LobbyComply Blog

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin wants a special legislative session to address a budget shortfall caused by a recent Oklahoma Supreme Court Ruling. The Court struck down a cigarette fee resulting in $215 million in lost revenue.

If the budget is not reappropriated, the ruling will force four state agencies to restructure their budgets due to loss of funds. Money cannot be transferred to the affected agencies without a legislative directive.

Though a special session is likely inevitable, legislative leadership has suggested the governor wait to call a session because there are other revenue-related court cases still pending.

The General Assembly will convene a special session today, July 31, 2017, to vote on an over-due budget proposal. Lawmakers failed to pass a budget during this year’s regular session and are one month past the deadline for a new two-year budget.

Senator’s will vote to approve a labor deal made between Gov. Dannel Malloy and the employee unions to fund the state’s pension system. The House already approved the deal.

The Senate is evenly split among Democrats and Republicans, so a party line vote would require Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, a Democrat, to break the tie.

On July 20, the Washington Legislature adjourned its third special session sine die.

Lawmakers were unable to reach agreement on a budget bill due to negotiations breaking down on a water-rights bill that was tied to the budget.

Gov. Jay Inslee indicated that he would not call lawmakers back for another overtime session unless they have a firm plan that will lead to a vote on the capital budget.

On July 27, the Legislature is expected to convene again for a one-day special session to pass the state’s capital construction budget. This will be the Legislature’s third special session.

Lawmakers were previously unable to agree to a compromise on the budget, but have reportedly reached an agreement with enough support to call a special session.

Under the Alaska Constitution, the approval of two-thirds of the Legislature is necessary to call a special session.

Gov. Bill Walker signed a shutdown-averting $8.8 billion state operating budget into law; however, the Alaska Legislature remains in session to address oil and gas tax credits.

The 30-day special session ends July 16.

Lawmakers have set a record this year in Juneau for the longest time spent consecutively in session.

The Maine 2017 regular session recessed on July 3, 2017.

The Legislature failed to pass a budget on June 30, 2017, forcing Gov. Paul LePage to declare a state of civil emergency in the absence of a biennial budget. The Legislature worked late on July 3, 2017, to pass the $7.1 billion budget.

LePage signed the budget the following morning and ended the civil emergency.

Despite working into the early hours of Saturday morning, the Delaware Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session on July 1, 2017, without passing a 2018 budget.

In order to address the Legislature’s failure, Gov. John Carney called a special session for July 2, 2017.

The special session adjourned on July 2, 2017, and Carney signed a $4.1 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2018.

On June 26, the West Virginia Legislature adjourned its special session sine die. Lawmakers approved a budget after months of debate to resolve a $500 million shortfall in the 2018 fiscal year budget.

The state budget cuts funding for higher education and the Department of Health and Human Resources but avoids a government shutdown that would have occurred July 1 if the budget had not been in place.

Gov. Jim Justice allowed the budget bill to become law without his signature.

On June 21, the Washington Legislature adjourned its second special session sine die.

Lawmakers were unable to reach agreement on a budget bill during the session forcing Gov. Jay Inslee to call for another special session to start immediately after adjournment.

A two-year operating budget needs signed into law by June 30 or the state faces a partial government shutdown.

The Louisiana Legislature adjourned the second special session Friday, June 16, 2017 after passing the state’s budget.

The Legislature could not reach an agreement to pass the budget during the 2017 regular legislative session forcing Gov. John Bel Edwards to call a special session to set an operating budget for the 2017 fiscal year.

The legislature is not scheduled to convene again until the 2018 regular legislative session.

The Alaska Legislature’s first special session ran out of time on June 16 without lawmakers passing a budget bill to resolve the state’s annual $2.7 billion deficit.

Gov. Bill Walker immediately called a second special session convening that same day to address the budget.

Alaska faces a government shutdown if a budget is not adopted by July 1.

The Louisiana Legislature adjourned its regular legislative session Thursday, June 8, 2017, and immediately convened a 12-day special legislative session to pass the state’s operating budget for the financial year beginning July 1, 2017.

The Legislature was unable to reach an agreement on the budget during the regular session. House Democrats want to allocate the entire state operating budget while House Republicans are set on only funding a portion of the budget so there is a cushion in case the revenue prediction is wrong.

The session is to adjourn no later than Monday, June 19, 2017. This is Louisiana’s second special session this year.

The 79^th session of the Nevada Legislature adjourned just after midnight local time on Tuesday, June 6, 2017.

A package of budget bills was passed, resolving a stalemate many thought would not be resolved by the end of the regular session.

Legislators also pushed through a clean energy bill and one requiring additional oversight of drivers for ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft.

Lawmakers finished a special session in one day, adjourning late Monday, June 5, 2017.

The Legislature passed funding bills for the attorney general’s office, infrastructure projects, and the Department of Transportation.

Gov. Phil Bryant was forced to call the special session to resolve budget issues prior to July 1, the beginning of a new fiscal year.