More than 20,000 visitors attend the Hessian State Parliament - Hessian parliament breaks records with 12-hour debates and 31 new laws in 2021
The Hessian state parliament welcomed over 20,000 visitors in 2021. Lawmakers passed 31 bills while holding 28 plenary sessions across nine sitting weeks. The year saw record engagement and lengthy debates, including the longest session lasting over 12 hours.
Over the course of 2021, the Landtag hosted 20,200 guests. Nearly half—around 10,600—took part in guided tours, while 9,600 attended plenary debates. Students made up roughly one-third of all visitors.
Parliamentary work was intense. Committees met 239 times over 18 weeks, spending 403 hours in discussions. Plenary debates alone stretched across 209 hours, with the final session of the year running from 9:00 AM to 9:28 PM. Transcripts of these debates filled 2,255 pages by year’s end. A new digital educational programme was launched for schools and associations. Under President Astrid Wallmann, the Landtag continued expanding public access while maintaining a busy legislative schedule.
The Hessian parliament’s 2021 activities included 31 new laws and extensive public participation. With long debates, frequent committee meetings, and a focus on education, the Landtag remained active throughout the year. The final session’s 12-hour duration marked the longest of the period.
