September 23, 2019 •
West Virginia Special Session Ends
![West Virginia Special Session Ends](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/West-Virginia-Capitol-1000x563.jpg)
West Virginia Capitol Building - O Palsson
The Senate adjourned on Monday, bringing an end to the special legislative session. Gov. Jim Justice called the special session after legislators failed to agree on education proposals following a two-day teacher strike in February. The Senate adjourned its half […]
The Senate adjourned on Monday, bringing an end to the special legislative session.
Gov. Jim Justice called the special session after legislators failed to agree on education proposals following a two-day teacher strike in February.
The Senate adjourned its half of the special session during its scheduled interim meetings.
The House adjourned it’s session about two months ago.
September 18, 2019 •
California Legislative Session Adjourns
![California Legislative Session Adjourns](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/California-State-Capitol-1000x563.jpg)
California Capitol Building
The California Legislature adjourned the 2019 session on September 13. Campaign Finance Bills Passed The legislature passed several campaign finance bills during the session. Assembly Bill 220 prohibits the use of campaign funds to pay for professional services not directly […]
The California Legislature adjourned the 2019 session on September 13.
Campaign Finance Bills Passed
The legislature passed several campaign finance bills during the session.
Assembly Bill 220 prohibits the use of campaign funds to pay for professional services not directly related to a political, legislative, or governmental purpose. The bill also authorizes the use of campaign funds to pay for child care expenses resulting from a candidate or officeholder engaging in campaign activities or performing official duties.
Assembly Bill 571 makes a technical, nonsubstantive change to a provision of the Political Reform Act of 1974. The provision prohibits candidates for elective state office or committees controlled by that candidate from making a contribution to another candidate for elective state office in excess of $3,000.
Senate Bill 71 prohibits the expenditure of funds in a legal defense fund campaign account to pay or reimburse a candidate or elected officer for attorney’s fees or other legal costs.
The bill also prohibits the use of campaign funds for fines, penalties, judgments, or settlements, except as specified.
Electioneering Bill Passed
Assembly Bill 201 broadens the definition of mass mailing to include campaign-related mass texting. Mass text messages will be required to include the name or image of a candidate or refer to a ballot measure.
Lobbying Bill Passed
Assembly Bill 902 codifies current regulations into law, including regulations regarding filing deadlines, bookkeeping, and lobbyist registration.
The last day for the governor to sign or veto bills passed by the legislature during the 2019 legislative session is October 13.
September 17, 2019 •
New Hampshire Legislature to Reconvene for Veto Session
![New Hampshire Legislature to Reconvene for Veto Session](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/New-Hampshire-Capitol-1000x563.jpg)
New Hampshire State House - AlexiusHoratius
The General Court of New Hampshire is set to reconvene this week for a veto session over 55 bills vetoed by Gov. Chris Sununu. The Legislature will discuss bills relating to firearm sales, renewal energy, and campaign finance transparency. Lawmakers […]
The General Court of New Hampshire is set to reconvene this week for a veto session over 55 bills vetoed by Gov. Chris Sununu.
The Legislature will discuss bills relating to firearm sales, renewal energy, and campaign finance transparency.
Lawmakers will review Senate Bill 156 concerning political contributions by limited liability companies.
The bill requires political contributions made by a limited liability company to be allocated to members for the purpose of contribution limits.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to meet for two days on September 18 and 19. The Senate is scheduled for one day on Thursday, September 19.
September 11, 2019 •
Missouri Lawmakers Meet for Annual Veto Session
![Missouri Lawmakers Meet for Annual Veto Session](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Missouri-Capitol-Building-976x563.jpg)
Missouri Capitol Building
Missouri lawmakers are back in Jefferson City for the annual veto session, beginning September 11 at 12 p.m. at the Missouri State Capitol. The veto session gives lawmakers the ability to overturn any of Gov. Mike Parson’s six vetoes. Two […]
Missouri lawmakers are back in Jefferson City for the annual veto session, beginning September 11 at 12 p.m. at the Missouri State Capitol.
The veto session gives lawmakers the ability to overturn any of Gov. Mike Parson’s six vetoes.
Two widely debated vetoes include outdoor cremations and whether to let motorcyclists ride without a helmet.
A two-thirds vote in the House and the Senate is needed to overturn a veto.
The veto session is running at the same time as a special session, which Gov. Parson called to address a vehicle tax credit issue.
