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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 | |
32 states, DC and PR are currently in regular session.
South Dakota is currently in veto session. | |
Minnesota lawmakers have adjourned for the legislature’s annual Easter and Passover recess. Legislators are expected to return on April 7. The 2026 session must adjourn by May 18. [MinneapoliMedia] 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.
U.S. Congress began a two-week spring break recess on March 28. Lawmakers left for recess after passing a proposal to fund the Transportation Security Administration without money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. The legislation passed by unanimous consent. [The Hill] | | | |
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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 | | |
- Arkansas (April 8)
- North Carolina (April 21)
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Arkansas is currently posting prefiles for the upcoming 2026 legislative session. | | |
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Upcoming Governor Signing Deadlines - West Virginia (Morrisey) - April 1
- Washington (Ferguson) - April 4
- Virginia (Spanberger) - April 13
- Oregon (Kotek) - April 17
- Florida (DeSantis) - 15 days from presentment
- Wisconsin (Evers) - 6 days, Sundays excepted
Past Governor Signing Deadlines | | |
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The following states are expected to adjourn their 2026 legislative session on the dates below: - Georgia (April 2)
- Mississippi (April 5)
- Kansas (April 12)
- Maryland (April 13)
- Kentucky and Maine (April 15)
- Nebraska (April 17)
- Alabama (April 20)
- Iowa (April 21)
- Tennessee (April 24)
- Arizona (April 25)
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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: Arkansas, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, North Dakota and South Dakota.
*Added since the last newsletter. | | |
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Florida held a special election for House districts 51 and 87 and Senate District 14 on March 24. The scheduled special election for House District 52 was canceled as Republican Samantha Scott remained unopposed. Democrats flipped long-standing GOP seats including flipping House District 87, the district that includes Mar-a-Lago, Republican President Donald Trump’s primary residence. [FOX13] House District 51 saw Republican Hilary Holley defeat Democrat Edwin Perez with over 54 percent of the vote. In House District 87, Democrat Emily Gregory won the seat with over 51 percent of the vote; she beat Republican Jon Maples. Senate District 14 was flipped by Democrat Brian Nathan with just over 50 percent of the vote. Republican Josie Tomkow, former House Representative for District 51, lost with about 500 votes fewer than Nathan.
The following seats are scheduled to be filled by special election on the dates provided: Massachusetts House District 5 Essex (March 31), Georgia House districts 94 and 130 and Senate District 53 (April 7), Louisiana House District 69 (April 18), Texas Senate District 4 (May 2) and Michigan Senate District 35 (May 5). | | |
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Virginia After Virginia legislative session, bills to impact higher education await Spanberger's approval. [The Cavalier Daily] | | |
Idaho Idaho Legislature misses target date to adjourn legislative session for the year. [Idaho Capital Sun] | | | | |
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FOCUS on Financial Services: | | | |
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Sitting at the intersection of consumer protection, credit administration and operational risk, states are increasingly enacting laws to address coerced debt. Coerced debt is financial obligations incurred through force, manipulation or control in the context of domestic abuse. Regulatory and legislative measures addressing this issue recognize that survivors may appear legally responsible for debts, but lack meaningful consent due to coercion, creating gaps in traditional consumer protection frameworks. While traditionally addressed through fraud or identity theft frameworks, recent legislation signals a more tailored and standardized approach. | |
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In the past, several state legislatures have introduced bills attempting to limit institutional investor homeownership. This session, with growing concerns over housing affordability and supply and federal action, institutional investor homeownership has come to the forefront of housing policy. | |
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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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