Legislative Sessions
As of December 2003
Annual v. Biennial
In the early 1960s, only 19 state legislatures met annually. The remaining 31 held biennial regular sessions. All but three (Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia) held their biennial session in the odd-numbered year. Ten of the 19 states with annual sessions limited the "off-year" to consideration of budgetary and fiscal matters.
By the mid-1970s, the number of states meeting annually grew tremendously--up from 19 to 41. However, several of these states used a "flexible" session format in which the total days of session time was divided between two years; these states included Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee and Vermont.
Today, 44 state legislatures meet annually. The remaining six states--Arkansas, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon and Texas--hold session every other year. All of the biennial legislatures hold their regular sessions in the odd year. Six states have limited scope sessions--that is, where one year of the biennium is limited to consideration of specific types of legislation. The states with limited scope sessions are Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, New Mexico, North Carolina and Wyoming.
Kentucky, New Hampshire and Washington were the last states to change from biennial to annual regular sessions; these states held their first annual sessions in 2001, 1985 and 1981, respectively.
Session Length
In the early 1960s, 17 states did not place restrictions on the length of their legislative sessions. In another 10 states, the limits were indirect, being set by restrictions on legislator compensation, per diem or travel reimbursements. Several states increased their session length. These were Colorado (from 120 to 160); Georgia (from 80 to 85); Kansas (from 90 to 120); Minnesota (from 90 to 120); and South Dakota (from 60 to 75).
Throughout the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, session limitations were becoming more defined. Fewer states had unrestricted sessions, and the number of states with indirect session limits had fallen.
Currently, only 12 states do not place a limit on the length of regular session. The remaining 38 set limits through a variety of ways. Constitutional provisions establish the limits in 28 states. Indirect limits on legislator compensation, per diem or mileage reimbursement are in effect in 3 states. Statutory provisions set the restrictions in 4, and another 3 use chamber rules.
The recent trend is to shorten session lengths. For example, Colorado's session was cut to 120 days in 1988. In 1992, Louisiana changed its constitution to shorten and limit the scope of its even-year session. In 1998, the citizens of Nevada adopted a constitutional amendment that restricts the legislative session to 120 days. In 2002, an adopted amendment to the Louisiana Constitution changed the timing of its general and fiscal sessions and adjusted the length of the fiscal session; the changes go into effect January 2004.
Session Length Limits
|
State |
1962-63 |
1972-73 |
1982-83 |
Nov 1998 |
Nov 2000 |
Nov 2002 |
|
Alabama |
36 L |
36 L |
30 L in 105 C |
30 L in 105 C
(by statute) |
30 L in 105 C
(by statute) |
30 L in 105 C
(by statute) |
|
Alaska |
None |
None |
None |
120 C |
120 C |
120 C |
|
Arizona |
63 C
(indirect) |
None |
Sat of week in which 100th C falls
(chamber rule) |
Sat of week in which 100th C falls
(chamber rule) |
Sat of week in which 100th C falls
(chamber rule) |
Sat of week in which 100th C falls
(chamber rule) |
|
Arkansas |
60 C |
60 C |
60 C |
60 C |
60 C |
60 C |
|
California |
Odd-120 C
Even-30 C |
None |
None |
Even-Nov 30
(constitution)
Odd-Sept 12
Even-Aug 31
(chamber rule) |
Even-Nov 30
(constitution)
Odd-Sept 12
Even-Aug 31
(chamber rule) |
Even-Nov 30
(constitution)
Odd-Sept 12
Even-Aug 31
(chamber rule) |
|
Colorado |
160 C within biennium (indirect) |
None |
Odd-None
Even-140 C |
120 C |
120 C |
120 C |
|
Connecticut |
Wed after 1st Mon in June |
Odd-Wed after 1st Mon in June
Even-Wed after 1st Mon in May |
Odd-Wed after 1st Mon in June
Even-Wed after 1st Mon in May |
Odd-Wed after 1st Mon in June
Even- Wed after 1st Mon in May |
Odd-Wed after 1st Mon in June
Even- Wed after 1st Mon in May |
Odd-Wed after 1st Mon in June
Even- Wed after 1st Mon in May |
|
Delaware |
Odd-90 L
Even-30 L |
June 30 |
June 30 |
June 30 |
June 30 |
June 30 |
|
Florida |
60 C |
60 C |
60 C |
60 C |
60 C |
60 C |
|
Georgia |
Odd-45 C
Even-40 C |
Odd-45 L
Even-40 L |
40 L |
40 L |
40 L |
40 L |
|
Hawaii |
Odd-60 C
Even-30 C |
60 L |
60 L |
60 L |
60 L |
60 L |
|
Idaho |
60 C
(indirect) |
60 C
(indirect) |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
Illinois |
None