September 10, 2019 •
Utah Governor Calls Special Legislative Session
![Utah Governor Calls Special Legislative Session](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Utah-Capitol-Building-1-1000x563.jpg)
Utah Capitol Building - Jkinsocal
Gov. Gary Herbert called for a special session of the Utah Legislature to convene on September 16. The session will focus on issues related to dispensing medical cannabis, appropriating census funding, and making several other technical adjustments. Legislators will have […]
Gov. Gary Herbert called for a special session of the Utah Legislature to convene on September 16.
The session will focus on issues related to dispensing medical cannabis, appropriating census funding, and making several other technical adjustments.
Legislators will have an opportunity to discuss and receive public comments on the issues, deliberate on matters, and take possible action.
August 27, 2019 •
Maine Adjourns Special Session After Passing $105 Million Transportation Bond
![Maine Adjourns Special Session After Passing $105 Million Transportation Bond](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Janet-Mills-Twitter-1-808x563.jpg)
Maine Governor Janet Mills
Maine lawmakers voted to pass Gov. Janet Mills’ proposed $105 million bond to fund transportation efforts during the one-day special legislative session on Monday, August 26. The transportation bond to upgrade roads, bridges, ports, rail and air transportation, and to […]
Maine lawmakers voted to pass Gov. Janet Mills’ proposed $105 million bond to fund transportation efforts during the one-day special legislative session on Monday, August 26.
The transportation bond to upgrade roads, bridges, ports, rail and air transportation, and to repair culverts and restore a commercial fishing wharf will now head to the ballot for voters on November 5.
The three proposed bonds for land conservation projects; infrastructure and economic development; and environment and energy projects all failed to reach the two-thirds vote needed to pass.
August 26, 2019 •
Mills Hopes to See Four Bond Bills Passed in Maine Special Session
![Mills Hopes to See Four Bond Bills Passed in Maine Special Session](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Maine-Capitol-2-1000x563.jpg)
Maine Capitol Building
Maine Gov. Janet Mills issued a proclamation calling for a special legislative session to be held on Monday, August 26. The session will be used to consider bond proposals in transportation; infrastructure and economic development; environmental protection; and land conservation […]
Maine Gov. Janet Mills issued a proclamation calling for a special legislative session to be held on Monday, August 26.
The session will be used to consider bond proposals in transportation; infrastructure and economic development; environmental protection; and land conservation totaling $163 million.
The transportation proposal provides $105 million to upgrade roads, bridges, ports, rail and air transportation, and to repair culverts and restore a commercial fishing wharf.
The infrastructure and economic development proposal provides $23 million to be divided among education centers, the National Guard, and high-speed internet access in rural Maine.
The environmental protection proposal provides $15 million to be divided among the Department of Environmental Protection, the improvement of municipal wastewater infrastructures, and the Heating Fuels Efficiency and Weatherization Fund to provide low-interest loans for energy efficiency projects, including heat pumps for residential homeowners.
The land conservation proposal provides $20 million for the Land for Maine’s Future program to be dispersed over two years to preserve farmland, working waterfronts, and other natural resources.
Proposals passed during the special session will appear on the ballot on November 5.
Bonds need a two-thirds vote in each chamber to pass.
August 26, 2019 •
Tennessee Rep. Sexton Becomes Speaker in Single-Day Special Session
![Tennessee Rep. Sexton Becomes Speaker in Single-Day Special Session](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Tennessee-capitol-blog-1000x563.jpg)
Tennessee State Capitol Building
The Tennessee Legislature held a single-day special session to formally elect c as speaker of the House. Sexton, a Crossville Republican, had already been informally chosen for the role after a series of votes in a July caucus meeting. Sexton […]
The Tennessee Legislature held a single-day special session to formally elect c as speaker of the House.
Sexton, a Crossville Republican, had already been informally chosen for the role after a series of votes in a July caucus meeting.
Sexton replaces Glen Casada, who resigned from the speakership earlier this month.
August 20, 2019 •
Maine Gov. Mills Calls Special Session
![Maine Gov. Mills Calls Special Session](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Janet-Mills-Twitter-1-808x563.jpg)
Maine Governor Janet Mills
Maine Gov. Janet Mills has called a special session to begin on Monday, August 26. Mills hopes the Legislature will pass four bond bills totaling $163 million to raise funds for a variety of infrastructure projects. The Legislature rejected a […]
Maine Gov. Janet Mills has called a special session to begin on Monday, August 26.
Mills hopes the Legislature will pass four bond bills totaling $163 million to raise funds for a variety of infrastructure projects.
