The legislative powers and functions of the Governor are:
- Summoning or proroguing the state legislature and dissolving the state legislative assembly.
- Addressing the state legislature at the commencement of the first session after each general election and the first session of each year.
- Sending messages to the house or houses of the state legislature regarding bills or otherwise.
- Appointing any member of the State legislative assembly to preside when Speaker and Deputy Speaker offices are vacant, and similarly for the state legislative council Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
- Nominating one-sixth of the members of the state legislative council from persons with special knowledge in literature, science, art, cooperative movement, and social service.
- (Before 2020) Nominating one member to the State Legislative Assembly from the Anglo-Indian community (discontinued by the 104th Amendment Act of 2019).
- Deciding on the question of disqualification of members of the state legislature in consultation with the Election Commission.
- Having alternatives when a bill passed by state legislature is sent for assent: giving assent, withholding assent, returning the bill (if not money bill) for reconsideration, or reserving the bill for President’s consideration.
- Promulgating ordinances when the state legislature is not in session (must be approved within six weeks of reassembly, can be withdrawn anytime).