Table 3.15
Time Limits on Bill Introduction
| FIPS | State or other jurisdiction |
Time limit on introduction of bills | Procedures for granting exceptions on time limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alabama* | House: no limit. Senate: 24th legislative day of regular session (a). | House: N.A. Senate: Unanimous vote to suspend rules |
| 02 | Alaska | 35th C day of 2nd regular session. | Introduction by committee or by suspension of operation of limiting rule. |
| 04 | Arizona | House: 29th day of regular session; 10th day of special session. Senate: 22nd day of regular session; 10th day of special session. | House: Permission of rules committee. Senate: Permission of rules committee. |
| 05 | Arkansas | House: Appropriation bills shall be filed no later than the 50th day of the regular session nor after the 15th day of a fiscal session. Retirement and health care legislation affecting licensures shall be introduced during the first 15 days. Resolutions proposing constitutional amendments shall not be filed after the 35th day of the regular session. Senate: 55th day of regular session (50th day for appropriations bills). Retirement and health care legislation affecting licensures shall be introduced during the first 15 days. | 2/3 vote of membership of each house for appropriations bills and all others except retirement and health care legislation affecting licensures which require 3/4 vote of the membership of each house. |
| 06 | California | Deadlines established by the Joint Rules Committee adpoted in each session. | Approval of Rules Committee and 3/4 vote of membership. |
| 08 | Colorado | House: 22nd C day of regular session. Senate: 17th C day of regular session. | Committees on delayed bills may extend deadline. |
| 09 | Connecticut | (b) | 2/3 vote of members present. |
| 10 | Delaware | House: no limit. Senate: no limit. | |
| 12 | Florida* | House: noon of the first day of regular session (h). Senate: noon first day of regular session (h). | House: No exception as such; if neeed, one would be granted by waiving the rule by 2/3 vote on the floor. Senate: Existence of an emergency reasonably compelling consideration notwithstanding the deadline. |
| 13 | Georgia | Only for specific types of bills | |
| 15 | Hawaii | Actual dates established during session. | Majority vote of membership. |
| 16 | Idaho | House: 20th day of session for personal bills; 36th day of session for all committees; beyond that only privileged cmtes. Senate: 12th day of session for personal bills; 36th day of session for all committees; beyond that only privileged cmtes. | House: speaker may designate any standing committee to serve as a privileged committee temporarily. House Rule 6. Senate: President may refer bill to privileged committee. Senate Rule 14. |
| 17 | Illinois | House: determined by speaker. Senate: determined by senate president. | House: the speaker may set deadlines for any action on any category of legislative measure, including deadlines for introduction of bills. Senate: At any time, the president may set alternative deadlines for any legislative action with written notice filed with the secretary. |
| 18 | Indiana | House: Mid-January. Senate: Date specific - set in Rules, different for long and short session. Mid-January | House: 2/3 vote. Senate: If date falls on weekend/Holiday - extended to next day. Sine die deadline set by statute, does not change. |
| 19 | Iowa | House: Drafting request received by Friday of 5th week of 1st regular session; or by Friday of 2nd week of 2nd regular session. Senate: Drafting request received by Friday of 5th week of 1st regular session; or by Friday of 2nd week of 2nd regular session. | House: Constitutional majority; Senate: Constitutional majority. |
| 20 | Kansas | Actual dates established in the Joint Rules of the House and Senate every two years when the joint rules are adopted. | Resolution adopted by majority of members of either house may make specific exceptions to deadlines. |
| 21 | Kentucky | House: No introductions after 14th L day of odd-year session, after 38th L day of even-year session. Senate: No introductions after 13th L day of odd-year session, after 40th L day of even-year session. | None. |
| 22 | Louisiana | House: 10th C day of odd year sessions and 23rd C day of even-year sessions. Senate:10th C day of odd year sessions and 23rd C day of even-year sessions. | None. |
| 23 | Maine | House and Senate: Cloture dates established by the Legislative Council. | House and Senate: Bills filed after cloture date must be approved by a majority of the Legislative Council. Appeals heard by Legislative Council. Six votes required to allow introduction of legislation |
