The Legislature's Year
The two-year term in order: when bills are filed, when the House and Senate sit, and the deadlines between, from crossover to veto day.
On this page
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Granite Record indexes the General Court’s record; it is not that record. Where a citation allows only one source, cite the General Court — every page here links to what it is drawn from. The date below is the day the page was read.
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- Granite Record. (n.d.). The Legislature's Year. Retrieved 19 Oct. 2026, from https://graniterecord.org/learn/legislative-year
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@misc{learn-legislative-year, title = {The Legislature's Year}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/learn/legislative-year}, note = {Accessed 19 Oct. 2026} }
Where Things Stand
You are here: October 19, 2026. The 2026 session’s deadlines are past. What is left of the 2025–2026 term happens out of session: veto day, the reports on bills sent to interim study, the election, and the filing of the next term’s bills.
The last landmark to pass: Veto day, August 19, 2026.
Coming next:
- Interim study reports dueHouse
- General election
- Bill requests open to every memberBoth chambers
Find today on the timeline, or see the Calendar for this week’s hearings and sessions.
The Shape of a Term
The General Court is elected for two years at a time, and a term holds two sessions, one in each calendar year. A term begins on Organization Day, the first Wednesday of December after the November election, when the members are sworn in. Each session opens in January and runs through a fixed sequence of deadlines, which the House and the Senate each set for themselves and print in their calendars, until the last votes in late spring or June. The rest of the year is spent out of session: the Governor acts on the last bills, each chamber returns for a veto day, committees study bills over the fall, and members file their requests for the next year's bills.
2025 the first year
2026 the second year
The 2025–2026 Term, Date by Date
Each date below is printed in a House or Senate calendar or journal, named under it; where a rule fixes the day instead, the row says which rule. The House prints the deadlines still to come in its calendar, and the Senate in the schedule its calendar carries. Where the two chambers' deadlines fall on the same day, they share a row.
The Election
Fall 2024 · 3 dates, all pastHouse members running again may file bill requestsHouse
A request for a bill is a Legislative Service Request, or LSR. Members seeking re-election may file theirs before the election.
Source: House Calendar 30, August 30, 2024.
General election
Voters choose all 400 representatives and 24 senators for the two-year term.
Source: House Calendar 1, November 26, 2024.
Bill requests open to every representativeHouse
Filing opens to all members the day after the election and closes in late November.
Sources: House Calendar 30, August 30, 2024; House Calendar 41, November 15, 2024.
The First Session
December 2024 to June 2025 · 12 dates, all pastOrganization DayBoth chambers
The new members are sworn in, the House elects its Speaker and the Senate its President, and the term begins.
By rule, the first Wednesday of December. Source: House Calendar 1, November 26, 2024.
Last day to request a Senate billSenate
Senators’ requests must reach the Office of Legislative Services, which drafts the bills, by this day.
Source: Senate Calendar 1, December 5, 2024.
House sponsors sign offHouse
Each sponsor approves the drafted text of their bill before it is introduced.
Source: House Calendar 41, November 15, 2024.
The session opensBoth chambers
Convening day: the chambers begin taking up the new bills.
By rule, the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January. Source: Senate Journal 2, January 8, 2025.
Last day to introduce House billsHouse
A bill is introduced when it is read in and sent to a committee.
Source: House Calendar 7, January 10, 2025.
Committee deadlines, first chamberBoth chambers
Committees report on each bill, and the chamber votes on the report a week later, in steps. Bills going on to a second committee go first.
- Report House bills going to a second committeeHouse
- Senate committees act on Senate bills with a fiscal impactSenate
- The House acts on those billsHouse
- Report the other House bills, except budget billsHouse
- The House acts on those billsHouse
- Report every remaining House bill, and the list of those retainedHouse
Sources: House Calendar 7, January 10, 2025; Senate Calendar 1, December 5, 2024.
Crossover in the SenateSenate
The last day for the Senate to act on its own bills. Those it passes go to the House.
Source: Senate Calendar 1, December 5, 2024.
