Session Updates
Oregon | January 31, 2012 Regular Session Convenes Lawmakers will convene Wednesday to begin the 2012 regular session, the first regular even-year session since voters approved the practice in 2010. Lawmakers are expected to consider several proposals from Governor John Kitzhaber (D); including implementation of federal health care reforms, requiring school districts to adhere to an annual "achievement compact," and increased funding for children and families. Lawmakers also are expected to consider the state budget, job growth and economic development, regulating the state timber harvest, foreclosure assistance, and tax reform. Measures expected to be introduced but not heavily debated include corporate tax decreases, extended tax increases on the wealthy, and a ban on concealed handguns in public buildings. Lawmakers expect to wrap up the session by February 29. Find out more: |
Utah | January 23, 2012 2012 Session Begins Lawmakers convene today to begin the 2012 regular session. Legislators are expected to consider a projected $13 billion state budget, improved technology for school students, illegal immigration, and infrastructure improvements. Also on the agenda is corporate tax easing to foster economic development, and states rights issues such as whether to attempt to seize federal lands for state purposes. Lawmakers are scheduled to wrap up the session March 8.
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Minnesota | January 23, 2012 Regular Session Reconvenes Lawmakers return to St. Paul Tuesday to begin the 2012 regular session. Legislators are expected to focus on the state budget, although a deficit is not projected for this year. Also on the agenda is whether to build a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings football team, job creation and economic development, a $775 million bond package for infrastructure improvements, voter ID, and "right to work" legislation. The legislature is expected to adjourn the regular session in late May.
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Hawaii | January 18, 2012 Regular Session Convenes Lawmakers return today to convene the 2012 regular session. Legislators are expected to focus on job creation and economic development, continuation of the Clean Energy Initiative to develop and sustain renewable energy, information technology infrastructure improvements, and education funding. The legislature is expected to adjourn in early May.
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| New Mexico  | January 17, 2012 Regular Session Convenes Lawmakers return to Santa Fe today for the 2012 regular session. Legislators are expected to address issues such as whether to issue drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. Also on the agenda is voter identification, whether to create a business income tax, ethics reform, and a measure to define homeowner rights in foreclosure proceedings. The 30-day session is scheduled to adjourn February 16.
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Alaska | January 17, 2012 2012 Session Starts Lawmakers reconvene today for the 2012 regular session. The legislature is expected to consider Governor Sean Parnell's (R) proposal to decrease the oil tax to spur economic development. Legislators also are expected to vote on a ban on texting while driving, appropriating funds for education, settling the unfunded pension liability, and whether to extend the film incentive and coastal management programs. A measure to extend the legislative session from 90 to 120 days also will be on the agenda. The regular session is scheduled to adjourn April 15.
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| West Virginia  | January 11, 2012 2012 Session Starts Lawmakers return to Charleston today to convene the 2012 regular session. Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (D) will give his state-of-the-state address this evening, where he is expected to advocate education spending, Marcellus Shale development, health care, and combating substance abuse. Legislators will likely consider economic issues such as economic development, while the GOP minority has suggested consideration of drug testing for welfare recipients and tax decreases. The session is scheduled to adjourn March 11.
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Virginia | January 11, 2012 2012 Session Convenes Lawmakers will convene in Richmond today to begin the 2012 regular session. A battle is expected over whether Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling (R) is constitutionally able to break the current 20-20 tie in the Senate to give the GOP an effective majority. The General Assembly is expected to consider Governor Bob McDonnell’s (R) $85 billion state budget, job creation and economic development, increased spending in education, lifting a 30-year-old moratorium on uranium mining, and a $110 million shift in funding for infrastructure improvements. The session is scheduled to adjourn March 11.
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Maryland | January 11, 2012 Regular Session Begins The Maryland General Assembly convenes today in Annapolis. Lawmakers are expected to focus on passing the state budget, as well as gambling expansion. Also slated for discussion are issues such as job growth and economic development, infrastructure improvements, tax increases on gas and sewer usage, creation of an off-shore wind farm, and allowing same-sex marriage. The session is slated to adjourn early April.
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Colorado | January 11, 2012 2012 Session Convenes Lawmakers meet today in Denver to usher in the 2012 regular session. The session is expected to focus primarily on the state's budget deficit. Legislators also are expected to consider other issues, including job creation and economic development, fracking rules for oil and gas drilling, whether to allow a voter-approved property-tax break for senior citizens to proceed. The session is scheduled to adjourn May 9.