| 24 | Maryland* | House: No introductions during the last 35 days of regular session, unless 2/3 of the elected members of a chamber vote yes. Additional limitations involve committee action. House bills introduced during the last 59 calendar days (after the 31st day) are referred to the House Rules Committee. The House Rules contain further provisions concerning the requirements for forcing legislation out of these committees. Senate: No introductions during the last 35 days of regular session, unless 2/3 of the elected members of a chamber vote yes. Additional limitations involve committee action. Senate bills introduced after the 27th calendar day must be referred to the Senate Rules Committee. Senate bills introduced on behalf of the Administration (Governor) after the 13th calendar day Senate bills introduced on behalf of other Executive Department agencies that are not prefiled, must be referred to the Senate Rules Committee upon introduction. The Senate Rules contain further provisions concerning the requirements for forcing legislation out of these committees. | House and Senate: 2/3 vote of elected members of each house. |
| 25 | Massachusetts* | 1st Wednesday in December even-numbered years, 1st Wednesday in November odd-numbered years. | 2/3 vote of members present and voting. |
| 26 | Michigan | No limit. | |
| 27 | Minnesota | No limit. | |
| 28 | Mississippi* | 14th C day in 90 day session; 49th C day in 125 day session (e). | 2/3 vote of members present and voting. |
| 29 | Missouri | House: 60th L day of regular session except for apppropriations bills. Senate: March 1. | Majority vote of elected members each house; governor’s request for consideration of bill by special message. |
| 30 | Montana* | Introduction of bills & resolutions: 10th L day if requested prior to convening or 2 days after receipt of finished bill draft after session convenes, whichever is earlier. Requests for general bills & resolutions: 12th L day; revenue bills: 17th L day; committee bills & resolutions: 36th L day; appropriations bills: 45th L day; interim study resolutions: 60th L day; committee revenue bills and bill proposing referenda: 62nd L day; committee bills implementing provision of a general appropriation act: 67th L day; resolutions confirmin governor appointees or bill amending/repealing administrative rule: no deadline | 2/3 vote of members. |
| 31 | Nebraska | 10th L day of any session (f). | 3/5 vote of elected membership |
| 32 | Nevada | Actual dates established at start of session. | Waiver granted by majority leader of the Senate and speaker of the Assembly acting jointly. |
| 33 | New Hampshire | Determined by rules. | 2/3 vote of members present. |
| 34 | New Jersey | No limit. | |
| 35 | New Mexico | House: 15 days in short session/even years, 30 days in long session/odd years. Senate: 15 days in short session/even years, 30 days in long session/odd years. | Per joint rule, the limit does not apply to the general appropriations bill, bills to provide for the current expenses of government or bills referred to the legislature by the governor by special message specifically setting for the emergency or necessity requiring the legislation. |
| 36 | New York* | Assembly: for unlimited introduction of bills, the final day is the last Tuesday in May of the 2nd year of the legislative term. Senate: Determined by the Majority Conference leaders, but no earlier than 1st Tuesday in March; except introduction by agencies is March 1, for all other program bills it is 1st Tuesday in April. | Assembly: By unanimous consent, by introduction by Rules Cmte., by message from the Senate, consent of the Speaker, or by members elected at special election who take office after the first Tuesday in May. Senate: Introduction by Rules Committee after 2nd Friday in June, or by message from the Assembly. |
| 37 | North Carolina | Actual dates established during session. | Senate: 2/3 vote of membership present and voting shall be required. |
| 38 | North Dakota | House: 8th L day. Senate: 13th L day (i). | 2/3 vote of the floor or by approval of Delayed Bills Committee (i). |
| 39 | Ohio | No limit. | |
| 40 | Oklahoma | Time limit set in rules. | 2/3 vote of membership. |
| 41 | Oregon | House: Set by House rules for odd-numbered year sessions. It was the 126th calendar day in 2019. All measures must be presession filed for even-year session. Senate: Set by Senate rules for odd-numbered year sessions. It was the 26th calendar day in 2019. All measures must be presession filed for even-year session. | House: Bills approved by the Rules Committee; appropriation or fiscal measures sponsored by the Cmte. on Ways and Means; other joint committee bills; member priority requests (limited to five measures for odd-year session, none for even-year session). Senate: Measures approved by the Senate President: appropriations or fiscal measures sponsored by the Cmte. On Ways and Means; other joint committee bills; caucus leaders are limited to two measure requests after the deadlines; member priority requests (limited to five measures for odd-year session, none for even-year session). |
| 42 | Pennsylvania | No limit. | |
