State House Majority Leader Mike Hager (R) resigned from the General Assembly to support himself financially and take care of his elderly parents. Hager was the majority leader for two years and a House member for five.

It is likely Hager would have been reelected in November as his only competition was an unaffiliated candidate.

The North Carolina Republican Party House District 112 Executive Committee has not yet named Hager’s replacement.

After failing to pass a budget before the end of its spring session in May, the 98th Illinois General Assembly wrapped up its business on Thursday, June 30.

While concerns over the state budget were not completely alleviated, lawmakers were able to pass a short-term budget deal to keep basic services running.

Gov. Bruce Rauner believes further compromise and budget reform could occur in the 60 days following the November election when legislators will be more comfortable tackling tougher issues.

For the second year in a row, the General Assembly adjourned on June 30, the final day of the regular session, and entered into a special session through the early hours of July 1, 2016.

Gov. Jack Markell signed the budget bill at 5:15 a.m. Friday, marking the end of the state’s legislative proceedings for the year.

Lawmakers will return to Raleigh today to begin the 2016 short session of the North Carolina General Assembly. The session is expected to primarily address adjustments needed to the biennial budget.

The session is expected to adjourn in early July.

Photo of the North Carolina Legislative Building by Jayron32 on Wikimedia Commons.

The 109th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned sine die on Friday, April 22, 2016. The legislature approved a $34.9 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year and passed the governor’s proposal increasing school funding.

Just prior to adjournment, lawmakers were able to strip funding for the University of Tennessee’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion but failed to override Gov. Haslam’s veto of a bill declaring the Bible the official state book.

Photo of the Tennessee state capitol house floor by Ichabod on Wikimedia Commons.

Meeting today for its annual veto-session, the Virginia General Assembly turned its attention to ethics legislation amendments recommended by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Lawmakers recently passed identical bills, Senate Bill 692 and House Bill 1362, to roll back some of the changes made last year to restrictions on gifts from lobbyists.

McAuliffe proposed tightening the limits further and prohibiting bundling of gifts from multiple sources to avoid the threshold. The Senate, today, voted against adopting those proposals. The governor must now choose between signing or vetoing the bills as passed by both houses.

Photo of the Virginia State Capitol by Anderskev in Wikimedia Commons.

A bill to double contribution limits died in the Senate as the 2016 legislative session came to a close. The session adjourned Friday, April 15, 2016. House Bill 147 would have raised contribution limits to $2,000 to state candidates and $5,000 to political parties.

The State and Local Government Committee passed an amended version of the bill but the full Senate declined to act on it because of constitutionality concerns. Litigation is currently making its way through federal court to declare Kentucky’s contribution limits unconstitutional.

Lawmakers were successful, however, in passing a budget compromise but, because the session has ended, will not be able to override any items vetoed by the governor.

Lawmakers have agreed to push the final day of the 2016 legislative session from April 12 to April 15 so they can continue working out a deal on the state’s budget. The change was made to avoid a costly special session after negotiations failed Sunday evening.

The General Assembly is only permitted to convene one more day this year and must adjourn by April 15 at midnight. Leadership from both houses will continue closed-door negotiations, hoping to have an agreement ready for a vote on Friday.

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned late Monday, April 11, 2016, after passing legislation reforming the state’s criminal justice system.

Unable to pass legislation reducing the state’s income tax during the final hours of the session, some lawmakers suggested Gov. Hogan call a special session. In response, according to the Baltimore Sun, Hogan said, “These guys can’t seem to get their act together. I’m not sure that would change with a special session.”

A revolving door ban, prohibiting legislators from serving in office one day and returning as lobbyists the next, has been a priority for the Missouri General Assembly as it considers sweeping ethics reform legislation.

The House passed a bill earlier in the year barring lawmakers from lobbying for one year after leaving office. The Senate removed the waiting period and wanted legislators to simply finish their respective terms before becoming lobbyists.

After months of deliberation and negotiation, a conference committee reached an agreement Wednesday both sides are likely to approve. The compromise would prohibit legislators from working as paid lobbyists for six months after their terms expire.

If both houses approve the committee’s recommendations, the bill will be sent to Gov. Jay Nixon for final approval.

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

The General Assembly adjourned sine die following a long  final session day on Thursday, March 24, 2016.

Lawmakers worked just past their midnight deadline, sending several bills to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.

Any bills not passed by the adjournment deadline cannot become law.

Photo of the Georgia State Capitol dome by Connor.carey on Wikimedia Commons.

The North Carolina Legislature adjourned a special session on Wednesday, March 23, 2016.

Before adjourning, the Legislature ratified a bill to block local governments from enacting nondiscrimination ordinances regarding the use of public bathrooms.

North Carolina legislative leaders have announced a special legislative session convening Wednesday, March 23 to address a Charlotte nondiscrimination ordinance that would otherwise take effect April 1.

The regular session of the General Assembly is not scheduled to meet until April 25.

The Virginia General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 11, 2016, a day earlier than scheduled. Among its accomplishments is a new, two-year $105 billion budget and some adjustments to the new ethics rules passed last year.

If approved by the governor, lobbyists will file reports annually on July 1 for the preceding 12-month period, rather than the current semi-annual reporting, and items under $20 would be excluded from the definition of a gift.

Other, more extensive changes were proposed but were defeated in the House.

Photo of the Virginia State Capitol by Varmin on Wikimedia Commons.