(by custom-July 1) |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
Indiana |
61 C |
Odd-61 L or April 30
Even-30 L or March 15 |
Odd-61 L or April 30
Even-30 L or March 15 |
Odd-Apr 29
Even-Mar 14
(by statute) |
Odd-Apr 29
Even-Mar 14
(by statute) |
Odd-Apr 29
Even-Mar 14
(by statute) |
|
Iowa |
None |
None |
(indirect) |
Odd-110 C
Even-100 C
(indirect) |
Odd-110 C
Even-100 C
(indirect) |
Odd-110 C
Even-100 C
(indirect) |
|
Kansas |
Odd-90 L
Even-30 C
(indirect) |
Odd-90 C
Even-60 C
(indirect) |
Odd-None
Even-90 C |
Odd-None
Even-90 C |
Odd-None
Even-90 C |
Odd-None
Even-90 C |
|
Kentucky |
60 L |
60 L |
60 L |
60 L |
Odd: 30 L or Mar 30
Even:60 L or Apr 15 |
Odd: 30 L or Mar 30
Even:60 L or Apr 15 |
|
Louisiana |
Odd-30 C
Even-60 C |
Odd-30 C
Even-60 C |
60 L in 85 C |
Odd-60 L in 85 C
Even-30 L in 45 C |
Odd-60 L in 85 C
Even-30 L in 45 C |
Odd-45 L in 60 C
Even-60 L in 85 C |
|
Maine |
None |
None |
Odd-100 L
Even-50 L |
Odd-3rd Wed in June
Even-3rd Wed in April
(by statute) |
Odd-3rd Wed in June
Even-3rd Wed in April
(by statute) |
Odd-3rd Wed in June
Even-3rd Wed in April
(by statute) |
|
Maryland |
Odd-90 C
Even-30 C |
90 C |
90 C |
90 C |
90 C |
90 C |
|
Massachusetts |
None |
None |
None |
Formal sessions:
Odd-3rd Wed in November
Even-July 31
Informal sessions: None
(by chamber rule) |
Formal sessions:
Odd-3rd Wed in November
Even-July 31
Informal sessions: None
(by chamber rule) |
Formal sessions:
Odd-3rd Wed in November
Even-July 31
Informal sessions: None
(by chamber rule) |
|
Michigan |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
Minnesota |
120 L |
120 L |
120 L total within biennium or 1st Mon after 3rd Sat in May each year |
120 L total within biennium or 1st Mon after 3rd Sat in May each year |
120 L total within biennium or 1st Mon after 3rd Sat in May each year |
120 L total within biennium or 1st Mon after 3rd Sat in May each year |
|
Mississippi |
None |
90 C except year after gub elect, then 125 C |
90 C except year after gub elect, then 125 C |
90 C except year after gub elect, then 125 C |
90 C except year after gub elect, then 125 C |
90 C except year after gub elect, then 125 C |
|
Missouri |
July 15 |
Odd-June 30
Even-May 15 |
Odd-June 30
Even-May 15 |
May 30 |
May 30 |
May 30 |
|
Montana |
60 C |
60 L |
90 L |
90 L |
90 L |
90 L |
|
Nebraska |
None |
Odd-90 L
Even-60 L |
Odd-90 L
Even-60 L |
Odd-90 L
Even-60 L |
Odd-90 L
Even-60 L |
Odd-90 L
Even-60 L |
|
Nevada |
60 C
(indirect) |
60 C
(indirect) |
60 C
(indirect) |
120 C |
120 C |
120 C |
|
New Hampshire |
July 1
(indirect) |
90 days or July 1
(indirect) |
90 L or July 1
(indirect) |
45 L or July 1
(indirect) |
45 L or July 1
(indirect) |
45 L or July 1
(indirect) |
|
New Jersey |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
New Mexico |
60 C |
Odd-60 C
Even-30 C |
Odd-60 C
Even 30 C |
Odd-60 C
Even-30 C |
Odd-60 C
Even-30 C |
Odd-60 C
Even-30 C |
|
New York |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
North Carolina |
120 C
(indirect) |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
North Dakota |
60 L |
60 L |
80 L |
80 L |
80 L |
80 L |
|
Ohio |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
Oklahoma |
None |
90 L |
90 L |
Last Fri in May |
Last Fri in May |
Last Fri in May |
|
Oregon |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
Pennsylvania |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
Rhode Island |
60 L
(indirect) |
60 L
(indirect) |
60 L
(indirect) |
None |
None |
None |
|
South Carolina |
None |
None |
1st Thurs in June
(by statute) |
1st Thurs in June
(by statute) |
1st Thurs in June
(by statute) |
1st Thurs in June
(by statute) |
|
South Dakota |
Odd-45 L
Even-30 L |
Odd-45 L
Even-30 L |
Odd-40 L
ven-35 L |
Odd-40 L
Even-35 L |
Odd-40 L
Even-35 L |
Odd-40 L
Even-35 L |
|
Tennessee |
75 C
(indirect) |
90 L
(indirect) |
90 L
(indirect) |
90 L
(indirect) |
90 L
(indirect) |
90 L
(indirect) |
|
Texas |
140 C |
140 C |
140 C |
140 C |
140 C |
140 C |
|
Utah |
60 C |
Odd-60 C
Even-20 C |
Odd-60 C
Even-20 C |
45 C |
45 C |
45 C |
|
Vermont |
None |
(indirect) |
(indirect) |
None |
None |
None |
|
Virginia |
60 C
(indirect) |
Odd-30 C
Even-60 C |
Odd-30 C
Even-60 C |
Odd-30 C
Even-60 C |
Odd-30 C
Even-60 C |
Odd-30 C
Even-60 C |
|
Washington |
60 C |
60 C |
Odd-105 C
Even-60 C |
Odd-105 C
Even-60 C |
Odd-105 C
Even-60 C |
Odd-105 C
Even-60 C |
|
West Virginia |
Odd-60 C
Even 30 C |
60 C |
60 C |
60 C |
60 C |
60 C |
|
Wisconsin |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
Wyoming |
40 C |
Odd-40 L
Even 20 L |
Odd-40 L
Even-20 L |
Odd-40 L
Even-20 L |
Odd-40 L
Even-20 L |
Odd-40 L
Even-20 L |
Key:
C = calendar day
L = legislative day
Yellow highlight = biennial
Red highlight = "flexible" session format
|
