State Legislature Session Durations
The duration of state legislative sessions can range from a few weeks every other year to nearly year-round. Here’s everything you need to know.
There are many similarities between state legislative processes, everyone (except Nebraska) has two chambers that work together to create laws. But one of the most distinctive features setting them apart is the length of their legislative sessions. The duration of these sessions can range from a few weeks every other year to nearly year-round.
Why it matters: If you want something passed in a state that has a bi-annual session with a limited number of days, you have to be patient and be VERY prepared to get things passed when they can. Or if a state session goes year-round, you need to pay attention to the legislation coming out most of the year.
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The size and demographic diversity of a state's population can influence the length of its legislative session. States with more extensive populations or unique regional concerns may require more extensive sessions. Some states, such as California, convene for nearly year-round sessions. This constant governance is partly due to their substantial populations and the sheer volume of legislative work.
Tradition also plays a crucial role in determining session length. Older states with long-established practices, like Massachusetts and Virginia, often have shorter sessions, reflecting a historical legacy of efficient lawmaking.
Budget takes a lot of time: In many states, the primary purpose of legislative sessions is to pass a budget. States with shorter, annual sessions often focus on budgetary matters, while those with longer sessions can delve into broader policy issues.
Costs: Some states maintain part-time legislatures, with brief sessions focused on specific tasks. This system is often viewed as cost-effective, as lawmakers are not in session year-round.
Time or not for complex issues: The length of sessions can also be influenced by the complexity of the issues. States with more intricate, nuanced problems may require more time for deliberation and debate.
Citizen legislators: States with citizen legislatures, where lawmakers have other primary occupations outside of politics, often meet for shorter periods. This setup is designed to accommodate legislators' other commitments.
Start: The Alabama legislature convenes for the regular annual sessions on the first Tuesday in February. The first year of the four-year term session begins on the first Tuesday in March. The last year of a four-year term, when the session will begin on the second Tuesday in January.
Length: The Alabama legislature is limited to 30 legislative days in 105 calendar days.
Start: The Alaska legislature usually convenes on the third Tuesday in January.
Length: The Alaska legislature is limited to 90 calendar days
Start: The Arizona legislature convenes on the second Monday in January.
Length: The Arizona legislature is limited to the Saturday of the last week in which the 100th calendar day falls.
Start: The Arkansas legislature convenes on the second Monday of every other year.
Length: Odd-numbered years are limited to 60 days. Even-numbered years are limited to 30 days.
Start: The California legislature convenes on the first Monday in December of even-numbered years.
Length: The California legislature ends even-numbered years on November 30th. The odd-numbered years there is no set limit for the session.
Start: The Colorado legislature convenes on the second Wednesday in January.
Length: The Colorado legislature is limited to 120 calendar days.
Start: The Connecticut legislative session convenes in odd-numbered years on the Wednesday following the first Monday of January. In an even-numbered year, it convenes on the Wednesday following the first Monday of February.
Length: The sessions are limited to the Wednesday after the first Monday in June on odd-numbered years and the Wednesday after the first Monday in May on even-numbered years.
Start: The Delaware legislative session convenes on the second Tuesday of January and meets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Length: The Delaware legislative session ends on June 30 of each year.
Start: The Florida legislative session convenes on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March.
Length: The Florida legislative session is limited to 60 calendar days.
Start: The Georgia legislative session convenes on the second Monday in January.
Length: The Georgia legislative session is limited to 40 legislative days
Start: The Hawaii legislative session convenes on the third Wednesday of January.
Length: The Hawaii legislative session is limited to 60 legislative days.
Start: The Idaho legislative session convenes on the Monday on or closest to January 9th.
Length: The Idaho session doesn’t have a set time limit.
Start: The Illinois legislative session convenes on the second Wednesday in January.
Length: The Illinois session doesn’t have a set time limit.
Start: The Indiana legislative session convenes on the Tuesday following the second Monday in January.
Length: On odd-numbered years the Indiana legislative session is limited to 61 days and 30 days on even-numbered years.
Start: The Iowa legislative session convenes on the second Monday in January.
Length: On odd-numbered years the Iowa legislative session is limited to 110 days and 100 days on even-numbered years.
Start: The Kansas legislative session convenes on the second Monday in January.
Length: On odd-numbered years the Kansas legislative session has no limit and a 90-day limit on even-numbered years.
Start: The Kentucky legislative session convenes on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January.
Length: On odd-numbered years the Kentucky legislative session has a 30-day limit and a 60-day limit on even-numbered years.
Start: The Louisiana legislative session convenes on the second Monday in March and in odd-numbered years it convenes on the second Monday in April.
Length: On odd-numbered years the Louisiana legislative session has a 45-day limit and a 60-day limit on even-numbered years.
Start: The Maine legislative session convenes on the first Wednesday in December. The second session begins the first Tuesday in January of the next year.
