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.

The Vermont Legislature adjourned on Friday, May 12 after passing bills including an $8.4 billion state budget, expanded child care, and housing issues. Gov. Scott is expected to veto the budget, which will cause legislators to return to the statehouse and find a compromise. The Legislature is scheduled to return from June 20 to June 22 for a veto session.

The Virginia Legislature adjourned the regular session on February 25 after 46 days.

Lawmakers considered over 2,800 pieces of legislation during this time and managed to pass over 1,600 bills in both the House and Senate.

Notably, the Legislature passed a “mini-budget” providing funding for urgent items for the state.

Budget negotiations will continue and the Legislature is scheduled to reconvene on April 12.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced a special session during her State of the State address on March 7.

This session will begin March 8 and will focus on allocating the remaining $1.1 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan.

Among the issues to be covered will be how to both pay debts and invest in broadband and water infrastructure projects.

Republican state lawmakers announced a new ethics bill titled the Ohio Ethics and Financial Disclosure Reform Act.

The bill would require all lobbying income to be reported and sourced directly to the clients they represent.

The bill would also prohibit elected officials from getting paid to serve on corporate boards unless the seat was held prior to taking office and the official has ownership in the corporation.

Nominees hoping to serve on the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will have to disclose any income, previous business relationships, or ties to entities regulated by the PUC.

The bill does not have a number and has not been formally introduced.

Gov. Tom Wolf ordered a special session of the General Assembly to begin Monday, January 9.

Both chambers have been called back to Harrisburg to consider a proposed amendment to Pennsylvania’s constitution seeking to aid survivors of child sexual abuse.

Lawmakers have until January 27 to act on the amendment in order for it to make it onto the May primary ballot.

New York has expanded the ethics training requirements as part of the new Ethics Reform Act of 2022.

Lobbyists, contractual clients, and beneficial clients will now be required to take the new Ethics for Lobbyists and Clients online course available January 18.

For purposes of training compliance by organizations, the chief administrative officer is responsible for taking the training on behalf of the organization.

Those registered before the course launch will have until March 18 to complete training.

In order to avoid duplicate training, co-lobbyists and sub-lobbyists listed on a 2023-2024 Statement of Registration will not be required to take the training until they submit their own registration.

Arkansas lawmakers adjourned from their special session on August 11.

Legislation passed includes an expedited process for corporate and individual tax cuts.

The Legislature also approved an appropriation of $50 million for a school safety grant.

This does affect lobbying reporting.

The August special session triggered a lobbyist activity report due September 10.

Ohio State Sen. Sandra Williams announced her resignation this week to take a position in the public sector two months before the end of her term.

Along with resigning from the 21^st Senate District seat, Williams has also withdrawn her name as a candidate for Ohio’s 18^th House District.

The resignation will go into effect on Monday, June 6, and will not trigger a special election in the state.

The South Carolina Legislature adjourned on Thursday, May 12.

Passed bills included early voting procedures and expanded access to birth control.

The Legislature will meet again in a special session scheduled to be held June 15 focusing on the state budget and any bills vetoed by the governor.

Last week Tennessee lawmakers overwhelmingly passed House Bill 1201, which requires 501(c)4 organizations to disclose any expenses over $5,000 in the 60 days leading up to an election when using candidate names and images.

The bill seeks to create more transparency for dark-money groups and enhances disclosure laws around campaign service companies.

The bill now goes to Gov. Bill Lee for approval.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for a special session to consider legislation related to property insurance.

This session will convene on May 23 and adjourn no later than May 27.

The main purpose of the special session is to make changes to the Florida Building Code in order to improve the affordability of property insurance prior to the next Atlantic hurricane season.

West Virginia’s special session adjourned on April 26.

Lawmakers planned on dealing with 17 bills, but many did not pass.

The most debated bill was Senate Bill 2001, which eventually passed after being vetoed by the governor due to technical errors.

The bill appropriates $250 million to be used to upgrade infrastructure in municipalities of the state.

The 444^th Maryland General Assembly adjourned from its 90-day session on April 11 with over 600 bills being passed as of Monday morning.

Passed legislation includes a compromise increasing local budgets for highway repairs, additional measures to enhance Maryland’s cybersecurity response, and bills aimed toward accelerating the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.