The Florida Legislature will return for a special session from June 1 to June 20, 2015. Among the topics on the agenda is the state budget, a major point of contention between the two chambers.

The House recently adjourned the regular session early, citing an insurmountable disagreement with the Senate over expanding Medicaid.

A compromise must be reached prior to July 1, the beginning of the state’s fiscal year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The first session of the 29th Alaska State Legislature adjourned on Monday, April 27 after a week of frustrating budget negotiations. A deal was passed to fund the government through the fall.

Following adjournment, Gov. Bill Walker immediately called a special session; the session began today at 10:00 a.m.

Walker is not willing to accept a budget if it does not cover the full year. He ordered the special session to allow legislators an opportunity to discuss a fully funded state budget and consider pending legislation for Erin’s Law as well as Medicaid reform and expansion.

Photo of the Alaska State House of Representatives chamber by L’Aquatique on Wikimedia Commons.

The Montana Senate and the House both adjourned sine die on April 28, 2015.

Governor Steve Bullock, who does not have a pocket veto, has 10 days upon delivery to sign, veto, or recommend amendments to bills. The Legislature, which meets in regular session for 90 working days in every odd-numbered year, will have its next regular session in 2017.

Photo of the Montana State Capitol by Maksim on Wikimedia Commons.

The 2015 regular session of the Washington State Legislature adjourned sine die on April 26, 2015.

However, legislators did not come to an agreement on the state’s budget.

Therefore, the Legislature will convene a special session on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, in order to complete the budget process.

Photo of the Washington State Capitol by Nicopoley on Wikimedia Commons.

The Legislature formally adjourned sine die on April 22, 2015, but with the possibility of a special session later this year.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has indicated he will likely call legislators back to address the state’s Medicaid expansion.

A legislative task force is expected to issue a recommendation for an alternative program to the state’s private option Medicaid expansion.

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

The Washington State Legislature appears to be headed to a special session if state lawmakers cannot come to an agreement on the state budget before April 26, 2015, the session deadline set by the state constitution.

The source of the disagreement stems from public school funding in light of recent state Supreme Court case McCleary v. State of Washington, where the Court mandated a new funding scheme for public schools by the end of the 2015 legislative session.

Gov. Jay Inslee acknowledged the need for a special session but indicated details have not been discussed.

Photo of the Washington State Capitol by Nikopoley on Wikimedia Commons.

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker hinted at a possible special session if the Legislature does not act on Medicaid expansion before the session’s scheduled end on Sunday.

Walker considers expansion necessary while many legislators have concerns about adding thousands of people to what some consider an already broken system.

If legislators run out of time without addressing the issue, Walker said he plans to simply put more time on the clock.

Photo of the Alaska State Capitol by Jay Galvin on Wikimedia Commons.

The Legislature adjourned sine die on April 2, 2015, after the House finalized work on two bills passed by the Senate.

Photo of the Mississippi State Capitol by Shawn Lea on Wikimedia Commons.

On April 3, the Arizona Legislature adjourned its regular session sine die.

Gov. Doug Ducey has until April 15 to sign or veto legislation.

The governor does not have a pocket veto.

Photo of the Arizona State Capitol by Jeff Dean on Wikimedia Commons.