June 9, 2017 •
North Carolina Lawmakers Reject Call for Special Session
On June 8, North Carolina lawmakers voted to reject Gov. Roy Cooper’s call for a special concurrent session to redraw district voting maps. Lawmakers accuse Cooper of overstepping his constitutional authority to call special sessions in extraordinary circumstances in this […]
On June 8, North Carolina lawmakers voted to reject Gov. Roy Cooper’s call for a special concurrent session to redraw district voting maps.
Lawmakers accuse Cooper of overstepping his constitutional authority to call special sessions in extraordinary circumstances in this case because the General Assembly is already in session.
The rejected special session comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 28 districts unconstitutional due to racial gerrymandering.
Legislative leaders indicated they plan to wait for instructions from the courts before redrawing district maps.
June 9, 2017 •
Louisiana Special Session Convenes Minutes After Adjournment of Regular Session
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 […]
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.
June 8, 2017 •
Special Session Called in South Dakota
Gov. Dennis Daugaard called a special session for June 12 to consider legislation relating to public recreational use of non-meandered waters overlying private property. The issue comes after a Supreme Court opinion prohibited state officials from facilitating access to waters […]
Gov. Dennis Daugaard called a special session for June 12 to consider legislation relating to public recreational use of non-meandered waters overlying private property.
The issue comes after a Supreme Court opinion prohibited state officials from facilitating access to waters on private property.
Under the drafted legislation to be considered by lawmakers during the special session, South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Department would be able to negotiate with landowners to open access to such lakes for recreation.
June 8, 2017 •
Connecticut General Assembly Adjourns, Special Session Still to Come
The Connecticut General Assembly adjourned the 2017 regular session Wednesday, June 7, 2017. Lawmakers will have to return for a special session after failing to reach an agreement on a two-year state budget. For the second year in a row, […]
The Connecticut General Assembly adjourned the 2017 regular session Wednesday, June 7, 2017. Lawmakers will have to return for a special session after failing to reach an agreement on a two-year state budget.
For the second year in a row, Gov. Dannel Malloy declined to give the traditional after-session speech to members due to the Assembly not completing its work by the midnight deadline.
A budget must be finalized by June 30. Other legislation left hanging in the balance includes a bill to allow Tesla to build a dealership in the state and a proposed constitutional amendment to protect state parks.
June 8, 2017 •
Special Concurrent Session Called in North Carolina
On June 7, Gov. Roy Cooper called a 14-day special session for North Carolina lawmakers to redraw district voting maps. The session begins June 8 and will run concurrently with the regular session. The special concurrent session comes after the […]
On June 7, Gov. Roy Cooper called a 14-day special session for North Carolina lawmakers to redraw district voting maps.
The session begins June 8 and will run concurrently with the regular session.
The special concurrent session comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 28 districts unconstitutional due to racial gerrymandering.
June 8, 2017 •
Missouri Governor Calls Second Special Legislative Session
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens has called a special legislative session to consider new abortion regulations. The extraordinary session is slated to begin Monday, June 12, just one week after the Legislature adjourned its first extraordinary session. Lawmakers will consider stricter […]
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens has called a special legislative session to consider new abortion regulations.
The extraordinary session is slated to begin Monday, June 12, just one week after the Legislature adjourned its first extraordinary session.
Lawmakers will consider stricter regulations on abortion clinics as well as attempt to nullify a St. Louis ordinance banning employers and landlords from discriminating against women who have had an abortion.
June 7, 2017 •
Texas Governor Calls July Special Session
Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session of the Texas Legislature on Tuesday in an effort to push through a bill package necessary to keep some state agencies from closing. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick intentionally kept the legislation, known as […]
Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session of the Texas Legislature on Tuesday in an effort to push through a bill package necessary to keep some state agencies from closing.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick intentionally kept the legislation, known as a sunset bill, from passing in order to force a special session to discuss other items that did not pass during the regular session of the Legislature.
Gov. Abbott announced a 20-item agenda for the session but stated no other legislation would be looked at until the sunset bill is passed in full. Some other items listed on the agenda include school finance reform and mail-in ballot fraud.