Crossover in the HouseHouse
The last day for the House to act on its own bills. Those it passes go to the Senate; those a committee retained wait for the second year.
Source: House Calendar 7, January 10, 2025.
Committee deadlines, second chamberBoth chambers
The same steps again, for the bills that crossed.
- Report Senate bills going to a second committeeHouse
- The House acts on those billsHouse
- Senate committees act on House bills with a fiscal impactSenate
- Report every remaining Senate billHouse
Sources: House Calendar 7, January 10, 2025; Senate Calendar 1, December 5, 2024.
Last day to act on the other chamber’s billsBoth chambers
Each chamber’s last vote on the bills that crossed to it.
Sources: House Calendar 7, January 10, 2025; Senate Calendar 1, December 5, 2024.
Committees of conferenceBoth chambers
Where one chamber will not accept the other’s changes to a bill, members of both try to write a version each will pass.
- Last day to form committees of conferenceBoth chambers
- Last day to sign their reportsBoth chambers
Sources: House Calendar 7, January 10, 2025; Senate Calendar 1, December 5, 2024.
Last day to act on committee of conference reportsBoth chambers
Both chambers vote on the conference versions. It is the session’s last deadline.
Sources: House Calendar 7, January 10, 2025; Senate Calendar 1, December 5, 2024.
Between the Sessions
Summer and fall 2025 · 5 dates, all pastUsually summer
Bills go to the Governor
Each bill both chambers passed goes to the Governor, who signs it, vetoes it, or leaves it to become law without a signature.
Senate bill requests for 2026Senate
The window for senators’ requests for the second session’s bills.
Source: Senate Calendar 28, June 26, 2025.
House bill requests for 2026House
The window for representatives’ requests for the second session’s bills.
Source: House Calendar 30, June 20, 2025.
Veto day in the SenateSenate
The Senate meets to take up the Governor’s vetoes.
Retained bills reportedHouse
House committees report the bills they kept over the fall, for a vote in the second session. It is also the House sponsors’ last day to sign off on 2026’s requests.
Source: House Calendar 30, June 20, 2025.
Veto day in the HouseHouse
The House meets to take up the Governor’s vetoes.
The Second Session
January to June 2026 · 8 dates, all pastThe session opensBoth chambers
The second session’s first day.
By rule, the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January. Source: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026.
Last day to introduce House billsHouse
The second year’s new House bills are introduced and sent to committees.
Source: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026.
Committee deadlines, first chamberBoth chambers
Committees report on each bill, and the chamber votes on the report a week later, in steps. Bills going on to a second committee go first.
- Report House bills going to a second committeeHouse
- The House acts on those billsHouse
- Report the other House billsHouse
- Senate committees act on Senate bills with a fiscal impactSenate
- The House acts on those billsHouse
- Report every House billHouse
Sources: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026; Senate Calendar 1, January 8, 2026.
CrossoverBoth chambers
The last day for each chamber to act on its own bills. What passes goes to the other chamber.
Sources: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026; Senate Calendar 1, January 8, 2026.
Committee deadlines, second chamberBoth chambers
The same steps again, for the bills that crossed.
- Report Senate bills going to a second committeeHouse
- The House acts on those billsHouse
- Senate committees act on House bills with a fiscal impactSenate
- Report every Senate billHouse
Sources: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026; Senate Calendar 1, January 8, 2026.
Last day to act on the other chamber’s billsBoth chambers
Each chamber’s last vote on the bills that crossed to it.
Sources: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026; Senate Calendar 1, January 8, 2026.
Committees of conferenceBoth chambers
Where one chamber will not accept the other’s changes to a bill, members of both try to write a version each will pass.
- Last day to form committees of conferenceBoth chambers
- Last day to sign their reportsBoth chambers
Sources: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026; Senate Calendar 1, January 8, 2026.
Last day to act on committee of conference reportsBoth chambers
Both chambers vote on the conference versions. It is the session’s last deadline.
Sources: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026; Senate Calendar 1, January 8, 2026.
After the Session
Summer and fall 2026 · 7 dates, you are hereUsually summer
Bills go to the Governor
Each bill both chambers passed goes to the Governor, who signs it, vetoes it, or leaves it to become law without a signature.
