11, 2017  | December 31, 2017  | None  |
a 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
a Mississippi | January 3, 2017  | March 29, 2017  | 90 calendar days; except after a gubernatorial election then 125 days  | Special session: June 5
a 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
a Montana | January 2, 2017  | April 28, 2017  | 90 legislative days in two years  | Special session: November 14-16.
a Nebraska | January 4, 2017  | May 23, 2017  | Odd-numbered years - 90 legislative days
Even-numbered years - 60 days  |
a Nevada | February 6, 2017  | June 5, 2017  | 120 calendar days in two years  |
a 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.
a New Jersey*[5] | January 10, 2017  | January 9, 2018  | None  | Budget hearings: March 24-May 17
a New Mexico | January 17, 2017  | March 18, 2017  | Odd-numbered years - 60 days
Even-numbered years - 30 days  | Special session: May 24-May 30
a New York*[5] | January 4, 2017  | December 31, 2017  | None  | Recess began: June 21; Special session: June 28-29
a North Carolina | January 11, 2017  | June 30, 2017  | None  | Additional session dates: August 3, August 18-25, August 28-31, October 4-17.
a North Dakota | January 3, 2017  | April 27, 2017  | 80 legislative days in two years  |
a Ohio*[5] | January 2, 2017  | December 31, 2017  | None  |
a Oklahoma | February 6, 2017  | May 26, 2017  | Last Friday in May  | Special session: September 25-November 17, December 18-TBD
a Oregon | February 1, 2017  | July 7, 2017  | Odd-numbered years - 160 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 35 calendar days  | Organizational session: January 9, 2017
a Pennsylvania*[5] | January 3, 2017  | December 31, 2017  | None  |
a Rhode Island | January 3, 2017  | June 30, 2017  | None  | Session reconvened September 19 over the budget and vetoes.
a South Carolina | January 10, 2017  | May 11, 2017  | First Thurs in June  | Special session: June 6
a South Dakota | January 10, 2017  | March 27, 2017  | 40 legislative days  | Special session: June 12
a Tennessee | January 10, 2017  | May 10, 2017  | 90 legislative days  |
a Texas | January 10, 2017  | May 29, 2017  | 140 calendar days in two years  | Special session: July 18-August 15
a Utah | January 23, 2017  | March 9, 2017  | 45 calendar days  | Special session: September 20
a Vermont | January 4, 2017  | May 18, 2017  | None  | Veto session: June 21
a Virginia | January 11, 2017  | February 25, 2017  | Odd numbered years - 30 calendar days
Even-numbered years - 60 days  | Veto session: April 5
a 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
a West Virginia | February 8, 2017  | April 9, 2017  | 60 calendar days  | 1st special session: May 4-June 26, 2nd special session: October 16-17
a Wisconsin*[5] | January 3, 2017  | December 31, 2017  | None  | 1st special session: January 5, 2nd special session: August 1-September 15
a 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[edit]

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[edit]

* State Legislatures
* State legislative special elections, 2017
* State legislative elections, 2017
* State legislative elections, 2016
* State government trifectas
* Partisan composition of state legislatures
* Potential government shutdowns

## External links[edit]

* National Conference of State Legislatures - 2017 Legislative Session Calendar
* StateNet - Daily Session Summary

## Footnotes[edit]

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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