2024 State Elections Toolkit
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Key Takeaways:

  • Prefiling is the term for the process when states allow legislation to be filed prior to the official start of a state's legislative session. The majority of states allow for prefiling, with the exception of 11 states.
  • Eight states are currently prefiling, with most others set to kick-off prefiling in November, December, and January.
  • Also check out our latest downloadable resource where we summarize the important legislative dates this fall and winter in each state, including prefiling dates and legislative session kick-off dates.


Prefiling is the term for the process when states allow legislation to be filed prior to the official start of a state's legislative session. The majority of states allow for prefiling — with the exception of 11 states (California, Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin). Check out the map below to see which states are currently prefiling, and the states that begin prefiling in the coming months. 

States Currently Prefiling for 2025

The following states are currently prefiling (as of October 16, 2024): Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Utah, and Virginia.

States with Upcoming Prefiling Dates for 2025

The following states will begin prefiling in the coming months. 

  • November 2024: Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. 

  • December 2024: Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Missouri,  North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.

  • January 2025: Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and New Mexico.

Important Upcoming Legislative Dates

Also check out our newest resource summarizing the important legislative dates this fall and winter in each state, including prefiling dates and legislative session kick-off dates. Click here to access this resource.

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MultiState