Session Updates
| New Mexico  | February 16, 2012 Regular Session Adjourns Lawmakers adjourned the 2012 regular session Thursday after reaching agreement on a $5.6 billion state budget, funding for infrastructure improvements, and a measure to provide tax breaks for businesses that hire returning veterans. Legislators also approved Governor Susana Martinez' (R) tax incentives for the construction and manufacturing industries and an overhaul of a state agency that regulates utilities, telecommunications, and insurance. As the session ended, lawmakers did not reach agreement on Governor Martinez' educational initiatives to promote teacher responsibility tied to student achievement and her proposal to prohibit illegal immigrants from obtaining drivers licenses. The governor -- who possesses a pocket veto -- has until March 7 to sign or veto legislation that reaches her desk. Find out more: |
Wyoming | February 13, 2012 Budget Session Begins Lawmakers will convene today for the 2012 budget session. Governor Matt Mead (R) and several legislative leaders have indicated that the focus will be on halting the usual increase of the state budget, especially with economists projecting an approximate $115 million decrease in revenues. Governor Mead's budget calls for $17 million in spending cuts while keeping agency expenditures at or slightly below the previous year's levels. Other legislation on the limited agenda includes redistricting, a statewide school support and evaluation system, increased motor vehicle fees and higher state speed limit to 80 mph, prohibiting localities from enacting firearms legislation, and a plan to remove wolves from the federal endangered species list. Introduction of non-budget legislation requires a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers. The session is expected to adjourn by March 9. Find out more: |
Arkansas | February 13, 2012 Budget Session Convenes Lawmakers will convene today in Little Rock for the budget session and are slated to consider Governor Mike Beebe's (D) $4.7 billion state budget that increases Medicaid and education funding. Legislators also are likely to consider a limited number of non-budget bills, including reconsideration of a $4 million sales tax break for truckers, enhanced criminal penalties for sex offenders, and ratification of a federal constitutional amendment that would require federal debt increases to be approved by the majority of the states. The budget session is slated to adjourn March 2.
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Connecticut | February 08, 2012 2012 Session Begins Lawmakers return today to Hartford to convene the 2012 regular session. Legislators are expected to consider the $20 billion state budget, an overhaul of early-childhood public education, a ban on Sunday alcohol sales, and an increase of the minimum wage. Also on the agenda is same-day voter registration, red-light traffic cameras, and abolition of the death penalty. Lawmakers are not expected to take up legalized online gambling. Governor Dan Malloy will deliver his state-of-the-state address today at noon. The regular session is scheduled to adjourn May 9. Find out more: |
Alabama | February 07, 2012 Regular Session Convenes Lawmakers will convene today in Montgomery to begin the 2012 regular session. Aside from the annual process of crafting a state budget, legislators are expected to consider the establishment of charter schools and tax incentives for new industries to foster job growth and economic development. Also on the agenda are bond issues for infrastructure improvements and a postponement of debt payments through the Rolling Reserve Act. The legislature will likely adjourn by late May.
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Oklahoma | February 06, 2012 Regular Session Reconvenes Lawmakers return to Oklahoma City today to convene the 2012 regular session, where the primary focus is likely to be consideration of a plan to overhaul the state tax code, specifically by cutting the individual income tax. Legislators are expected to consider other issues, including job growth and economic development, streamlining state government, education, energy, and infrastructure improvements. Governor Mary Fallin (R) delivers her state-of-the-state address Tuesday. The regular session is expected to adjourn by May 25.
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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 10.
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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: |
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