Key takeaways
- In 2026, 46 state legislatures held regular sessions; Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Texas meet in odd-numbered years.
- Most sessions convene in January. A few start later, including Louisiana, Arkansas and North Carolina.
- Forty-six states start their fiscal year on July 1; New York starts April 1, Texas September 1, and Alabama and Michigan October 1.
- Many states adopt two-year budgets, so the biggest funding decisions may come only every other year.
Why legislative calendars matter to vendors
State legislatures pass the budgets and programs that pay for many state and local purchases. New money usually flows after a session ends and the new fiscal year begins.
When a legislature funds a new program, expands grants to local governments or sets a new mandate, agencies start planning how to spend or comply. Vendors who follow sessions know which agencies are about to have budget and can start conversations before solicitations are written.
When state legislatures meet
- Annual sessions: in 2026, 46 state legislatures held regular sessions.
- Odd-year only: Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Texas hold regular sessions only in odd-numbered years.
- January starts: most legislatures convene in January.
- Later starts: in 2026, several convened later, including Connecticut, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oregon and Wyoming in February, Louisiana in March, and Arkansas and North Carolina in April. Indiana's session convened in December 2025.
Session lengths vary widely, from short sessions of a few weeks to legislatures that meet for much of the year. Special sessions can be called at any time, often for budgets or emergencies.
When state fiscal years start
| Fiscal year starts | States |
|---|---|
| July 1 | 46 states |
| April 1 | New York |
| September 1 | Texas |
| October 1 | Alabama and Michigan |
For federal, local and school district fiscal years, see our government fiscal year calendar.
Annual and biennial budgets
Some states adopt a budget every year; others adopt a two-year (biennial) budget. In biennial states, the major funding decisions come in one session, with smaller adjustments in between. North Carolina, for example, budgets on a biennial cycle. Know which kind of state you're selling into, because the session that adopts the budget matters most.
How to use the legislative calendar in your sales plan
- Track budget bills in your priority states during session, and note new or expanded programs in your category.
- Watch for grants to local governments and new mandates, which often create purchases at the city, county or school district level.
- Reach agencies after the budget passes and before the new fiscal year, when they're planning how to spend new money.
- Plan around odd-year states. In Texas, Montana, Nevada and North Dakota, the big decisions come in odd-numbered years.
- Combine with local calendars. State money often flows through local budgets with their own timing.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group times outreach to the budget cycle, reaching agencies while they're planning how to spend new money. See how our B2G lead generation works.
Sources: Ballotpedia, dates of 2026 state legislative sessions; NCSL, FY 2027 state budget status; NCSL 2026 session calendar.