2026 Legislative Session Dates
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About this Resource

We've compiled a comprehensive reference guide that tracks the 2026 state legislative session dates for all 50 states to help government relations professionals, lobbyists, and policy advocates plan ahead. Our chart includes session start and end dates, bill introduction deadlines, crossover deadlines, and carryover provisions, plus any relevant notes on special sessions or specific deadlines unique to a particular state. Click the button to download the PDF quick-reference version, or scroll down to view the chart in your browser window.


2026 State Legislative Session Map

The map below shows which states are in regular session and which states are not. We also highlight any states currently in a special session, if applicable.

Right click the map to download the image file.

Key Takeaways

  • 2026 state legislative sessions begin in January for most states, with 35 states convening between January 5th and 20th. Note that Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas do not hold regular legislative sessions in even-numbered years.
  • State legislative session lengths vary dramatically, from New Mexico's brief 30-day session (January 20 - February 19) to year-round legislatures in Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania that run through December 31, 2026.
  • Bill introduction deadlines create critical windows for state legislation, with some states like Florida requiring all bills to be filed on the first day of session (January 13) while others like California allow bill introductions through February 20.
  • State bill carryover provisions enable multi-year legislative strategies, with 23 states allowing legislation to carry over from 2025 to 2026 or from 2026 to 2027, while the remaining 27 states require fresh bill introductions each session.


Download the Chart

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State Session Dates Intro Deadlines Crossover Deadline Carryover Other Notes and Deadlines (Special Session, etc.)
Start Adjournment House Senate '25 to '26 '26 to '27
Alabama 1/13/26 3/27/26 No No
Alaska 1/20/26 5/20/26 2/23/26 2/23/26 Yes No
Arizona 1/12/26 4/25/26 2/9/26 2/2/26 2/20/26 No No Adjournment deadline can be extended
Arkansas 4/8/26 5/7/26 4/22/26 4/22/26 No No
California 1/5/26 8/31/26 2/20/26 2/20/26 5/29/26 Yes No 1/31/26 - crossover deadline for bills introduced in 2025
Colorado 1/14/26 5/13/26 2/13/26 2/6/26 3/20/26 No No
Connecticut 2/4/26 5/6/26 No No
Delaware 1/13/26 6/30/26 Yes No
Florida 1/13/26 3/13/26 1/13/26 1/13/26 No No Special session, re: congressional redistricting, 4/20/26 - 4/24/26
Georgia 1/12/26 4/2/26 3/6/26 Yes No
Hawaii 1/21/26 5/8/26 1/28/26 1/28/26 3/12/26 Yes No
Idaho 1/12/26 4/10/26 No No
Illinois 1/14/26 5/31/26 2/6/26 2/6/26 4/17/26 Yes No Senate committee deadline 3/13/26; House cmte. deadline 3/27/26
Indiana 12/1/25 2/27/26 1/7/26 1/9/26 2/5/26 No No
Iowa 1/12/26 4/21/26 Yes No 1st house committee deadline 2/20/26; 2nd house cmte. deadline 3/20/26
Kansas 1/12/26 4/10/26 2/4/26 2/4/26 2/19/26 Yes No
Kentucky 1/6/26 4/15/26 3/4/26 3/2/26 No No Veto recess 4/1/26 - 4/13/26
Louisiana 3/9/26 6/1/26 3/31/26 3/31/26 5/29/26 No No
Maine 1/7/26 4/15/26 Yes No
Maryland 1/14/26 4/13/26 2/13/26 2/9/26 3/23/26 No No
Massachusetts 1/7/26 7/31/26 Yes No Informal session begins 8/1/26; may reconvene formal session to vote on conference committee bills
Michigan 1/14/26 12/31/26 Yes No
Minnesota 2/17/26 5/18/26 Yes No
Mississippi 1/6/26 4/5/26 1/19/26 1/19/26 2/13/26 No No
Missouri 1/7/26 5/15/26 2/26/26 No No Veto session 9/16/26
Montana No regular session in even-numbered years
Nebraska 1/7/26 4/17/26 1/21/26 Yes No
Nevada No regular session in even-numbered years
New Hampshire 1/7/26 6/30/26 1/8/26 3/26/26 Yes No
New Jersey 1/13/26 12/31/26 No Yes
New Mexico 1/20/26 2/19/26 2/4/26 2/4/26 No No
New York 1/7/26 6/4/26 Yes No
North Carolina 4/21/26 8/31/26 4/30/26 4/30/26 Yes No Still meeting in 2025 session on 1/12/26, 2/12/26, 3/12/26, & 4/9/26; 2026 session begins 4/21/26
North Dakota No regular session in even-numbered years Special session, re: rural health care, 1/21/26 - 1/23/26
Ohio 1/5/26 12/31/26 Yes No
Oklahoma 2/2/26 5/29/26 1/15/26 1/15/26 Yes No
Oregon 2/2/26 3/8/26 2/16/26 No No
Pennsylvania 1/6/26 11/30/26 Yes No
Rhode Island 1/6/26 6/30/26 No No
South Carolina 1/13/26 5/7/26 Yes No
South Dakota 1/13/26 3/30/26 2/4/26 2/4/26 2/24/26 No No 3/12/26 - last day before veto recess; 3/30/26 - veto day
Tennessee 1/13/26 4/24/26 Yes No
Texas No regular session in even-numbered years
Utah 1/20/26 3/6/26 1/30/26 1/30/26 3/3/26 No No
Vermont 1/6/26 5/8/26 Yes No
Virginia 1/14/26 3/14/26 2/17/26 No Yes Veto session 4/22/26
Washington 1/12/26 3/12/26 Yes No
West Virginia 1/14/26 3/14/26 2/17/26 2/23/26 3/4/26 Yes No
Wisconsin 1/13/26 3/19/26 Yes No
Wyoming 2/9/26 3/11/26 2/13/26 2/13/26 2/24/26 No No