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June 1, 2026

This Week in

FOCUS

Legislative developments and policy trends from across the states to keep you ahead of the curve.
 
   

States in Session

   

Current Legislative Landscape

In Session

13 states, DC, PR and US are currently in regular session. 

In Recess
   

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!)

   
 
   

Past Governor Signing Deadlines

  • Oklahoma (Stitt) - May 29 or pocket vetoed


Upcoming Governor Signing Deadlines

  • Iowa (Reynolds) - June 2 or pocket vetoed
  • Colorado (Polis) - June 13
  • Hawaii (Green) - June 22
  • Missouri (Kehoe) - June 29
  • Alaska (Dunleavy) - 20 days from presentment, Sunday excepted
  • Connecticut (Lamont) and Florida (DeSantis) - 15 days from presentment. 
  • Illinois (Pritzker) - 60 days
  • Kansas (Kelly) and Tennessee (Lee) - 10 days, Sundays excepted
  • Maryland (Moore) - 30 days from presentment
  • Minnesota (Waltz) - 14 days from presentment or pocket vetoed
  • South Carolina (McMaster) - five days, Sundays excepted
  • Vermont (Scott) - five days, Sundays excepted, or pocket vetoed
  • Wisconsin (Evers) - six days from presentment, Sundays excepted

Adjournments

The following states adjourned their 2026 legislative session on the dates provided:
  • Vermont (May 29)
  • Illinois (May 31)  


The following states are expected to adjourn their 2026 legislative session on the dates provided:
  • Louisiana (June 1)
  • New York (June 4)
  • Arizona, Delaware, New Hampshire and Rhode Island (June 30)

Special Sessions

 

Alaska is holding a special session that began on May 21 after adjourning the regular session the previous day. Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy called the special session to address a bill that is meant to advance a natural gas pipeline after legislators failed to pass it during the regular session. [The Anchorage Daily News]


Florida adjourned one special session on May 29 after passing a budget, but the legislature has convened today, June 1, for another special session. The special session is expected to focus on finalizing language for a property tax amendment to lift homestead exemptions for residents that would then go to voters during the November elections. [Fox 13 Tampa Bay]


South Carolina adjourned its special session on May 26 after failing to pass a new congressional map, though they are expected to reconvene on June 10 after the state’s primary elections. The Senate failed to pass a proposed congressional map that would have eliminated the only Democratic district in the state. [ABC News]


Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp announced a special session to address redistricting. Legislators are expected to be called back to Atlanta on June 17 to decide on gerrymandering and voting issues. [WTVM]

Interim Activity


Interim committees and study postings are underway in: Arkansas, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming. 


*Added since the last newsletter.
   

Special Elections

The following seats are scheduled to be filled by special election on the dates provided: Georgia House District 177 and Maine House District 29 (June 9), Georgia Senate District 7 (June 16), Louisiana House District 39 (June 27), Arkansas House District 44 (August 4) and Pennsylvania House District 12 (August 18).

Posting Bill Drafts for 2027

Montana is currently posting bill drafts for the 2027 legislative session.
 
   

State Policy News

Colorado

Gov. Polis vetoes 4 bills passed by Colorado legislature. [Colorado Newsline]

Maine

Several Republican primaries could be consequential for control of Maine legislature. [Maine Morning Star]

Illinois

Illinois legislature passes $55B budget without Bears stadium bill. [NBC 5 Chicago]

New York

New York Democrats push for redistricting amendments. [Newsday]
   
 
   
   

The landscape for privacy and AI have once again shifted on the state level. In Connecticut, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont signed two new bills into law on May 29. In 2022, the state’s comprehensive privacy bill, Connecticut Data Privacy Act, was enacted and there have been several updates to the law since then. This session, two of the updates to the state’s privacy landscape include SB 4, a data broker bill most similar to California’s 

Delete Act and SB 5, an AI online safety bill, despite federal calls for a ban on state-level AI bills. Other states have also passed significant bills this session, including Illinois (SB 315) and New York.


No Federal AI Preemption Yet: In March, the Trump administration issued its National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence, which among its legislative recommendations was a request for a federal law that would preempt most state-level AI legislation. In the last few weeks the Trump administration reportedly delayed their plan to issue a new AI Executive Order related to new AI large language model review. In the continued absence of meaningful federal action, states like Connecticut are moving forward with laws and regulations.


   
   
   
   

States are continuing to tighten age restriction laws for tobacco and nicotine products, with much of the recent activity driven by concerns over youth vaping and the rapid growth of electronic smoking devices.


Six states have enacted measures this year while 13 others are actively considering legislation that expands age verification requirements, increases penalties for underage sales, restricts youth-focused marketing and strengthens oversight of vapor products. Many proposals specifically target e-cigarettes, flavored nicotine products and vape retailers as lawmakers respond to rising concerns around youth access and enforcement gaps.


   
 
   

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