December 29, 2005
Forty-four States To Hold Legislative Sessions in 2006
Legislatures in all but seven of those will begin in January
DENVER - State legislatures in 44 states will convene for regular sessions in 2006, a year that promises to be filled with lively and momentous debates. Legislators will wrestle with perennial challenges relating to issues like healthcare and education. And they'll consider new topics, such as limiting eminent domain and tracking sex offenders.
The partisan composition of legislatures has not changed drastically since 2005, with Democrats gaining a 15-seat lead over Republicans in the total number of state lawmakers nationwide and no chambers changing hands after elections. But in 2006, lawmakers will be gearing up for November, which will bring heated contests for individuals and for the parties. Nearly 84 percent of legislative seats expire this year.
The length of states' sessions vary from a few months to most of the year. Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania are several of the states that meet throughout the year. Utah's session, by contrast, will last less than two months. And Wyoming's will go from February 13 to mid March. For more information on full- and part-time legislatures, go to www.ncsl.org/programs/press/2004/backgrounder_fullandpart.htm.
States that meet every other year, and do not have regular sessions in 2006 are Arkansas, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon and Texas. In all but seven of the remaining 44 states, session begins in January. Below is a session calendar.
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Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sept. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
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Ala. |
1/10 – 4/24 |
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Alaska |
1/9 – 5/9 |
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Ariz. |
1/9 – late April |
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Ark. |
No regular session |
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Calif. |
1/4 – 8/31 |
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Colo. |
1/11 – 5/10 |
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Conn. |
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2/8 – 5/3 |
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Del. |
1/10 – 6/30 |
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Fla. |
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3/7 – 5/5 |
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Ga. |
1/9 – mid Mar |
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Hawaii |
1/18 – early May |
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Idaho |
1/9 – late Mar |
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Ill. |
1/11 – throughout the year |
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Ind. |
1/9* – 3/14 |
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Iowa |
1/9 – late April |
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Kan. |
1/9 – late April |
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Ky. |
1/3 – 4/15 |
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La. |
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3/27 –6/19 |
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Maine |
1/4 – 4/19 |
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Md. |
1/11 – 4/10 |
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Mass. |
1/4 – throughout the year (formal sessions end 7/31) |
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Mich. |
1/11 – throughout the year |
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Minn. |
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3/1 – 5/22 |
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Miss. |
1/3 – 4/2 |
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Mo. |
1/4 – 5/30 |
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Mont. |
No regular session |
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Neb. |
1/4 – mid April |
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Nev. |
No regular session |
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N.H. |
1/4 – 7/1 |
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N.J. |
1/10 – throughout the year |
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N.M. |
1/17 – 2/15 |
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N.Y. |
1/4 – throughout the year |
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N.C. |
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5/9– July |
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N.D. |
No regular session |
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Ohio |
1/2 – throughout the year |
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Okla. |
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2/6 – 5/26 |
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Ore. |
No regular session |
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Pa. |
1/3 – throughout the year |
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R.I. |
1/3 – late June |
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S.C. |
1/10 – 6/1 |
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S.D. |
1/10 – mid Mar |
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Tenn. |
1/10 – late April |
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Texas |
No regular session |
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Utah |
1/16 – 3/1 |
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Vt. |
1/3 – early May |
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Va. |
1/11 – 3/11 |
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Wash. |
1/9 – 3/9 |
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W.V. |
1/11 – 3/11 |
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Wis. |
1/17 – throughout the year |
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Wyo. |
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2/13 – early Mar |
| *Constitutional opening date, which may be changed. As decided at the organizational session held November 22, 2005, the House convenes Jan. 4, 2006 and the Senate Jan. 9, 2006. |
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NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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