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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 | |
25 states, DC, PR and US are currently in regular session. | | | |
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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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Upcoming Governor Signing Deadlines - Georgia (Kemp) - May 12
- Alabama (Ivey) - 10 days or pocket vetoed
- Idaho (Little), Kansas (Kelly), Kentucky (Beshear), Maine (Mills) and Tennessee (Lee) - 10 days, Sundays excepted
- Florida (DeSantis) - 15 days from presentment
- Maryland (Moore) - 30 days from presentment
- Wisconsin (Evers) - six days from presentment, Sundays excepted
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The following states adjourned their 2026 legislative session on the dates provided:
Iowa was scheduled to adjourn on the 100th day of the session on April 21, but legislators were not finished with their work. The legislature is still considering bills and sending proposals to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds as the session continues past its deadline. [CBS 2]
Maine adjourned its regular session one day early on April 14. Lawmakers could be called back to reconvene on April 29 to deal with any gubernatorial vetoes. [Maine Public] The following states are expected to adjourn their 2026 legislative session on the dates provided: - 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. Republican lawmakers asked for a few days to consider a constitutional amendment that would end partisan gerrymandering in legislative districts. Legislators met on April 16 to postpone any decision making further, until April 21. [Wisconsin Examiner]
The Virginia legislature convened April 22 for a special session focused on responding to bills Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger amended and again on April 23 to discuss the budget. The session was adjourned on April 23 without finalizing a budget. [Prince William Times]
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a proclamation to hold a special session between April 20-24, which has officially been pushed back. In a memo by Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Bartow, it was announced that the special session will convene on April 28 and last through May 1. The session will focus on redistricting congressional maps, AI and a proposed “medical freedom” bill. House Speaker Damiel Perez, R-Miami, and Senate President Albritton stated that the legislature is expected to meet May 12-29 to “hammer out the budget”, although a formal proclamation hasn’t been issued. [News 6]
Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves announced a special legislative session to redraw three state Supreme Court districts. It is unknown when legislators will convene as the governor called the special session for 21 days after the U.S. Supreme Court issues a decision in the Louisiana v. Callais case. The court has not yet issued the decision. [Mississippi Today]
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Interim Activity
Interim committees and study postings are underway in: Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.
*Added since the last newsletter. | | |
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The following seats are scheduled to be filled by special election on the dates provided: Texas Senate District 4 (May 2), Michigan Senate District 35 (May 5), Georgia House District 177 (May 15), Pennsylvania House District 196 (May 19), Georgia Senate District 7 (May 19), Maine House District 29 (June 9) and Louisiana House District 39 (June 27). | | |
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North Carolina Rep. Butler introduces 'No Budget No Pay' bill in state legislature. [Port City Daily]
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New York What can lawmakers do about N.Y.'s executive budget process? [Spectrum News] | |
Washington WA Department of Natural Resources to close four campgrounds after lawmakers cut funding. [Washington State Standard] | | | | |
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As family vlogging and influencer-driven content creation have grown into multimillion-dollar industries, state lawmakers are confronting a critical gap in child labor law: children who appear regularly in monetized online content often have no legal claim to the earnings they help generate. Tennessee is now at the forefront of this issue with SB 1469, a bill that passed both legislative chambers with near-unanimous bipartisan support and was signed into law by Republican Gov. Bill Lee on April 16. Effective July 1, the law makes Tennessee one of the most assertive states in the country on child labor protections in content creation. | |
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States are rapidly advancing legislation to restrict student use of personal electronic devices, with activity spanning both instructional time limits and full day bans.
Many bills require districts to adopt uniform policies, define storage expectations, and ensure exceptions for emergencies, medical needs and IEP/504 accommodations. Several states are moving toward statewide model policies, phasing in grade-based restrictions or pairing device limits with social media education requirements. Enacted laws increasingly prohibit punitive enforcement such as suspensions, emphasize parent communication and mandate public posting of policies. Overall, legislatures are converging on structured, consistent approaches aimed at reducing distraction and standardizing expectations across districts. | |
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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. | | | |
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