State of the Territory Pushed to Jan. 28

After organizing and approving a bill designating new officers, committees and chairs, members of the 33rd Legislature recessed their first session Monday until Jan. 28 to give the governor more time to prepare his first State of the Territory address.

In a letter read into the record during Monday’s session, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. explained that last year’s runoff election shortened the transition timeline by two weeks. With the address originally scheduled for Jan. 14, Bryan said extra time was needed to make a “thorough” report to the people, and requested an extension until Jan. 28.

The Legislature doesn’t have the authority to change the date, but members did agree to a longer recess, which would give Bryan until Jan. 28 to deliver his speech.