Utah Gov. Gary Herbert will likely call a special session in mid-November to remedy a flawed road funding formula based on a statewide gas price increase.

The faulty gas tax bill was passed earlier this year in the Legislature’s general session to correct a mistake in the 2015 transportation funding reform. The 2016 bill was based on differing calculations resulting in a funding deficit for some cities and counties in the state.

No other items are expected to be added to the special session agenda.

In Utah, special sessions typically take place on the monthly interim study days with November 16 being the only such day remaining this year.

Photo of the Utah State Capitol by Robert Cutts on Wikimedia Commons.

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.

The provincial government cancelled the fall 2016 legislative session on the day it was scheduled to begin. Another session is not intended until February ahead of the May 9, 2017,  general election.

The Official Opposition is calling for the Legislature to meet in October to introduce the 2017 provincial budget and to address funding to remedy the current housing crisis and loopholes in the province’s rent control laws.

This is the third time in five years the fall session has been cancelled.

Photo of the main block of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings by Ryan Bushby on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Brian Sandoval has called a special legislative session beginning October 10 to discuss the proposed Las Vegas football stadium for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders.

The session is expected to also address education funding for the upcoming biennium, expansion of the Clark County convention center, and a sales tax increase for additional police in southern Nevada.

Photo of the Nevada Legislative Building by Dave Parker on Wikimedia Commons.

On September 29, 2016, Gov. Susana Martinez called a special session for September 30, 2016. The long-awaited proclamation will focus on fixing budget shortfalls and restoring the death penalty.

The ban on fundraising during regular or special session is a major concern for New Mexico legislators as the general election is on November 8, 2016. Per New Mexico law, all legislators are prohibited from soliciting a campaign contribution beginning when a proclamation has been issued and ending when the special session adjourns.

The adjournment date has yet to be determined.

Photo of Gov. Susana Martinez by the New Mexico State Government on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Dannel Malloy has summoned lawmakers back into a special session beginning Wednesday, September 28, 2016, to approve a deal with Sikorsky Aircraft.

The tentative agreement, worth $220 million in grants and tax exemptions, will keep the company in the state for the next 14 years.

Sikorsky has also committed to growing its Connecticut workforce to 8,000 individuals, and they will build nearly 200 CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters in-state.

Photo of the Connecticut State Capitol by jglazer75 on Wikimedia Commons.

A joint legislative session is tentatively scheduled to begin September 28, 2016. During the session, lawmakers will focus on legislation to assist with the opioid crisis affecting the state.

Gov. Tom Wolf initially contemplated a special session earlier in the summer, but opted for the joint session instead in hopes getting legislation to his desk before the November election.

While there are several bills in the pipeline already, new legislation could be introduced as well.

West Virginia’s special session adjourned sine die on September 20, 2016.

Lawmakers approved a bill allocating $85 million for flood relief and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed the bill yesterday.

Flood recovery is estimated to cost $339 million, with Federal Emergency Management Agency covering the majority of those costs.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin called a special legislative session that began September 18, 2016.

The session is expected to run through September 20 and is limited in scope to the issue of authorizing funds to cover flood recovery costs.

This is West Virginia’s second special session held in 2016.

The Hawaii Senate convened a third special session last week to confirm two judicial appointments.

The Senate confirmed one judicial appointment for the District Family Court of the Third Circuit and another for the District Court of the Fifth Circuit.

The two-day special session began Tuesday and adjourned Wednesday, September 14.

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.

See what’s happening in government relations this week with our Video Digest. Enjoy!

The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned a three-day extraordinary session on Wednesday, September 14.

Lawmakers repealed a drunken driving law threatening to cost the state $60 million in federal highway funding.  The U.S. Department of Transportation threatened to withhold the funds if the state did not change the maximum allowable blood alcohol content for drivers under 21 to comply with the federal zero-tolerance standard.

Lawmakers also expelled Rep. Jeremy Durham after at least 22 women accused him of improper sexual contact during his four years in office. Earlier this year, House Speaker Beth Harwell moved Durham across the street from the main legislative office building and limited his access to the main buildings to official legislative business. Because he did not serve enough time in the House, he is no longer eligible to receive a state pension.

Photo of the Tennessee State Capitol by Ichabod on Wikimedia Commons.