Lawmakers Weigh Whether a Special Session Is Needed This Fall

Legislative leadership is weighing whether a special session will be necessary this fall to address budget items and pending policy proposals that did not reach resolution during the regular session earlier this year. No formal call has been issued, but conversations among leadership in both chambers have picked up in recent weeks, according to several legislative staffers.

"There's a real cost to waiting until January on some of these items," said one legislative aide familiar with the discussions. "But there's also a cost to calling members back to Charleston if the agenda isn't tight enough to justify it."

What Could Be on the Table

Among the items under discussion are funding adjustments tied to unexpected revenue shifts, a handful of regulatory proposals that stalled in committee, and follow-up legislation tied to infrastructure funding approved earlier this year. Leadership in both chambers has been cautious about publicly committing to a special session before there is broader agreement on what it would accomplish.

Governor's office staff have signaled openness to a special session if legislative leaders reach consensus on a defined agenda, but have not pushed for one unilaterally. A decision is expected within the next several weeks, giving legislators and staff time to prepare if a session is called.