Resource Special Sessions

State

Description

Alaska

If two-thirds of the membership responds in the affirmative to a poll conducted by the presiding officer of each house.

Arizona

Upon presentation to the governor of a petition signed by not less than two-thirds of the members of each house.

Colorado

By written request of two-thirds of the members of each house to the presiding officer of each house.

Connecticut

1) Upon presentation to the secretary of state of a petition signed by two-thirds of the members of each house or 2) by joint call of the presiding officers of both houses.

Delaware

By mutual call of the presiding officers of both houses.

Florida

1) Upon the filing with the Department of State of a joint proclamation by the president of the Senate and speaker of the House or 2) if three-fifths of the members of both houses respond affirmatively to a poll by the Department of State—the poll being initiated by certificates from 20 percent of the members of the Legislature.

Georgia

Upon presentation to the governor of a petition signed by three-fifths of the members of each house, with a copy to the secretary of state.

Hawaii

By written request of two-thirds of the members of each house to the presiding officer of each house.

Idaho

House speaker and Senate president pro tempore may call a special session upon receiving a joint written request of at least 60 percent of the members of each chamber. The special session could consider only the subjects listed in the request petition.

Illinois

Upon the filing with the secretary of state of a joint proclamation by the presiding officers of both houses.

Iowa

By written request of two-thirds of the members of each house to the presiding officer of each house.

Kansas

Upon presentation to the governor of a petition signed by at least two-thirds of the members elected to each house.

Louisiana

By written petition of a majority of the members elected to each house to the presiding officers of both houses

Maine

On the call of the president of the Senate and speaker of the House, with the consent of a majority of the members of the Legislature of each political party, all members having been first polled.

Maryland

Upon presentation to the governor of a petition signed by a majority of the members elected to the Senate and to the House of Delegates.

Massachusetts

Upon presentation to the clerk of the respective chamber of written statements of—and subsequent vote of—21 members of the Senate and 81 members of the House of Representatives 

Missouri

By joint proclamation of the president pro tem of the Senate and the speaker of the House, upon filing with the secretary of state a petition signed by three-fourths of the members of the Senate and House.

Montana

At the written request of a majority of the members.

Nebraska

By proclamation of the governor, upon filing with the secretary of state a petition signed by 10 or more members of the Legislature and a subsequent poll by the secretary of state approved by two-thirds or more of the members.

Nevada

By petition signed by two-thirds of the members of both the Senate and Assembly.

New Hampshire

By a two-thirds vote (or petition) of the qualified members of each branch of the General Court.

New Jersey

By proclamation of the governor, upon petition of a majority of the members of each house.

New Mexico

By proclamation of the governor, upon petition of three-fifths of the members elected to each house.

New York

By petition of two-thirds of the members of each house to the Senate president pro tem and the speaker of the House.

North Carolina

By joint proclamation of the president of the Senate and speaker of the House, upon written request by three-fifths of the members of each house.

Ohio

By joint proclamation of the presiding officers of the General Assembly.

Oklahoma

By joint order of the Senate president pro tem and the speaker of the House, upon written request of two-thirds of the members of each chamber.

Oregon

By the presiding officers of both houses, upon written request of a majority of the members of each chamber.

Pennsylvania

By the governor, upon petition of a majority of the members elected to each house.

South Dakota

By the presiding officers of both houses upon the written request of two-thirds of the members of each house. The petition of request shall state the purposes of the session, and only business encompassed by those purposes may be transacted.

Tennessee

By the presiding officers of both houses, upon written request of two-thirds of the members of each chamber.

Virginia

By the governor, upon the application of two-thirds of the members elected to each house.

Washington

By resolution of the Legislature, upon affirmative vote (or poll) of two-thirds of the members elected or appointed thereto.

West Virginia

By proclamation of the governor, upon the application of three-fifths of the members elected to each house.

Wisconsin

1) At the direction of a majority of the members of the committee on organization in each house; 2) by the adoption of and concurrence in a joint resolution on the approval by a majority of the members elected to each house; or 3) by the joint petition of a majority of the members elected to each house submitted to, and using a form approved by, the Senate chief clerk and the Assembly chief clerk.

Wyoming

1) Upon written request to the presiding officer of each house of the Legislature by a majority of the elected members of each house; or 2) the presiding officers of each house shall also jointly call a special session for the purpose of resolving a challenge or a dispute of any kind in the determination of the presidential electors.