While a regular session is limited to 60 days and must end by April 15, the short session is limited to 30 days, and must end by March 30. Kentucky didn't always have short sessions; prior to a constitutional amendment in 2000, the General Assembly met biennially.
Senator Donald Douglas, a Republican representing Fayette, Garrard, and Jessamine counties, says he brings a different mindset to short sessions.
"The short sessions were really meant as cleanup sessions," explained Douglas
The biggest difference between the two types of sessions, besides length, is the budget. Kentucky’s biennial budget is passed in even years. Douglas says that leaves the odd years – the short sessions – to review, refine, or reject existing legislation.
"That really is one of my big hopes: that we will - instead of trying to pass a bunch of bills - take the time, take a deep breath, and go back and review some of the things that we as a General Assembly have done since I've been here," said Douglas. "If they're not working for the people of the Commonwealth, let's do some things to amend them and adjust them so they can, or let's get rid of them because they're not beneficial."
The 2025 legislative session will begin Tuesday, January 7.