The special session is scheduled to convene July 18, 2017.
June 6, 2017 •
Mississippi Completes Special Session
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 […]
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.
June 6, 2017 •
Florida Governor Calls Lawmakers into Special Session
Gov. Rick Scott has called the Legislature into a special session to finalize the state budget. The session is scheduled for June 7 to June 9, 2017. Gov. Scott and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who were at odds throughout the […]
Gov. Rick Scott has called the Legislature into a special session to finalize the state budget. The session is scheduled for June 7 to June 9, 2017.
Gov. Scott and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who were at odds throughout the 2017 session, struck a deal on the budget and a controversial education bill, providing an increase in spending for charter schools.
Absent from the governor’s call is the issue of medical marijuana sales, despite overwhelming citizen approval of a 2016 ballot measure. A two-thirds vote by lawmakers, however, could expand the focus of the special session.
June 2, 2017 •
Louisiana Governor Calls for Precautionary Special Session
This week, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a call for a special session of the Louisiana Legislature as a precautionary measure in response to significant disagreements over the state’s operating and construction budgets. The special session, if necessary, is to […]
This week, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a call for a special session of the Louisiana Legislature as a precautionary measure in response to significant disagreements over the state’s operating and construction budgets.
The special session, if necessary, is to convene Thursday, June 8, at 6:30 pm and must adjourn by midnight on Monday, June 19. The regular session of the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn at 6:00 pm on Thursday, June 8, with the special legislative session convening just half an hour later if no budget consensus is reached.
Gov. Edwards has threatened to veto the current budget, which leaves $206 million unspent, as he believes it forces unnecessary cuts.
May 26, 2017 •
Minnesota Special Session Adjourns Sine Die
The first special session of 2017, adjourned sine die around 3:00 a.m., on May 26, 2017. Lawmakers passed a public works package and other pieces of the budget. Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to sign all of the legislation passed […]
The first special session of 2017, adjourned sine die around 3:00 a.m., on May 26, 2017.
Lawmakers passed a public works package and other pieces of the budget.
Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to sign all of the legislation passed during the special session.
May 25, 2017 •
Washington Legislature Convenes Second Special Session
On May 23, the Washington Legislature adjourned its first special session sine die. Lawmakers were unable to reach agreement on a budget bill during the session forcing Gov. Jay Inslee to call for a second 30-day special session to start […]
On May 23, the Washington Legislature adjourned its first special session sine die.
Lawmakers were unable to reach agreement on a budget bill during the session forcing Gov. Jay Inslee to call for a second 30-day 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.
May 23, 2017 •
Minnesota Adjourns and Immediately Begins Special Session
The 2017 Minnesota regular legislative session adjourned late on Monday, May 22, 2017. The legislators failed to pass a $46 billion spending package. As a result, the Legislature immediately entered into a special session at 12:01 a.m., on May 23, […]
The 2017 Minnesota regular legislative session adjourned late on Monday, May 22, 2017.
The legislators failed to pass a $46 billion spending package. As a result, the Legislature immediately entered into a special session at 12:01 a.m., on May 23, 2017.
The special session is expected to end on May 24, 2017.
May 23, 2017 •
South Carolina Special Legislative Session to Begin Today
South Carolina lawmakers scheduled a three-day special legislative session before adjourning the regular session on May 11. The special session is expected to begin today. Because state law requires it, House Speaker Jay Lucas will gavel it in but then […]
South Carolina lawmakers scheduled a three-day special legislative session before adjourning the regular session on May 11. The special session is expected to begin today.
Because state law requires it, House Speaker Jay Lucas will gavel it in but then likely adjourn an empty chamber.
He encouraged House members not to return for the session because there is no budget compromise to consider. He plans to call House members back when the budget panel, consisting of members from both chambers of the Legislature, has taken the time to complete its work and reach an agreement.
The 46 members of the Senate are expected to be present for the special session, as Senate President Pro Tem Hugh Leatherman has not indicated anything to the contrary.
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