State Sen. Jim Perry of Lenoir County resigned from the Legislature after lawmakers concluded this year’s chief work session.

Perry previously announced he was not seeking reelection due to personal time constraints.

Republicans will appoint a replacement to fill the Senate District 2 seat for the remainder of the year.

Lawmakers adjourned sine die on Thursday May 9.

Passed bills include compensation for college sports athletes which, if signed by the governor, allows colleges to directly support college athletes while they play for the school’s team.

Any bill left alive will have another chance during the 2025 session when all 170 seats of the Legislature will be up for reelection.

A special election will be held on April 9 to fill the vacancy in House District 139 due to the death of Rep. Richard Smith in January.

A runoff is scheduled for May 7, if necessary.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a special election will be held on Tuesday, February 13 to fill the vacancy in the 77th Assembly District.

The vacancy was created when Rep. Latoya Joyner resigned to pursue a different professional opportunity.

The winner of this election will serve the remainder of Joyner’s term ending in the fall.

Immediately following transparency complaints in early 2023, the state Senate moved to make financial disclosures of members available online.

Now, the Senate has gone further and voted to mandate public disclosure of additional information about personal finances and potential conflicts of interest.

Senators, along with their spouses and domestic partners, will now be required to file a more comprehensive form similar to those required of candidates for state office.

The form asks about employment; investment or other income greater than $5,000; board service; greater than 10% ownership of a company; leases or contracts with the state; and lobbying activities.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced special election dates for the 6th Congressional District seat.

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson is vacating the seat on January 21 to become the president of Youngstown State University.

A partisan primary is scheduled alongside the state primary election for March 19, with a separate general election scheduled for June 11.

The Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) of New York has been tasked with redrawing the state’s congressional map by New York’s highest court.

This decision to create a new map is due to a lawsuit brought against the IRC by voters after the Legislature was forced to create the most recent congressional maps rather than the IRC.

The new congressional map will need to make its way to the Legislature by the end of February in order to be in effect for the upcoming 2024 elections.

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New Hampshire Rep. Troy Merner has announced his resignation.

New Hampshire law requires a member of the House to live in the district they represent.

Following an investigation, Merner was found to be living in another district for over a year.

Gov. Lamont called for a second special session to convene on September 26.

This session is seeking the approval of several pieces of legislation, including changing the date set by state statute for Connecticut to hold its presidential preference primary and also authorizing the Office of Secretary of the State to retain election monitors in certain municipalities.

Connecticut is currently one of the last states in the nation to hold its presidential primary.

The legislation being considered will move the date of the primary up four weeks from the last Tuesday in April to the first Tuesday in April.

Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver died unexpectedly after a brief hospitalization on Tuesday, August 1.

At the time, Oliver was acting governor while Gov. Phil Murphy was out of the country.

In the absence of both Murphy and Oliver, the duties of acting governor went to Senate President Nicholas Scutari.

Oliver’s three-decade political career includes becoming the first Black woman to hold a New Jersey statewide elected office.

Under the state Constitution, Murphy now has 45 days to select a successor for Oliver’s elected position.

Gov. Jim Justice called a special legislative session convening on Sunday, August 6.

The proclamation issued for this special session lists 44 items for consideration including the creation of a new state park and several bills regarding the state correctional officer shortage.

This special session is expected to last through at least Tuesday, August 8.

Vermont legislature held a veto session on Tuesday, June 20.

During the day-long session, lawmakers successfully overrode five gubernatorial vetoes.

The bills now passed include House Bill 217, which institutes a new payroll tax to raise revenue for child care, and House Bill 305 relating to the Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation.

Notably, lawmakers also overrode the Governor’s veto on the 2024 state budget thanks to a 105-42 vote in the House and a 25-5 vote in the Senate.

The three bills that were vetoed but did not come up for a vote during the override session are eligible to be overridden when the legislature reconvenes in January 2024.

The general assembly officially ended the 2023 legislative session on June 16.

Lawmakers passed a bevy of bills addressing procurement small purchase limits, contribution limits, and primary election dates.

House Bill 5962 and Senate Bill 0846 raise the minimum aggregate reporting limit for candidates and committees of all contributions received and expenditures made from any one source within a calendar year from $100 to $200.

The bills also raise the contribution limit for individuals and political action committees from $1,000 to $2,000 per year.

If signed by the Governor the bills would take effect on January 1, 2024.

House Bill 5463 increases the maximum state and municipal small purchase limits from $10,000 to $25,000 for construction projects and from $5,000 to $10,000 for all other state and municipal purchases.

If signed by the governor this bill will take effect on December 31, 2023.

Finally, House Bill 6033 allows the first Tuesday after the first Monday in the month preceding the special election to be available to hold the special primary. This bill has been signed by the Governor and will take effect immediately.