by Angela Andrews
Happy New Year! Or should I say, Happy New Session? The start of the year means that most state legislators are returning to work and convening their sessions. Legislatures in 46 states and six territories are meeting in 2012. All six territories and 39 states will convene their legislative sessions in January (sixteen of them started this week). The remaining seven states will convene in either February or March.
Almost all state legislatures are in the second year of their biennium. However, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia are starting the first year of their legislative session because they have odd-year elections and start a new biennium in the even-numbered year. Four legislatures will not meet in 2012 (barring special sessions), as they are biennial legislatures and meet every other year: Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Texas.
Some of you legislative junkies might know that Florida typically convenes in March and adjourns in May; however, you may have noticed on our 2012 session calendar that Florida will convene their session next Tuesday, January 10 and adjourn on March 9, Why? To handle redistricting.
To see a listing of all the legislatures that convene in January, check out our 2012 legislative session calendar by convening date. Also, check back here in early February as we will highlight those legislatures that convene in the second month of the year. We'll also provide some more legislative session facts and tidbits.
Photo credit: stltoday.com
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