| 44 | Rhode Island | Second week of February for Public Bills. | Sponsor must give one legislative day's notice. |
| 45 | South Carolina* | House: Prior to April 15 of the 2nd yr. of a two-yr. legislative session; May 1 for bills first introduced in Senate. Rule 5.12. Senate: May 1 of regular session for bills originating in House. Rule 47 | House and Senate: 2/3 vote of members present and voting. |
| 46 | South Dakota | Individual bills: 40-day session: 15th L day; 35-day session: 10th L day. Committee bills: 40-day session: 16th L day; 35-day session: 11th L day. If a session calendar is adopted for a period of 36 days to 39 days, the legislative deadlines for the 35-day session shall be increased by the number of days by which the length of the session calendar exceeds 35 days. | 2/3 approval of members-elect. |
| 47 | Tennessee | General bills, 10th L day of regular session (g). | Unanimous approval by Delayed Bills Committee. |
| 48 | Texas | 60th C day of regular session, except for local bills, emergency appropriations and all emergency maters submitted by the governor in special message to the legislature. | House: 4/5 vote of members present and voting. Senate: 4/5 vote of members. |
| 49 | Utah | 12:00 p.m. on 11th day of session. | Floor motion for request must be approved by a constitutional majority vote. |
| 50 | Vermont | House: 1st year: 4th legislative day before the end of February. 2nd year: by Wednesday in 2nd week of session. Deviations for committee and charter bills. House Rule 40. Senate: 1st year: Anytime; 2nd year: by second Friday after start of session, with committee bills by Jan. 31st. Senate Rule 39. | Approval by Rules Committee. |
| 51 | Virginia | Set by joint procedural resolution adopted at the beginning of the session (usually the second Friday of the session is the last day to introduce legislation that does not have any earlier deadline). | As provided in the joint procedural resolution (usually unanimous consent or at written request of the governor). |
| 53 | Washington | Until 10 days before the end of session unless 2/3 vote of elected members of each house. | 2/3 vote of elected members of each house. |
| 54 | West Virginia | House: 35 C day. Senate: 41st C day. | 2/3 vote of members present. |
| 55 | Wisconsin | No limit. | |
| 56 | Wyoming | House: 15th L day of session in odd numbered years. 5th L day in even numbered years. Senate: 12th L day of session in odd numbered years. 5th L day in even numbered years. | House: 2/3 vote of elected members. Senate: 2/3 vote of elected members. (During Budget Session need unanimous consent ) |
| 60 | American Samoa* | House: After the 25th L day of the fourth Regular Session. Senate: After the 15th L day. | |
| 66 | Guam* | Public hearing on bill must be held no more than 120 days after date of bill introduction. | |
| 69 | CNMI* ** | No limit. | |
| 72 | Puerto Rico* | 1st session - within first 125 days; 2nd session - within first 60 days. | None. |
| 78 | U.S. Virgin Islands* | No limit. |
Source:
The Council of State Governments' survey of state legislative service agencies, 2022.Key:
| * | — | Information from The Council of State Governments’ 2020 survey of state legislative services agencies and 2021 review of state websites. |
| ** | — | Commonwealth of Mariana Islands. |
| C | — | Calendar. |
| L | — | Legislative. |
Footnotes:
| (a) | Not applicable to local bills, advertised or otherwise. |
| (b) | Specific dates set in Joint Rules. For the 2022 session, date is Feb. 10, 2022. |
| (c) | Not applicable to appropriations bills. |
| (d) | Not applicable to local bills and joint resolutions. |
| (e) | Except Appropriation and Revenue bills (51st/86th C day) and Local & Private bills (83rd/118th C day). |
| (f) | Except appropriations bills and bills introduced at the request of the governor, bills can be introduced during the first 10 legislative days of the session. Appropriation bills and bills introduced at the request of the governor can be introduced at any time during the session. |
| (g) | Local bills have no cutoff. |
| (h) | House: For Member-filed bills, noon of the first day of regular session. House Rule 5.2 sets a time limit for the introduction of bills, but this applies to Member-filed bills only. Proposed committee bills, local bills (dependent on completion of 30-day public notice period), and committee substitutes (treated by House Rules as new bills) are routinely filed after the first day of Session. Senate: Not applicable to appropriations bills, concurrent resolutions regarding certain subjects, local bills (which have no deadline), claim bills (deadline is August 1 of the year preceding consideration or within 62 days of a Senator’s election), committee bills, trust fund bills, and public records exemptions linked to timely filed bills. |
| (i) | Determination of introduction deadline generally is based upon second and third Mondays after convening of session. |