July 31st was the last day of the formal legislative session. As has become routine, the Legislature chose to put off so much important work until the very last day and then bend time and make "July 31st" last well into the next morning. But for all that additional time, they left much important work unfinished.

The Legislature whiffed on several key negotiations in these final hours:

• No agreement on a climate bill
• No agreement on an economic development bill
• No agreement on a maternal health justice bill
• No agreement on hospital oversight or drug pricing bill

Legislators can only pass bills in informal session if no legislator objects. Given Republican opposition in both the House and the Senate to climate legislation, the Legislature must come back in person before the end of the session early next January if they are going to do anything meaningful on climate this session.