June 4, 2015 •
Connecticut Legislature Adjourns; Special Session Likely
The General Assembly adjourned sine die on June 3, 2015, shortly before its midnight deadline. Both chambers voted to return for a special session, however, to finish work on bills related to the budget. A date for the special session […]
The General Assembly adjourned sine die on June 3, 2015, shortly before its midnight deadline.
Both chambers voted to return for a special session, however, to finish work on bills related to the budget.
A date for the special session has not yet been set.
June 2, 2015 •
Nevada Legislature Adjourned Sine Die
The 2015 78th Regular Session of the Nevada Legislature adjourned sine die on June 1, 2015. Once the governor receives any remaining bills passed by the Legislature, he has 10 days to veto or sign the legislation. Photo of the […]
The 2015 78th Regular Session of the Nevada Legislature adjourned sine die on June 1, 2015. Once the governor receives any remaining bills passed by the Legislature, he has 10 days to veto or sign the legislation.
Photo of the Nevada Legislative Building by Ryan Jerz on Wikimedia Commons.
June 1, 2015 •
Texas Legislature Adjourns Sine Die
Today the Legislature adjourned sine die. Gov. Greg Abbott has 20 days after transmittal of bills sent at the end of the session to sign or veto the legislation. If the governor does not act on a bill, it becomes […]
Today the Legislature adjourned sine die. Gov. Greg Abbott has 20 days after transmittal of bills sent at the end of the session to sign or veto the legislation. If the governor does not act on a bill, it becomes law.
June 1, 2015 •
Special Session Scheduled for North Dakota Legislature
The North Dakota Legislature is set to reconvene for a special session on June 16, 2015. The House and Senate failed to reach an agreement during the regular session on a budget bill for the public employee retirement system and […]
The North Dakota Legislature is set to reconvene for a special session on June 16, 2015. The House and Senate failed to reach an agreement during the regular session on a budget bill for the public employee retirement system and the state retirement and investment office.
Only two days remain of the 80 legislative days allowed every two years, but leaders of both chambers are confident a compromise will be reached in time.
Photo of the North Dakota State Capitol by MatthewUND on Wikimedia Commons.
May 22, 2015 •
Minnesota Legislature Likely to Convene Special Session
The Minnesota Legislature will likely convene a special session after Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed the state’s education budget. Unless law makers can come to an agreement on an education budget before July 1, the state Department of Education will shut […]
The Minnesota Legislature will likely convene a special session after Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed the state’s education budget. Unless law makers can come to an agreement on an education budget before July 1, the state Department of Education will shut down.
The special session will likely convene in the coming weeks, but due to renovations at the Capitol, legislators will meet outside of their chambers. Minnesota law requires the Legislature to convene inside the city limits of St. Paul.
Dayton has until Saturday, May 23, 2015, to sign or veto any other budget bills, or let them become law without his signature.
Photo of the Minnesota State Capitol dome by Mulad on Wikimedia Commons.
May 20, 2015 •
Idaho Legislature Adjourns One-Day Special Session
The Idaho Legislature adjourned its special session Monday, May 18, 2015, just 12 hours after reconvening. Lawmakers returned to Boise to approve changes to federal child support rules. The bill has been sent to the governor who said he will […]
The Idaho Legislature adjourned its special session Monday, May 18, 2015, just 12 hours after reconvening.
Lawmakers returned to Boise to approve changes to federal child support rules.
The bill has been sent to the governor who said he will sign it into law.
May 19, 2015 •
Minnesota Legislature Adjourns
The Minnesota Legislature adjourned on May 18, 2015. Legislators scrambled to pass legislation minutes before the rigid midnight deadline. Gov. Mark Dayton has three days to accept or reject budget bills. Dayton has stated on several occasions he plans to […]
The Minnesota Legislature adjourned on May 18, 2015. Legislators scrambled to pass legislation minutes before the rigid midnight deadline. Gov. Mark Dayton has three days to accept or reject budget bills.
Dayton has stated on several occasions he plans to veto the education budget bill due to its lack of funding for half-day kindergarten. Should the governor veto that bill, a special session will be very likely.
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk considers the special session “inevitable”. However, the Capitol building is undergoing renovation and therefore will not be a feasible location for a special session, should the governor convene one.
Dayton suggested the potential special session be held in a tent on the lawn of the Capitol, while area hotels offered their facilities as an alternative.
Photo of the Minnesota State Capitol by Jonathunder on Wikimedia Commons.
May 11, 2015 •
Hawaii Legislature Adjourns Sine Die
The 28th Hawaii State Legislature adjourned sine die on May 7, 2015. Lawmakers passed a range of bills this year, including a 100 percent renewable energy goal for the state and a bill to establish a system of statewide medical […]
The 28th Hawaii State Legislature adjourned sine die on May 7, 2015.
Lawmakers passed a range of bills this year, including a 100 percent renewable energy goal for the state and a bill to establish a system of statewide medical marijuana dispensaries by next summer.
The legislature is expected to reconvene next January.
