The Idaho Legislature adjourned its special session Monday, May 18, 2015, just 12 hours after reconvening.

Lawmakers returned to Boise to approve changes to federal child support rules.

The bill has been sent to the governor who said he will sign it into law.

The Minnesota Legislature adjourned on May 18, 2015. Legislators scrambled to pass legislation minutes before the rigid midnight deadline. Gov. Mark Dayton has three days to accept or reject budget bills.

Dayton has stated on several occasions he plans to veto the education budget bill due to its lack of funding for half-day kindergarten. Should the governor veto that bill, a special session will be very likely.

According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk considers the special session “inevitable”. However, the Capitol building is undergoing renovation and therefore will not be a feasible location for a special session, should the governor convene one.

Dayton suggested the potential special session be held in a tent on the lawn of the Capitol, while area hotels offered their facilities as an alternative.

Photo of the Minnesota State Capitol by Jonathunder on Wikimedia Commons.

The Missouri General Assembly adjourned sine die on Friday, May 15. Lawmakers in the House sent 31 bills to Gov. Jay Nixon while the Senate, after admitting nothing more was likely to get done, adjourned hours early of the 6 p.m. deadline.

Senate Democrats stalled nearly every action in the last week of session after the Republican majority used a procedural motion to end debate and force a vote on a right-to-work bill barring mandatory collection of union fees.

All legislation pending in the Senate died upon adjournment; Gov. Nixon is not expected to call a special session to consider the unfinished business.

Photo of the Missouri Capitol by Nickbigd on Wikimedia Commons.

The Vermont Legislature adjourned sine die Saturday, May 16, 2015 late in the evening after completing work on a new budget. The previous day, lawmakers passed a lobbyist disclosure bill to increase disclosure during the legislative session.

If signed by the governor, it would be one of the strictest disclosure laws in the country, requiring monthly reports while the legislature is in session.

The bill also mandates lobbyist reports within 48 hours of running mass media campaigns of $1,000 or more.

Photo of the Vermont State House by Jared C. Benedict on Wikimedia Commons.

The 28th Hawaii State Legislature adjourned sine die on May 7, 2015.

Lawmakers passed a range of bills this year, including a 100 percent renewable energy goal for the state and a bill to establish a system of statewide medical marijuana dispensaries by next summer.

The legislature is expected to reconvene next January.

The Florida Legislature will return for a special session from June 1 to June 20, 2015. Among the topics on the agenda is the state budget, a major point of contention between the two chambers.

The House recently adjourned the regular session early, citing an insurmountable disagreement with the Senate over expanding Medicaid.

A compromise must be reached prior to July 1, the beginning of the state’s fiscal year.

The first regular session of the seventieth Colorado General Assembly adjourned sine die on Wednesday, May 6. Legislators sent roughly 50 bills to the Governor before adjourning hours shy of the midnight deadline.

Measures passed include a tax increment financing bill giving counties, school boards, and special districts more say in how cities waive future tax dollars for urban renewal projects, a bill increasing the pay of the governor, other state executive officers, lawmakers, and county officials effective in 2019, and a bill to reduce standardized testing in Colorado public schools.

Photo of the Colorado State Capitol by Greg O’Beirne on Wikimedia Commons.

The Florida Senate adjourned sine die on May 1, 2015, three days after the House abruptly ended its session early citing an impasse with the Senate over budget issues.

Senate democrats, believing the move was in violation of the state constitution, filed a lawsuit with the state supreme court seeking a writ of mandamus to order the House back into session. While the court agreed the early adjournment was a clear violation, all seven justices concurred there was no plausible way to order the House back with so little time left in the session.

Nonetheless, democratic leaders lauded the ruling as important guidance for the future.

Gov. Butch Otter announced a special legislative session will begin on May 18, 2015. After adjourning in early April, lawmakers will return to resolve amendments to a child support law.

The law is a prerequisite for receiving federal funds to assist in child support enforcement.

Legislators have until June 12 to come to an agreement.

Photo of the Idaho State Capitol by Maxbatt in Wikimedia Commons.

The 119th Indiana General Assembly adjourned its first regular session sine die on Wednesday, April 29. Lawmakers worked until the final minutes to shift authority over education policy matters and to pass a new two-year state budget.

Despite its many successes, however, the session will perhaps best be remembered for the March 26 signing of the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Photo of the Indiana Statehouse by HstryQT on Wikimedia Commons.

The Legislature adjourned sine die on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, with the possibility of a special session to resolve differences in the budget bill for the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS).

If NDPERS is not able to operate through the 2015-17 biennium on a continuing appropriation, a special session will be necessary.

By adjourning on 78th day of the session, lawmakers allowed for a two-day special session without exceeding the 80-day limit.

Citing an impasse with the Senate over Medicaid expansion, the Florida House abruptly ended its session today. With three days left in the scheduled legislative session, the Senate may choose to stay through Friday.

The Senate has insisted on discussing the expansion of Medicaid during budget negotiations, but the House has refused to do so.

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli stated he plans to return for a special session to resolve the conflict prior to a July 1 deadline.

Photo of the Old and New Florida State Capitols by Infrogmation on Wikimedia Commons.

The first session of the 29th Alaska State Legislature adjourned on Monday, April 27 after a week of frustrating budget negotiations. A deal was passed to fund the government through the fall.

Following adjournment, Gov. Bill Walker immediately called a special session; the session began today at 10:00 a.m.

Walker is not willing to accept a budget if it does not cover the full year. He ordered the special session to allow legislators an opportunity to discuss a fully funded state budget and consider pending legislation for Erin’s Law as well as Medicaid reform and expansion.

Photo of the Alaska State House of Representatives chamber by L’Aquatique on Wikimedia Commons.

The Montana Senate and the House both adjourned sine die on April 28, 2015.

Governor Steve Bullock, who does not have a pocket veto, has 10 days upon delivery to sign, veto, or recommend amendments to bills. The Legislature, which meets in regular session for 90 working days in every odd-numbered year, will have its next regular session in 2017.

Photo of the Montana State Capitol by Maksim on Wikimedia Commons.