The Legislature rejected a more ambitious bond proposal backed by Mills before its June adjournment.
July 26, 2019 •
Kentucky Governor Signs Pension Bill as Special Session Ends
![Kentucky Governor Signs Pension Bill as Special Session Ends](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/The_south_facade_of_the_Kentucky_State_Capitol_building_located_in_Frankfort_Kentucky._Photographed_by_Tedd_Liggett_on_September_15_2018-1000x563.jpg)
The Kentucky State Capitol building
Gov. Matt Bevin signed a bill into law that allows Kentucky regional universities and “quasi” state agencies to avoid a massive spike in pension costs in exchange for exiting the state’s ailing pension systems. Bevin called a special legislative session […]
Gov. Matt Bevin signed a bill into law that allows Kentucky regional universities and “quasi” state agencies to avoid a massive spike in pension costs in exchange for exiting the state’s ailing pension systems.
Bevin called a special legislative session last week for lawmakers to address the issue after spending months working on the pension bill with Republican leaders of the legislature.
After Bevin signed the bill, the legislature ended the special session.
July 9, 2019 •
Virginia Special Session Adjourns Until After November Elections
![Virginia Special Session Adjourns Until After November Elections](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Virginia-Capitol-Building-1000x563.jpg)
Virginia Capitol Building - Ron Cogswell
The Virginia General Assembly convened and adjourned a special session. The session was called to consider stricter gun legislation in response to the Virginia Beach shootings on May 31. For the special session, Gov. Northam proposed eight bills. The Governors […]
The Virginia General Assembly convened and adjourned a special session.
The session was called to consider stricter gun legislation in response to the Virginia Beach shootings on May 31.
For the special session, Gov. Northam proposed eight bills.
The Governors bills included background checks on all firearm sales, a ban on dangerous weapons, and allowing only one handgun purchase a month.
Assembly leaders referred all of the governor’s bills to the state Crime Commission for a full review.
The General Assembly will reconvene November 18 to vote on the proposed bills.
July 1, 2019 •
Delaware General Assembly Adjourns Spring Session
![Delaware General Assembly Adjourns Spring Session](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Delaware-Capitol-1000x563.jpg)
Delaware Capitol Building
The 150th General Assembly adjourned for spring just after 1 a.m. on July 1. Traditionally, the General Assembly remains until midnight strikes on July 1 because the constitution restricts lawmakers from entering into a special session after June 30 unless […]
The 150th General Assembly adjourned for spring just after 1 a.m. on July 1.
Traditionally, the General Assembly remains until midnight strikes on July 1 because the constitution restricts lawmakers from entering into a special session after June 30 unless the session is recalled by the governor or the mutual call of both Houses.
Ending the session in the early hours of July 1 gives legislators the opportunity to go back into session before the regularly scheduled gathering in January without being summoned by the governor.
Legislation not passed by July 1 can be picked up in the next six months or when lawmakers return to the capitol on January 14, 2020.
June 27, 2019 •
Tennessee Calls Special Session on August 23
![Tennessee Calls Special Session on August 23](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Tennessee-Capitol-HD-1000x563.jpg)
Tennessee Capitol Building
Gov. Bill Lee announced that the General Assembly will convene for a special session on August 23. Lee released a statement on June 27 announcing that the primary purpose of the special session is to select a new Speaker of […]
Gov. Bill Lee announced that the General Assembly will convene for a special session on August 23.
Lee released a statement on June 27 announcing that the primary purpose of the special session is to select a new Speaker of the House following Glen Casada’s resignation.
In addition, Lee has asked the General Assembly to take up approval of recent amendments to the Supreme Court rules.
June 14, 2019 •
Alaska Legislature Adjourns First Special Session, Governor Calls Second
![Alaska Legislature Adjourns First Special Session, Governor Calls Second](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Alaska_State_Capitol_Building-1000x563.jpg)
Alaska State Capitol Buildling - Jay Galvin
Lawmakers ended their special session on June 13. The Legislature passed a capital budget bill but failed to reach the three-quarter threshold required to fund major provisions. Failure to reach the threshold left millions of dollars in projects unfunded and […]
Lawmakers ended their special session on June 13.
The Legislature passed a capital budget bill but failed to reach the three-quarter threshold required to fund major provisions.
Failure to reach the threshold left millions of dollars in projects unfunded and federal match money at risk.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy called a second special session in order to address the permanent fund dividends the Legislature also could not agree on.
The second special session will convene on July 8, at 1 p.m. in Wasilla.
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.