Impact to State Revenues ‘Like Nothing We’ve Seen Before’

The impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on state budgets will be “like nothing we’ve ever seen before,” officials said during a webinar Friday held by the National Conference of States Legislatures.

State lawmakers, forced to end sessions early in many cases, will be looking toward special sessions later in the year to get their economies moving again after such a huge hit on their finances.

“The estimates we’re seeing for reduced revenues are significant,” said Erica MacKellar, liaison to the National Association of Legisaltive Fiscal Offices, a professional staff association of the NCSL. “Those states reliant on sales ...