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Legislative developments and policy trends from across the states to keep you ahead of the curve. | | | |
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Current Legislative Landscape | |
30 states, DC, PR and US are currently in regular session.
Mississippi legislators passed a concurrent resolution on April 1 that would extend the legislative session to April 15. House Speaker Jason White, R-West, filed a resolution that would extend the legislative session “on paper” to mid-April to work out spending differences. [Mississippi Today] | |
North Carolina  passed an  adjournment resolution  that  called for the regular session to recess and then reconvene monthly until  April 2026. The legislature is next scheduled to convene on April 9. | | | |
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We are closely monitoring all legislative session activity to provide you with the most up-to-date information. (Got an on-the-ground tip on sessions? Email us!) | |
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2026 Session Convening Dates | | |
- North Carolina (April 21)
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Upcoming Governor Signing Deadlines - Virginia (Spanberger) - April 13
- Oregon (Kotek) - April 17
- Georgia (Kemp) - May 12
- Alabama (Ivey) - 10 days or pocket vetoed
- Idaho (Little) & Kansas (Kelly) - 10 days, Sundays excepted
- Florida (DeSantis) - 15 days from presentment
- Wisconsin (Evers) - 6 days, Sundays excepted
Past Governor Signing Deadlines - Washington (Ferguson) – April 4
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The following states adjourned their 2026 legislative sessions on the dates provided: - Alabama (April 9)
- Kansas (April 12)
The following states are expected to adjourn their 2026 legislative session on the dates below: - Maryland (April 13)
- Kentucky and Maine (April 15)
- Nebraska (April 17)
- Iowa (April 21)
- Tennessee (April 24)
- Arizona (April 25)
- Connecticut (May 6)
- Arkansas (May 7)
- Hawaii (May 8)
- Colorado (May 14)
- Missouri (May 15)
- Minnesota (May 18
- Alaska (May 20)
- Oklahoma (May 29)
- Illinois (May 31)
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Special Sessions
Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order calling a special session to convene on April 14. The session will be focused on a constitutional amendment that would end partisan gerrymandering in legislative districts. [Wisconsin Public Radio]
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a proclamation to hold a special session focused on redistricting the state’s congressional maps. The special session is scheduled to convene between April 20-24. [WESH2]
Virginia General Assembly passed a joint resolution asking Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger to call for a special session to begin on April 23. The legislature adjourned the 2026 legislative session on March 14 without passing a biennial budget as the two chambers work to resolve disagreements about data center tax exemptions.[Cardinal News] | | |
Interim Activity
Interim committees and study postings are underway in: Montana, Nevada, Oregon, North Dakota, South Dakota and Texas.
*Added since the last newsletter. | | |
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Georgia held a special election for House districts 94 and 130 and Senate District 53 on April 7. In House District 94, an all-Democrat runoff was held where Venola Mason beat former Snellville Mayor Kelly Kautz with nearly 69 percent of the vote. House District 130 saw Democrat Sheila Clark Nelson defeated Republican Thomas McAdams with 71 percent of the vote. In Senate District 53, Republican Lanny Thomas won against Democrat Jack Zibluk with 69 percent of the vote. [WABE] The following seats are scheduled to be filled by special election on the dates provided: Louisiana House District 69 (April 18), Texas Senate District 4 (May 2) and Michigan Senate District 35 (May 5). | | |
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Connecticut Too many bills, too little time: Inside the CT legislature's final sprint with 600 bills remaining. [New Haven Register] | |
Louisiana Battle over New Orleans water system in state legislature this week. [WWL] | | |
Kentucky How Kentucky lawmakers are again chipping away at Gov. Beshear's powers. [The Courier-Journal] | | | | |
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FOCUS on Emerging Issues: | | | |
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that they are moving forward with new microplastic regulations. This action highlights a growing federal effort to better understand and address microplastics. Microplastics can be found in water, food and even the air. Federal agencies are now combining research and regulatory review to evaluate potential health risks and future regulatory standards.
New efforts represent a more coordinated federal approach to emerging contaminants. If new standards are adopted, states and regulated entities may need to implement new testing and treatment processes. At the same time, innovation in detection and removal technologies could create new opportunities in healthcare and environmental management. This shift could impact public health systems, water providers and manufacturers. | |
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States across the country are introducing legislation to reduce or eliminate sales taxes on groceries and prepared food, reflecting ongoing affordability concerns. In Alabama, bills such as HB 336 and HB 647 would exempt groceries or phase out the sales tax on food over time. Connecticut lawmakers have introduced multiple bills, such as HB 5006, to eliminate the additional one percent meals tax on food sold by grocery stores and restaurants. Meanwhile, Hawaii has several measures that would exempt groceries eligible under SNAP or fully remove the general excise tax on food purchases. These bills signal a growing nationwide trend toward reducing taxes on household items as affordability continues to remain a top priority for legislators.
FOCUS will continue to monitor grocery sales tax legislation in state legislatures across the country.
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FOCUS: Trusted Experts in State Government Affairs | |
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Since 2003, FOCUS has provided tailored, results-driven government affairs solutions for our clients. We offer best-in-class legislative and regulatory tracking to keep you informed and ahead of the curve. Our full-service platform delivers real-time, comprehensive coverage across all 50 states, D.C., Congress, local jurisdictions, and key state and federal agencies. With filtered databases, customized alerts, expert analysis, an intuitive dashboard, and outstanding support, our team equips you with the tools and intelligence needed to navigate policy developments with confidence and clarity. | | |
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Customized, Comprehensive Tracking Platform | Track legislation and regulations across all 50 states, Congress, Puerto Rico, thousands of municipalities, and select international regions in an expert-filtered, tailored-to-you database. No keyword dumps, no junk—just what’s relevant. | | | |
Intel-rich Bill Analysis & Weekly Reporting | Customized, analyst-written reports on priority legislation and regulations—delivered weekly to inform strategy and identify risks & opportunities early. | | | |
Unparalleled Customer Service | Direct, ongoing access to your lead analyst, unlimited training and support, and concierge-level client care. We pride ourselves on serving as an extension of your staff. | | | |
Access The Advocacy Group (TAG) — the premier 50-state and global lobbying network — at no cost. No middlemen. No referral fees. Just direct access to the best of the best. The TAG network includes 60+ top-tier, independent firms — one in every state, country, and specialty. | | | |
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