The vast majority of state legislatures have finished their work for 2023. California wrapped up its legislative session in mid-September with nearly 1,200 bills sent to the Governor. Some states, like Massachusetts and Ohio, will continue their work through the fall. View our 2023 state legislative session calendar for more information. Regardless, most of us following public policy are already looking ahead to the 2024 legislative sessions.
To best prepare ourselves (and you!) for these sessions that are just a few months away, we’ve plotted out what to expect from each state’s session. Analyzing legislative procedure and history across all 50 states, we’ve painted a picture of when legislators will be active, and what they will be working on in the 2024 legislative sessions.
Understanding Legislative Cycles
Most states operate on a two-year session schedule. With this schedule, the odd-numbered year following elections is the first and most active year. The even-numbered year is the second, and less active, year. Exceptions to this norm include:
- States that operate on one-year cycles — Alabama, Mississippi, and others
- States that only meet once every two years — Texas, Nevada, and others
- States that start their two-year sessions during even years — New Jersey and Virginia
- States that hold special sessions outside of their scheduled meeting times
Because so many states follow the norm of a two-year cycle, we tend to see patterns along these lines in legislative activity. These patterns are summarized below, along with details specific to 2024.
Legislative Session Start Dates in 2024
Early January will remain a popular time for legislatures to begin meeting, as it was in 2023. However, many more states will begin their meetings in late January or February in 2024. This includes Arkansas and Wyoming, among others.
| Earlier than 2023 | Similar to 2023 | Later than 2023 | No Scheduled Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 states | 36 states | 7 states | 4 states |
2024 Legislative Session Content
Twenty-five states will “carry over” bills introduced in 2023 into their 2024 legislative sessions. As such, a considerable amount of the legislation they will consider is already publicly available. Further, in some cases, this legislation has already been the subject of public hearings and debates. An additional three states, Arkansas, Connecticut, and New Mexico, will limit the introduction of most non-budgetary items.
Budgets
Before the 2024 legislative sessions begin, sixteen states will have already passed a budget for 2025. As such, they will only consider supplemental budgets in 2024.
Legislative Session Length
With less legislation to debate, many legislatures schedule less time during even years. Connecticut, for example, will meet for three months in 2024, after meeting for more than five in 2023.
| Shorter than 2023 | Similar to 2023 | Later than 2023 | No scheduled meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 states | 27 states | 4 states | 4 states |
New Legislators in 2024
Many states will have a few new legislators by 2024, due to retirement and replacement. Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia will enter 2024 with the most new legislators, as they each hold elections in November of 2023. Following the 2020 census, legislators in these states may also have new district numbers.
Looking Ahead to the 2024 Legislative Sessions
The next few months are crucial for prepping for the 2024 legislative sessions. We can’t know for certain what the popular topics will be in next year’s legislative sessions (spoiler alert: they will likely include rehashed debates from 2023.) We can, however, anticipate the structure and timing of the sessions themselves. This data can help advocates in all issue areas map out their strategy and prioritize effectively.
Get Started With Plural for the 2024 Legislative Sessions
The 2024 legislative sessions are just around the corner, and the time to begin planning, strategizing, and nailing down your tools and processes is now. Interested in getting started with Plural? Create a free account or book a demo today!
