Legislative Sessions

Legislative Budget Procedures: Budget Framework

Legislative Sessions

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, December 1997; and Council of State Governments, The Book of the States, 1996 to 1997.

Key:
‡ = Approximate session lengths are NCSL averages of the lengths of the 1993-1996 legislative sessions. Although eight states--Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin--and the District of Columbia consider their legislative sessions to be "year-round," the legislatures still may adjourn sine die and convene in special sessions during the year.
L = Legislative day (in some states "legislative day" is called a "session day" or "workday" [definitions may vary slightly]; however, it generally refers to any day on which either house of the legislature is in session).
C = Calendar day
-- = Not applicable

† Some legislatures also will reconvene after a normal session to consider bills vetoed by the governor.

Connecticut--If the governor vetoes any bill, the secretary of state must reconvene the General Assembly on the second Monday after the last day on which the governor is either authorized to transmit or has transmitted every bill with his objections, whichever occurs first. The General Assembly must adjourn sine die not later than three days after its reconvening.

Hawaii--The Legislature must reconvene on the 45th day after adjournment sine die, in special session, without call.

Louisiana--The Legislature meets in a maximum five-day veto session on the 40th day after final adjournment.

Missouri--If the governor returns any bill on or after the fifth day before the last day on which the General Assembly may consider bills (in even-numbered years), the Legislature automatically reconvenes on the first Wednesday following the second Monday in September for a maximum 10-calendar-day session.

New Jersey--The state's legislative session consists of two years. On the 45th calendar day after sine die adjournment of a regular session, the Legislature meets in special session (without call or petition) to act on bills returned by the governor. If the legislature is in the second year of the session, and that second year has expired before the 45th calendar day, the Legislature meets for special session on the day preceding the end of the legislative year.

Utah--If two-thirds of the members of each house favor reconvening to consider vetoed bills, a maximum five-day session is set by the presiding officers.

Virginia--The General Assembly reconvenes on the sixth Wednesday after adjournment for a maximum three-day session (that may be extended to seven days upon vote of a majority of the members elected to each house).

Washington--Upon petition of two-thirds of the members of each house, the Legislature meets 45 days after adjournment for a maximum five-day session.

*Notes:

Alaska--A session may be extended 10 days with a two-thirds vote of the members in both houses.

Arizona--There is no constitutional or statutory provision limiting the length of the session; however, legislative rules require that regular sessions adjourn no later than Saturday of the week during which the 100^th day of the session falls.

Arkansas--A session may be extended with a two-thirds vote of the members in both houses.

California--The Legislature meets in December for an organizational session, recesses until the first Monday in January of the odd-numbered year and continues in session until November 30 of the next even-numbered year.

Connecticut--In the second session, individual legislators may introduce only bills of a fiscal nature, emergency legislation and bills raised by committees. In odd-numbered years, the session lasts no later than the Wednesday after the first Monday in June; in even-numbered years, the session lasts no later than the Wednesday after the first Monday in May.

Florida--A session may be extended with a three-fifths vote of the members in both houses.

Hawaii--A session may be extended a maximum of 15 days with a petition of two-thirds of the membership in both houses.

Iowa--There is an indirect limitation on the length of the session by restrictions on legislators' pay, per diem, or daily allowance.

Kansas--There is a 90-day calendar limit following a gubernatorial election year. A session may be extended with a two-thirds vote of the members in both houses.

Louisiana--The second session is limited to the consideration of fiscal matters.

Maine--The session that begins in December of a general election year runs into the following odd-numbered year and the second session begins in the next even-numbered year. The second session is limited budgetary matters, legislation in the governor's call, emergency legislation and legislation referred to committees for study. A session may be extended up to 10 legislative days with a two-thirds vote of the members in both houses.

Maryland--A session may be extended by a maximum of 30 calendar days with a vote of three-fifths of the members in both houses (or if the budget is not passed by seven days before the end of the session, the governor issues an executive order extending the session).

Massachusetts--The state's legislative session consists of two years. Legislative rules say formal business must be concluded by November 15 of the first year, or by July 31 of the second year.

Minnesota--There is a legal provision for a session in an odd-numbered year; however, the Legislature may divide--as in practice it has divided--to meet in even-numbered years as well.

Mississippi--Legislative sessions run for 90 calendar days every year except the first year of a gubernatorial administration, during which the session runs for 125 calendar days. With a two-thirds vote of the members in both houses, a session may be extended 30 calendar days, with no limit on the number of extensions.

Nebraska--A session may be extended with a four-fifths vote of the members in both houses.

Nevada--There is an indirect limitation on the length of a session due to restrictions on legislators' pay, per diem, or daily allowance. In November 1998, a constitutional amendment is scheduled for vote that would impose a limit to the session length of 120 calendar days.

New Mexico--The second session is limited to consideration of budgets, appropriations and revenue bills, bills drawn pursuant to the governor's message and vetoed bills.

North Carolina--There is a legal provision for a session in an odd-numbered year; however, the General Assembly may divide--as in practice it has divided--to meet in even-numbered years as well.

Rhode Island--There is an indirect limitation on the length of a session due to restrictions on legislators' pay, per diem, or daily allowance.

South Carolina--A session may be extended with a two-thirds vote of the members in both houses.

Tennessee--There is an indirect limitation on the length of a session due to restrictions on legislator's pay, per diem, or daily allowance.

Vermont--There is a legal provision for a session in an odd-numbered year; however, the General Assembly may divide--as in practice it has divided--to meet in even-numbered years as well.

Virginia--A session may be extended 30 calendar days with a two-thirds vote of the members in both houses.

West Virginia--A session may be extended with a two-thirds vote of the members in both houses (or if the budget bill has not been acted upon three days before the session ends, the governor extends the session).

Wisconsin--The Legislature, by joint resolution, establishes the session schedule of activity for the remainder of the biennium at the beginning of the odd-numbered year.

Wyoming--The second session is limited to consideration of budget bills.

District of Columbia--Each council period begins on January 2 of each odd-numbered year and ends on January 1 of the following odd-numbered year.

Guam--Starting in January, 12 four-day sessions are convened per year (one each month), as established by rule.

Northern Mariana Islands--Limitation is 60 legislative days before April 1 for the first regular session and 30 legislative days after July 31.

Puerto Rico--A session may be extended by joint resolution.

U.S. Virgin Islands--A session is defined as a meeting or a series of meetings identified by a specific agenda. The first session of the Legislature convenes annually on the second Monday in January. The Legislature also convenes annually for regular sessions beginning on the third Tuesday in March, June and September. The president may convene the Legislature at additional times for regular sessions at his or her discretion, but not after adjournment sine die. The Legislature may convene upon such date as designated in a petition that includes the time and date of the session and lists the agenda. No session of the Legislature convened by petition shall extend beyond two calendar days unless the Legislature, by majority vote, extends the session. In addition, no matters other than those listed in the petition's agenda may be considered during a session convened.

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