Effective Date of Bills Enacted Without a Safety Clause

In 2024, if the general assembly adjourns sine die on the 120th legislative day, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the 90-day period following adjournment expires on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. The effective date for bills not petitioned is therefore 12:01 a.m., on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, the day following the expiration of the 90-day period.

If a bill is enacted without a safety clause but includes an act subject to petition clause and an effective date is not indicated, the effective date is the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the General Assembly that is allowed for submitting a referendum petition pursuant to article V, section 1 (3) of the state Constitution unless a referendum petition is filed against the act within such time period. If a referendum petition is filed, the act, if approved by the people, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by proclamation of the Governor or the date indicated in the act if it is later than the Governor's proclamation. The source note for a provision contained in such an act will indicate the actual date following the ninety-day period or the date set out in the act. If a referendum petition is filed, the date in the source note will be adjusted accordingly in the next publication following the election where the referendum petition is considered.