May 11, 2015 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying Illinois: “In Illinois Capitol, Lobbying Is a Growing Business” by Kurt Erickson for Quad City Times Nevada: “Bill Imposes Cooling-Off Period for Ex-Lawmakers” by Sandra Chereb for Las Vegas Review-Journal Vermont: “House Oks Bill Limiting Lobbyist Contributions during Session” […]
Lobbying
Illinois: “In Illinois Capitol, Lobbying Is a Growing Business” by Kurt Erickson for Quad City Times
Nevada: “Bill Imposes Cooling-Off Period for Ex-Lawmakers” by Sandra Chereb for Las Vegas Review-Journal
Vermont: “House Oks Bill Limiting Lobbyist Contributions during Session” by Erin Mansfield for VTDigger.org
Campaign Finance
“Hillary Clinton Embraces a ‘Super PAC,’ Trying to Erode a Republican Edge” by Maggie Haberman and Nicholas Confessore for New York Times
“The FEC’s ‘Non-Partisan’ Whistleblower” by Tarini Parti for Politico
Ethics
Florida: “Politicians Send Millions to Charity of Lobbyist’s Daughter” by Francisco Alvarado (BrowardBulldog.org) for Miami Herald
Indiana: “Expanded Disclosure, Ethics Rules Now Law” by Olivia Covington for WFYI
Massachusetts: “Brian Joyce Thrives at the Edge of a Fuzzy Boundary” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe
New York: “Scarborough Pleads Guilty Twice” by Brendan Lyons for Albany Times Union
Texas: “Government Contract Disclosure Bill Advances” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune
West Virginia: “‘Trinkets’ Defined as Ethics Commission Prepares for New WV Law” by Joel Ebert for Charleston Daily Mail
Legislative Issues
Hawaii: “Hawaii Lawmakers Quietly Dole Out Millions of Dollars in Grants” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat
May 7, 2015 •
Colorado General Assembly Adjourns Sine Die
The first regular session of the seventieth Colorado General Assembly adjourned sine die on Wednesday, May 6. Legislators sent roughly 50 bills to the Governor before adjourning hours shy of the midnight deadline. Measures passed include a tax increment financing […]
The first regular session of the seventieth Colorado General Assembly adjourned sine die on Wednesday, May 6. Legislators sent roughly 50 bills to the Governor before adjourning hours shy of the midnight deadline.
Measures passed include a tax increment financing bill giving counties, school boards, and special districts more say in how cities waive future tax dollars for urban renewal projects, a bill increasing the pay of the governor, other state executive officers, lawmakers, and county officials effective in 2019, and a bill to reduce standardized testing in Colorado public schools.
Photo of the Colorado State Capitol by Greg O’Beirne on Wikimedia Commons.
May 4, 2015 •
Florida Senate Joins House in Adjournment
The Florida Senate adjourned sine die on May 1, 2015, three days after the House abruptly ended its session early citing an impasse with the Senate over budget issues. Senate democrats, believing the move was in violation of the state […]
The Florida Senate adjourned sine die on May 1, 2015, three days after the House abruptly ended its session early citing an impasse with the Senate over budget issues.
Senate democrats, believing the move was in violation of the state constitution, filed a lawsuit with the state supreme court seeking a writ of mandamus to order the House back into session. While the court agreed the early adjournment was a clear violation, all seven justices concurred there was no plausible way to order the House back with so little time left in the session.
Nonetheless, democratic leaders lauded the ruling as important guidance for the future.
May 4, 2015 •
Idaho Governor Calls Special Session
Gov. Butch Otter announced a special legislative session will begin on May 18, 2015. After adjourning in early April, lawmakers will return to resolve amendments to a child support law. The law is a prerequisite for receiving federal funds to […]
Gov. Butch Otter announced a special legislative session will begin on May 18, 2015. After adjourning in early April, lawmakers will return to resolve amendments to a child support law.
The law is a prerequisite for receiving federal funds to assist in child support enforcement.
Legislators have until June 12 to come to an agreement.
Photo of the Idaho State Capitol by Maxbatt in Wikimedia Commons.
April 30, 2015 •
Indiana General Assembly Adjourns Sine Die
The 119th Indiana General Assembly adjourned its first regular session sine die on Wednesday, April 29. Lawmakers worked until the final minutes to shift authority over education policy matters and to pass a new two-year state budget. Despite its many […]
The 119th Indiana General Assembly adjourned its first regular session sine die on Wednesday, April 29. Lawmakers worked until the final minutes to shift authority over education policy matters and to pass a new two-year state budget.
Despite its many successes, however, the session will perhaps best be remembered for the March 26 signing of the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Photo of the Indiana Statehouse by HstryQT on Wikimedia Commons.
April 30, 2015 •
North Dakota Adjourns with Special Session Possible
The Legislature adjourned sine die on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, with the possibility of a special session to resolve differences in the budget bill for the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS). If NDPERS is not able to operate […]
The Legislature adjourned sine die on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, with the possibility of a special session to resolve differences in the budget bill for the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS).
If NDPERS is not able to operate through the 2015-17 biennium on a continuing appropriation, a special session will be necessary.
By adjourning on 78th day of the session, lawmakers allowed for a two-day special session without exceeding the 80-day limit.
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