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Tennessee | January 10, 2012 2012 Session Convenes Lawmakers in the Volunteer State will re-convene today to begin the 2012 regular session. Legislators are expected to consider redistricting from the 2010 census, job creation and economic development, elimination of the death tax, and unemployment insurance reforms. Also on the agenda is allowing grocery stores to sell wine, amending anti-bullying laws to protect religious organizations, and an overhaul of the Open Meetings Act. The regular session is slated to adjourn in May.
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| South Dakota  | January 10, 2012 2012 Regular Session Starts Lawmakers will convene today in Pierre to begin the 2012 session, where the legislature is expected to hear Governor Dennis Daugaards' (R) State of the State address. Legislators also are expected to consider a texting-while-driving ban, a pay raise for state employees, advance notification of the staffing levels at day-care centers, and increased Medicaid funding. Also on the agenda is consideration of the public education funding formula, enhanced penalties for speeding, and prevention of funding for abortions. The legislature is scheduled to adjourn March 19.
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| South Carolina  | January 10, 2012 2012 Session Convenes Lawmakers in the Palmetto State will re-convene today for the 2012 regular session. The legislature is expected to address an estimated $900 million budget surplus and consider issues such as tax reform, job creation measures, an overhaul of the school funding formula, and reform of state retirement system. The legislature is expected to adjourn by mid-June.
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| New Jersey  | January 10, 2012 2010-2011 Session Adjourns; 2012-2013 Session Convenes Lawmakers will officially conclude the 2010-2011 regular session and start the 2012-2013 session today in Trenton. The new session begins on a note of sadness, as Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R) died late yesterday evening, prompting Governor Chris Christie (R) to postpone his state-of-the-state address. As the 2010-11 session concluded, legislators were able to reach agreement on allowing private companies to run up to 12 public schools in large cities, a delay on new drinking water protection, and increased requirements for teen drivers. Legislators also approved increased sports betting, direct wine sales to consumers, and a ban on political fundraising on public property. However, lawmakers could not agree on teacher tenure reform, private school vouchers, and lifting a requirement for towns to post legal ads in newspapers. Legislative leaders have indicated that their two priorities for the new session are measures to allow same-sex marriage and an increase in the minimum wage. Find out more: |
Florida | January 10, 2012 Regular Session Begins The Florida Legislature convenes today, with lawmakers focusing on two main issues: redistricting from the 2010 census, and closing an estimated $2 billion budget deficit without resorting to tax increases. Legislators also are expected to address fraud in the no-fault auto insurance system; establishing three new casinos, and applying the sales tax to online purchases of such items as books and clothing. The regular session is expected to adjourn March 9.
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Delaware | January 10, 2012 2012 Session Starts Lawmakers will re-convene today in Dover to begin the 2012 regular session. The legislature is expected to hear Governor Jack Markell's (D) budget address later this month and then begin consideration of proposals to address the current deficit. Legislators also are slated to consider a ban on "bath salts" and reducing Medicaid costs. The General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn in late June.
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Washington | January 09, 2012 2012 Session Starts The legislature convenes today in Olympia for the 2012 regular session. Lawmakers are expected to begin consideration of proposals to address the state’s estimated $1.5 billion budget deficit, with Governor Christine Gregoire (D) proposing a half-cent sales tax increase to forestall additional cuts to education and social programs for the elderly. Legislators also are likely to consider legalization of marijuana, infrastructure improvements by way of a gas tax increase, and legal recognition of same-sex marriage. The legislature is slated to adjourn by mid-March. Find out more: |
Kansas | January 09, 2012 2012 Session Convenes Lawmakers will re-convene today to gavel in the 2012 regular session. Besides the state budget, legislators are expected to consider Governor Sam Brownback's (R) plan to expand Medicaid’s managed care system, conservation-minded changes in water laws, and school finance reform proposal which eliminates local property tax increase caps. Also on the agenda is a plan to put all state workers on a 401(k)-style retirement plan, redistricting from the 2012 census, and informing potential breast cancer patients of the availability of additional screenings. The legislature is expected to adjourn by late April. Find out more: |
Iowa | January 09, 2012 2012 Session Starts Lawmakers in the Hawkeye State will convene today to begin the 2012 regular session. Lawmakers are expected to focus primarily on a property tax relief package as well as mental health and education reforms. Legislators also are expected to consider a proposal to extend representatives’ terms from two to four years, reduction in hunting fees for veterans, and an increase in the fuel tax. The legislature is slated to adjourn in mid-April.
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Idaho | January 09, 2012 2012 Regular Session Starts Lawmakers in the Gem State convene today to begin the 2012 session. The legislature is expected to consider several issues, but is primarily focusing on the budget, with priority given to public education, health care, and economic growth. The legislature is also expected to consider the establishment of a state health care exchange and infrastructure improvements such as an aquifer recharge. The legislature will likely adjourn by late April.
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