Legislature redesignates day after governor closes state offices for severe weather; resolution deadline moved

The presiding officer opened the March 16, 2026, session by announcing that, following Governor Josh Green’s decision to close state offices on March 13 because of potentially severe weather, the senate president and the speaker jointly agreed to cancel the previously scheduled day and redesignate March 16 as the legislative day 27.

"Following Governor Josh Green's announcement that the state offices would be closed on Friday, 03/13/2026 due to potentially severe weather conditions, the senate president and I jointly decided that the legislature would also be closed," the presiding officer said.

As part of that scheduling change, the House and senate leaders moved the introduction deadline for substantive resolutions from March 13 to March 16, 2026; the presiding officer asked members to file any substantive resolutions with the chief clerk’s office by 6:00 p.m. that day. The House later voted to keep the journal open until 6:00 p.m. to receive resolutions for introduction.

The House then completed routine business, heard a series of gallery introductions for students and guests, and recessed until 12:00 noon the following day. The transcript records the procedural changes and the deadline move but does not indicate additional executive actions tied to the weather closure.