Stapilus: Different sessions

In theory, there isn’t much difference in Idaho between the first session of a legislative term, and the second one – like the one just started. The differences are not exactly subtle but, if informal, they are real, and they can affect the laws the state lives with for years to come. Many states differentiate clearly between the “odd-year” session, the one (like 2015) right after election year, and the “even-year” session held early within an election year. Washington, for example, has a 105-day limit (a limit often violated anyway) on its odd-year sessions, but just 60 days on its even-year. Until recently Oregon had regular legislative sessions only in odd years; now it allows 160 days in the odd year and 35 in the even. (Idaho has no formal limit on its session length.) There are also some differences in what is routinely considered in those sessions, and what isn’t/ Randy Stapilus , Ridenbaugh Press. More here .