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March 23, 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

34 states, DC, PR and U.S. Congress are currently in regular session. 

In Recess

North Carolina passed an adjournment resolution that called for the regular session to recess and then reconvene monthly until April 2026. The legislature convened on March 9 and adjourned on March 12. It is next scheduled to convene on April 9. [Adjournment Resolution]
   

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!)

   
 

2026 Session Convening Dates

  • Arkansas (April 8)
  • North Carolina (April 21)

States Posting Prefiles
Arkansas is currently posting prefiles for the upcoming 2026 legislative session. 
   

Upcoming Govenor Signing Deadlines


  • Utah (Cox) - March 26
  • South Dakota (Rhoden) - March 27
  • West Virginia (Morrisey) - April 1
  • Washington (Ferguson) - April 4
  • Virginia (Spanberger) - April 13
  • Oregon (Kotek) - April 17
  • Florida (DeSantis) - 15 days from presentment
  • Wyoming (Gordon) - 15 days from presentment 


Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Braun had  until March 13 to act on legislation or it became law without signature.

 

West Virginia Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey had until March 21 to act on budget bills or they became law without signature.

Adjournments

The following states are expected to adjourn their 2026 legislative session on the dates below:
  • Idaho (March 27)
  • 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)

The following states adjourned their sessions on the dates provided:
  • South Dakota and Washington (March 12)
  • Florida (March 13)
  • Virginia and West Virginia (March 14)

Special Sessions


South Dakota is scheduled to hold a veto session on March 30. 


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.
   

Special Elections

In Pennsylvania, special elections were held on March 17 for House districts 79 and 193. Republicans won both seats, with Republican Andrea Verobish defeating Democrat Caleb McCoy in District 79 with Verobish receiving more than 57 percent of the vote to McCoy’s 42 percent. 

 

In District 193, Republican Catherine Wallen received nearly 60 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Todd Crawley who received 40 percent. [WGAL]

 

Virginia held a special election for House District 98 on March 17. Republican Andrew Rice won the seat with 62 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Cheryl Smith who received 38 percent. 

[WAVY] 

 

The following seats are scheduled to be filled by special election on the dates provided: Florida House districts 51, 52 and 87 and Senate District 14 (March 24); 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). 
   
 
   

State Policy News

Idaho

Some Idaho senators call out state legislature for not cutting its own budget alongside others. [Idaho Capital Sun]

Minnesota

Minnesota legislature's deadlines could filter high-interest bills this week. [MPR News]

Louisiana

Legislature debates amended measure banning fluoride in public drinking water. [Louisiana Radio Network]

Nebraska

Bill advances to protect Nebraska health care providers who recommend medical cannabis. [Nebraska Examiner]
 
   
 
   
   


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.

   
   
 


Most Americans turned their clocks ahead last week as daylight saving time resumed, despite growing interest across the country in eliminating the twice-a-year time change.

   
   
 
   

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