Length: On odd-numbered years the Maine legislative session ends on the third Wednesday in June and the third Wednesday in April on even-numbered years.
Start: The Maryland legislative session convenes on the second Wednesday in January.
Length: The Maryland legislative session is limited to 90 legislative days.
Start: The Massachusetts legislative session convenes on the first Wednesday in January.
Length: On odd-numbered years the Massachusetts legislative session finishes on the third Wednesday in November and the end of the calendar year on even-numbered years.
Start: The Michigan legislative session convenes on the second Wednesday in January.
Length: The Michigan session doesn’t have a set time limit.
Start: The Minnesota legislative session convenes on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January of each odd-numbered year unless the first Monday in January falls on January 1st when it meets on the first Wednesday after the first Monday.
Length: The Minnesota legislative session is limited to 120 legislative days in two years, or the 1st Monday after the 3rd Saturday in May each year.
Start: The Mississippi legislative session convenes the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January.
Length: The Mississippi legislative ends in 90 calendar days except after a governor election it is 125 days.
Start: The Missouri legislative session convenes on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January.
Length: The Missouri legislature sessions end on May 30.
Start: The Montana legislative session convenes on the first Monday in January of each odd-numbered year or if January 1st is a Monday on the first Wednesday.
Length: The Montana legislature sessions are limited to 90 legislative days in two years.
Start: The Nebraska legislative session convenes on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January.
Length: On odd-numbered years the Nebraska legislative session has a 90-day limit and a 60-day limit on even-numbered years.
Start: The Nevada legislative session convenes on the first Monday in February.
Length: The Nevada legislature is limited to 120 calendar days in two years.
Start: The New Hampshire legislative session convenes on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday in January.
Length: The New Hampshire legislature is limited to 45 legislative days or July 1st.
Start: The New Jersey legislative session convenes on the second Tuesday in January.
Length: There is no set limit for the New Jersey session.
Start: The New Mexico legislative session convenes on the third Tuesday in January of each
Length: On odd-numbered years the New Mexico legislative session has a 60-day limit and a 30-day limit on even-numbered years.
Start: The New Mexico legislative session convenes on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of the new year.
Length: There is no set limit for the New York session.
Start: The North Carolina legislative session convenes on the third Wednesday after the second Monday in January.
Length: There is no set limit for the North Carolina session.
Start: The North Dakota legislative session convenes on the second Tuesday in January of odd-numbered years.
End: The North Dakota legislature can only meet for 80 legislative days in two years.
Start: The Ohio legislative session convenes on the first Monday in January in each odd-numbered year.
Length: There is no set limit for the Ohio session.
Start: The Oklahoma legislative session convenes on the first Monday in February of each year.
Length: The Oklahoma legislature session is limited to the last Friday in May of each year.
Start: The Oregon legislative session convenes on the second Monday in January.
Length: On odd-numbered years the Oregon legislative session has a 160-day limit and a 35-day limit on even-numbered years.
Start: The Pennsylvania legislative session convenes on the first Tuesday of January of each year.
Length: There is no set limit for the Pennsylvania session.
Start: The Rhode Island legislative session convenes on the first Tuesday of January each year.
Length: There is no set limit for the Rhode Island session.
Start: The South Carolina legislative session convenes on the second Tuesday in January.
Length: The South Carolina legislative stops on the second Thursday in May.
Start: The South Dakota legislative session convenes on the second Tuesday in January.
Length: The South Dakota legislature is limited to 40 legislative days.
Start: The Tennessee legislative session convenes on the second Tuesday of January.
Length: The Tennessee legislature is limited to 90 legislative days.
Start: The Texas legislative session convenes on the second Tuesday in January of odd-numbered years.
Length: The Texas legislature is limited to 140 calendar days in two years.
Start: The Utah legislative session convenes on the first Tuesday after the third Monday in January.
Length: The Utah legislature is limited to 45 calendar days.
Start: The Vermont legislative session convenes on the first Wednesday following the first Monday in January of odd-numbered years or the first Tuesday of even-numbered years
Length: There is no set limit for the Vermont session.
Start: The Virginia legislative session convenes on the first Wednesday following the first Monday of January on odd-numbered years or the first Tuesday on even-number years.
Length: On odd-numbered years the Virginia legislative session has a 30-day limit and a 60-day limit on even-numbered years.
Start: The Washington legislative session convenes on the second Monday in January each year.
Length: On odd-numbered years the Washington legislative session has a 105-day limit and a 60-day limit on even-numbered years.
Start: The West Virginia legislative session convenes on the second Wednesday of January.
Length: The West Virginia legislature is limited to 60 calendar days.
Start: The Wisconsin legislative session convenes on the second Tuesday in January.
Length: There is no set limit for the Wisconsin session.
Start: The Wyoming legislative session convenes on the second Tuesday in January.
Length: The Wyoming Legislature meets for approximately 20 days in even-numbered years for a Budget Session. The Legislature can only meet 60 days every two years.
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