Veto dayBoth chambers
Both chambers meet to take up the Governor’s vetoes. Overriding one takes two thirds of each chamber.
Sources: House Calendar 30, August 14, 2026; Senate Calendar 27, August 6, 2026.
House members running again may file bill requestsHouse
The first requests for the next term’s bills.
Source: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026.
Senators running again may file bill requestsSenate
The Senate’s window for the same.
Usually summer and fall
Interim studyBoth chambers
Committees study the subjects of the bills sent to interim study. The bills themselves go no further; a report may recommend a new bill next term.
You are here
The day this page was built.
Interim study reports dueHouse
The last day for House committees to file their reports on the bills sent to interim study.
Source: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026.
General election
Voters choose all 400 representatives and 24 senators for the next term.
Source: the session status on the home page.
Bill requests open to every memberBoth chambers
Filing opens to all members the day after the election.
Sources: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026; Senate Calendar 29, September 3, 2026.
Last day to file bill requestsBoth chambers
Representatives’ last day to file requests for 2027’s bills, and the last day for senators’ drafting requests.
Sources: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026; Senate Calendar 29, September 3, 2026.
The Next Term Begins
December 2026 to January 2027 · 5 dates, to comeOrganization DayBoth chambers
The members elected in November are sworn in, and the 2027–2028 term begins.
By rule, the first Wednesday of December. Source: House Calendar 1, November 26, 2024.
Senate sponsors sign offSenate
Senators approve the drafted text of their bills.
House sponsors sign offHouse
Each sponsor approves the drafted text of their bill.
Source: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026.
The 2027 session opensBoth chambers
The new term’s first session begins.
By rule, the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January. Source: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026.
Last day to introduce House billsHouse
The new term’s House bills are introduced and sent to committees.
Source: House Calendar 1, January 2, 2026.
What the Deadlines Mean
| LSR | Legislative Service Request: a member's request for a bill. It is filed with the Office of Legislative Services, whose attorneys draft the text, and the sponsor then signs off on the draft before the bill is introduced. Members running for re-election may file before the election; filing opens to every member the day after it. |
|---|---|
| Introduced | Read into the record and sent to a committee chosen by subject, which holds its public hearing. |
| Report and act | A committee reports when it files its recommendation on a bill; the chamber acts when it votes on that recommendation. The deadlines come in pairs a week apart, which leaves time for the report to be printed in the calendar before the vote. |
| Second committee | In the House, a bill that spends or raises money can be sent on to Finance or to Ways and Means after the committee that heard it. In the Senate, a bill with a fiscal impact goes on to the Finance Committee under Senate Rule 4-5. Those bills meet earlier deadlines in their first committee, which leaves the second one time. |
| Crossover | The last day for a chamber to act on its own bills. Those it passes cross to the other chamber, where the whole course runs again. The House's and the Senate's fall on the same day in some years and weeks apart in others; the timeline above has this term's. |
| Committee of conference | Where the second chamber changes a bill and the first will not agree, members of both try to write a version each will accept. Both chambers must then adopt the report unchanged, by the session's last deadline. |
| Veto day | The day a chamber meets to take up the Governor's vetoes. Overriding a veto takes two thirds of each chamber, by roll call. See The Governor and the Executive Council. |
| Retained | A House bill its committee keeps over the fall of the first year. It is reported in the second year, voted on like any other bill, and keeps its number. |
| Interim study | A second-year bill sent back to its committee to study the subject after the session. The committee may report on it in the fall, but the bill itself goes no further: to come back it must be filed again in the next term. See The General Court for how the two differ. |
In the Record
The Calendar has every hearing and session scheduled this week, and the House and Senate calendars and journals the dates above are read from.
The days each chamber actually sat, term by term: the House's session days and the Senate's. Each day's page retells what the chamber did, from its own journal. How a House session day runs, in order, is under How a Bill Becomes Law.
The status box on the home page says, in a line or two, whether the House and Senate are sitting and what comes next, and links back here.