Gov. Ned Lamont announced a special legislative session to start on Tuesday, July 21.

The Legislature will reconvene to discuss bills relating to police reform, absentee ballots, telehealth insurance, and insulin drug costs.

Legislative leaders and Gov. Lamont have also discussed returning for a second special session in September to consider housing reform legislation.

On April 21, the General Assembly announced the regular session will not reconvene before the May 6 constitutional adjournment date.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the legislative session has been suspended since March 11.

Legislative leaders expect a special session to be called in the coming months to address pending bills to ensure the continuity of government functions.

This does not immediately affect lobbyist reporting.

The Georgia Campaign Finance Commission issued formal opinions to reiterate the General Assembly is still legally in session.

Lawmakers have not officially adjourned sine die, nor has the governor issued an executive order adjourning both houses.

Members of the General Assembly and other statewide elected public officers remain subject to the session ban on campaign contributions.

However, they are permitted to issue reimbursements to themselves and campaign staff for expenses incurred during the suspended session.

The Kentucky General Assembly’s 2020 session will reconvene on April 14, one day earlier than previously announced.

Lawmakers will consider overriding vetoes cast by Gov. Andy Beshear.

The governor’s time to veto recently passed bills expires on April 13.

Lawmakers also have the option to convene on April 15, the latest possible day they can meet in regular session this year under state constitution guidelines.

On April 8, legislative leaders announced the General Assembly is extending the postponement of the session until April 23.

The State Capitol, Legislative Office Building, and State House will remain closed during the postponement.

This does not immediately affect lobbyist reporting.

The Rhode Island General Assembly announced the postponement of the legislative session has been extended for another week due to COVID-19.

All legislative sessions and committee hearings for the week of April 13 to April 17 have been canceled.

Both chambers of the General Assembly are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, April 21.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

On March 11, Gov. Ned Lamont declared a public health emergency and civil preparedness emergency in effect through September 9, unless terminated earlier.

Legislative leaders also announced the closure of the Capitol complex.

Additionally, meetings for Thursday, March 12, through Sunday, March 15, are canceled.

The closure allows the Capitol and Legislative Office Building to be cleaned due to concerns with the coronavirus.

The General Assembly will return to Hartford on Monday, March 16, to reschedule the canceled meetings.

They will also discuss legislation proposed by the governor for an emergency relief package, and to prevent price-gouging during times of emergencies.

The closure does not immediately affect lobbyist reporting.

State Democrats called for a special session of the General Assembly following Hurricane Matthew’s devastating impact on the state. Twenty people were killed, thousands retreated to emergency shelters, and the storm transformed one-third of the state’s 100 counties into federal disaster areas.

Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue and House Rep. Billy Richardson urged legislators to address the emergency so that funds from the state’s rainy day reserves could be distributed. Republicans denied the request. House Speaker Tim Moore and Senator Phil Berger stated it would be better to wait until the waters recede to determine long-term needs.

The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene when the regular session starts in February.

Before it begins, Kansas lawmakers are planning for an extended regular legislative session in 2017. Usually set at 90 days, additional money has been earmarked for a 100-day session.

Continuing school finance issues and an expected revenue shortfall have been cited as reasons for the planned extension. While many lawmakers thought it was prudent to plan now rather than find the money later, others felt it sets a bad precedent going into a session not expecting to complete the Legislature’s work on time.

The session in 2018 will be budgeted at 80 days to compensate.

With the Missouri Supreme Court denying an appeal of two lower court rulings, a constitutional amendment reinstating campaign contribution limits will appear on the November ballot. State contribution limits, originally approved by voters in 1994, were repealed by the General Assembly in 2008.

If passed, the 2016 ballot measure would ban direct corporate and labor union contributions and limit individual and committee contributions to statewide candidates to $2,600 per election. Contributions to political parties would be capped at $25,000 per election.

The Missouri General Assembly held its annual veto session on Wednesday, September 14. Lawmakers were successful in overriding some of Gov. Jay Nixon’s vetoes, including the vetoes of two highly controversial bills.

One bill abolishes a state law requiring permits, training, and background checks for those seeking to carry concealed weapons. The other requires voters to show a photo identification before casting a ballot. The voter ID law will take effect in 2017 only if voters pass a state constitutional amendment in support of it.

Photo of the Missouri State Capitol by Nickbigd on Wikimedia Commons.

On September 9, 2016, New York Assemblyman Bill Nojay took his own life. Nojay was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court on fraud charges related to mishandling of a trust fund on the day he passed.

Nojay was already listed on the primary ballot for September 13, 2016. If Nojay wins the primary, the seat will default to a vacancy and the GOP will select a replacement.

Nojay’s opponent, Richard B. Milne, has offered his sincerest condolences and has suspended all political activity until further notice.

Photo of Rep. Bill Nojay courtesy of the New York State Assembly website.

The Tennessee General Assembly convened a special session this morning to fix the state’s drunken driving laws, but lawmakers may also use the opportunity to expel Rep. Jeremy Durham. Durham is being investigated by multiple state agencies after nearly two dozen women accused him of inappropriate sexual conduct.

Rep. Joe Armstrong was also expected to be expelled, but Armstrong resigned his seat last Friday after being convicted of filing a false income tax return. His resignation is effective today. If legislators’ efforts are successful, Durham will be only the second Tennessee lawmaker to be ousted since the Civil War.

Photo of Rep. Jeremy Durham courtesy of the Tennessee General Assembly website.

The Tennessee General Assembly convened a special session today, September 12. State lawmakers have been tasked with fixing the state’s drunken driving law to prevent a loss in federal highway funding. The U.S. Department of Transportation will withhold funds if the state does not change the maximum allowable blood alcohol content for drivers under 21 in order to comply with federal rules.

Gov. Bill Haslam expects the session to last up to three days.

Photo of the Tennessee House Chamber floor by Ichabod on Wikimedia Commons.