July 24, 2017 •
Rauner Threatens to Call Lawmakers Back to Springfield
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is threatening to call lawmakers back to Springfield if he does not receive Senate Bill 1, an education funding reform bill, before noon today. Legislators already passed the bill but chose not to send it to […]
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is threatening to call lawmakers back to Springfield if he does not receive Senate Bill 1, an education funding reform bill, before noon today.
Legislators already passed the bill but chose not to send it to the governor after Rauner promised to amendatory veto the legislation to remove grant funding for Chicago Public School pensions.
Some lawmakers are seeking ways to avoid convening an expensive legislative session and have, instead, suggested a meeting between legislative leadership and the governor.
July 14, 2017 •
Hawaii Lawmakers Plan for Special Legislative Session
Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi and House Speaker Scott Saiki recently sent a memorandum to the Hawaii Legislature providing notice of a tentatively scheduled special legislative session. Subject to final confirmation and an agreement on the proposed language for bills […]
Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi and House Speaker Scott Saiki recently sent a memorandum to the Hawaii Legislature providing notice of a tentatively scheduled special legislative session.
Subject to final confirmation and an agreement on the proposed language for bills to be discussed, the leadership asked all lawmakers to be in Hawaii for a legislative session from August 28 to September 1, 2017.
The purpose of the special session will be to create a solution to fund the Honolulu Rail Transit Project.
June 19, 2017 •
Alaska Convenes Second Special Session
The Alaska Legislature’s first special session ran out of time on June 16 without lawmakers passing a budget bill to resolve the state’s annual $2.7 billion deficit. Gov. Bill Walker immediately called a second special session convening that same day […]
The Alaska Legislature’s first special session ran out of time on June 16 without lawmakers passing a budget bill to resolve the state’s annual $2.7 billion deficit.
Gov. Bill Walker immediately called a second special session convening that same day to address the budget.
Alaska faces a government shutdown if a budget is not adopted by July 1.
June 12, 2017 •
Kansas Legislature Adjourns Regular Session
The Kansas Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session on June 10, 2017. The session went 13 days beyond the scheduled 100 days, but lawmakers finally approved a two-year budget. Lead by a group of moderate Republicans and Democrats, a $1.2 […]
The Kansas Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session on June 10, 2017. The session went 13 days beyond the scheduled 100 days, but lawmakers finally approved a two-year budget.
Lead by a group of moderate Republicans and Democrats, a $1.2 billion tax increase will reverse spending cuts spearheaded by Gov. Sam Brownback in 2012. Many on both sides of the aisle believe these cuts failed to kick-start the state’s economy as promised.
Lawmakers could be called into a special session in July, however, if a funding formula for public schools does not satisfy the state’s supreme court.
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 1, 2017 •
Alaska Budget Gridlock Threatens to Layoff State Employees
The Alaska Legislature is still at work trying to pass a budget bill to resolve the state’s annual $2.7 billion deficit. Alaska faces a government shutdown if a budget is not adopted by July 1, and the governor’s administration already […]
The Alaska Legislature is still at work trying to pass a budget bill to resolve the state’s annual $2.7 billion deficit.
Alaska faces a government shutdown if a budget is not adopted by July 1, and the governor’s administration already sent 30-day layoff warnings to state employees.
Because the legislative session is extending into the month of June, an additional monthly expenditure report for registered legislative lobbyists will be due on July 31, 2017.
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 22, 2017 •
Alaska Government Shutdown Looms as Lawmakers Unable to Compromise
Gov. Bill Walker ordered Alaska legislators into a special session just minutes after the regular session adjourned. Lawmakers have been unable to agree on how to resolve the state’s annual $2.7 billion deficit. Majority House Democrats proposed a state income […]
Gov. Bill Walker ordered Alaska legislators into a special session just minutes after the regular session adjourned.
Lawmakers have been unable to agree on how to resolve the state’s annual $2.7 billion deficit. Majority House Democrats proposed a state income tax as well as cuts to oil and gas subsidies, while Republicans in the Senate Majority favored budget cuts and spending from the Permanent Fund’s investment earnings.
Alaska’s fiscal year begins July 1, giving lawmakers just over a month to make a deal.
May 19, 2017 •
Vermont Legislature Adjourns, Special Session Likely
The Vermont Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session today, May 19, 2017. Lawmakers delayed adjournment by more than a week as they continued negotiations on the state budget. The budget includes a health insurance savings program for teachers, as demanded […]
The Vermont Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session today, May 19, 2017. Lawmakers delayed adjournment by more than a week as they continued negotiations on the state budget.
The budget includes a health insurance savings program for teachers, as demanded by Gov. Phil Scott in the eleventh hour of the session. With little time to create the proposal, the final version passed by both houses is expected to meet the governor’s veto stamp and the specter of a special session looms.
Also passed by both houses, and awaiting the governor’s action, is a bill to establish a state ethics commission and a state code of ethics.
May 9, 2017 •
Florida Adjourns Legislative Session
The Florida Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session on Monday, May 8, 2017. Lawmakers extended the session an extra day after failing to reach an agreement on the state budget, despite Republican majorities in both houses. The $82.4 billion budget […]
The Florida Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session on Monday, May 8, 2017.
Lawmakers extended the session an extra day after failing to reach an agreement on the state budget, despite Republican majorities in both houses.
The $82.4 billion budget was $1.1 billion less than Gov. Rick Scott’s proposal, leaving open the possibility of at least a partial veto.
A special session also remains possible to deal with implementing the medical marijuana amendment passed by voters last year.
April 27, 2017 •
West Virginia Special Session Called to Address Budget
On April 26, Gov. Jim Justice called for a special session set to convene May 4 to approve a budget plan. The state currently faces a $500 million shortfall in the 2018 fiscal year budget and there is little consensus […]
On April 26, Gov. Jim Justice called for a special session set to convene May 4 to approve a budget plan. The state currently faces a $500 million shortfall in the 2018 fiscal year budget and there is little consensus among lawmakers on how to address the deficit.
The fiscal year begins July 1, and a budget bill needs passed prior to that date or the state government will face a shut down.
April 27, 2017 •
Iowa Adjourns Sine Die
The Iowa General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 22, 2017. Legislators approved a state budget of $7.293 billion, effective for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018. Gov. Terry Branstad must sign or veto any bills received in the […]
The Iowa General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 22, 2017. Legislators approved a state budget of $7.293 billion, effective for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018.
Gov. Terry Branstad must sign or veto any bills received in the last three calendar days of the legislative session within 30 calendar days.
April 27, 2017 •
Indiana Adjourns Sine Die
The 2017 Indiana General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 22, 2017. Gov. Eric Holcomb has until April 29 to take action on any bills presented to him. In Indiana, if no action is taken within seven days of presentment, […]
The 2017 Indiana General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 22, 2017.
Gov. Eric Holcomb has until April 29 to take action on any bills presented to him. In Indiana, if no action is taken within seven days of presentment, bills automatically become law.
Photo of the Indiana Statehouse by HstryQT on Wikimedia Commons.
April 27, 2017 •
Mississippi Governor Calls Special Session
Gov. Phil Bryant announced a special session of the state legislature will begin on June 5, 2017. Lawmakers will continue work on the budget for fiscal year 2018 left unfinished at the end of the regular session. Gov. Bryant, who […]
Gov. Phil Bryant announced a special session of the state legislature will begin on June 5, 2017. Lawmakers will continue work on the budget for fiscal year 2018 left unfinished at the end of the regular session.
Gov. Bryant, who has sole authority to call special sessions and set the agenda, will announce other issues, if any, the session will cover closer to June 5.
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.