It’s been a few weeks since the legislature adjourned for the Holiday break following the 2024 Fall Veto Session. Since the start of the holiday break, State Senator Sue Rezin has been busy around the district speaking with local groups, meeting with constituents, and attending various events to better understand the challenges and concerns affecting the community.
While this scheduled break may serve as an opportunity for Senators to be home in their districts, it’s also the time when they start the drafting process for bills they plan to file for the new General Assembly, which is set to begin on Inauguration Day, January 8, 2025.
Prior to Inauguration Day, Senators are expected to come back sometime between January 2nd and January 7th for a “lame duck session.” In years when they occur, lame duck sessions are held after the election and fall veto session, but before newly elected officials are sworn in. It’s widely seen as a time when outgoing legislators may be more likely to vote in favor of controversial legislation without fear of political repercussions.
The most recent lame duck session took place in in January of 2023 and saw the passage of a weapons ban and an expansion of abortion services. In 2021, lame duck session led to the passage of the controversial SAFE-T Act, and back in 2011, it led to the passage of a 67% increase in the income tax.