Speaker of the House Nicholas A. Mattiello and President of the Senate Dominick J. Ruggerio, in collaboration with the Department of Health, have announced sessions and all committee hearings for the week of March 23 to March 27 have been canceled.

The General Assembly had previously canceled sessions for the week of March 16 to March 20 due to COVID-19.

This does not affect any lobbyist reporting.

On March 19, Gov. Ned Lamont signed Executive Order No. 7G to reschedule the presidential primary election for April 28 to Tuesday, June 2.

The election was rescheduled due to the ongoing public health crisis caused by COVID-19.

The executive order is the governor’s eighth since enacting the civic preparedness and public health emergency declarations to slow down transmission of the coronavirus.

On March 19, Gov. Phil Murphy issued Executive Order 105 to implement changes to state elections in response to COVID-19.

The executive order postpones local elections to be held on March 21, March 31, and April 21 until May 12 the same day as scheduled municipal elections.

The executive order also requires all elections held on May 12 to be done exclusively by vote-by-mail ballots.

Due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the New York City Office of the City Clerk has announced an extension for the lobbyist activity report.

The current report covers the period of January to February.

The lobbyist activity report is now due on March 31.

The Maine Legislature adjourned sine die on March 17 due to concerns with COVID-19.

Before adjournment, lawmakers were able to pass a supplemental budget with provisions in response to the coronavirus.

During the shortened legislative session, lawmakers also passed Legislative Document 1867.

Legislative Document 1867 amends lobbyist reporting requirements and an expands sexual harassment training.

A registered lobbyist is required to file monthly reports beginning the month they register through the lobbying year.

However, after the legislative session is concluded, if the lobbyist anticipates no further lobbying for a client, the lobbyist may file a request for a non-session waiver with their final monthly report for the session.

On March 19, the Senate will convene a voting session regarding emergency bills to address COVID-19.

All other Senate and Assembly committee meetings and sessions that scheduled for the month of March have been cancelled.

These actions do not affect lobbyist reporting.

Due to COVID-19, the New Hampshire General Court has suspended all legislative activities through April 10.

During this time, the State House will be closed to legislative members, legislative staff, and visitors.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

On March 11, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey permanently enjoined the state from enforcing Senate Bill 150.

The bill was signed by the governor last June and was scheduled to take effect on October 15, 2019.

The dark money bill required independent expenditure committees to report contributions in excess of $10,000.

Additionally, the bill required reporting of expenditures in excess of $3,000 to the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

The order does not prevent the Legislature to revisit the issue with new legislation.

The New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics announced an extension for the submission of bimonthly lobbyist activity reports.

This will allow the due date for the January to February reporting period to extend until Tuesday, March 31.

JCOPE extended the deadline due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

Effective immediately, JCOPE also suspended hand-delivery of paper filings to their Albany office until March 31.

As an alternative, filers may submit filings using the online filing system or via regular mail, provided filers use a sponge to seal the envelope.

This extension does not affect clients of lobbyists as statutory filings for client semiannual reports are not due until July 15.

On March 15, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the postponement of the Queens Special Election for Borough President scheduled for March 24.

Mayor de Blasio postponed the special election due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

No new date has been set and acting Borough President Sharon Lee will continue her tenure until the special election is rescheduled.

Due to ongoing concerns with COVID-19, the Maine Legislature will suspend the legislative session on Tuesday, March 17.

Lawmakers will meet to consider bills relating to the supplemental budget and legislation regarding coronavirus response before adjourning.

Currently, the scheduled suspension is indefinite and no timeframe to reconvene lawmakers has been announced.

Until March 30, the State House will only be open to legislators, staff, and members of the press.

On March 12, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law Legislative Document 1867 clarifying lobbyist reporting and registration requirements.

The bill requires lobbyists to file a separate report for expenditures totaling over $300 in a calendar month.

Expenditures include those made to or on behalf of covered officials by the lobbyist, lobbyist associate or lobbying firm without reimbursement from an employer.

Legislative Document 1867 also defines a lobbying firm as a partnership, corporation, limited liability company or unincorporated association that employs or contracts with more than one lobbyist or lobbyist associate.

Additionally, the firm receives or is entitled to receive compensation for engaging in lobbying either directly or through its employees.

The bill also expands the annual harassment training to include lobbyist associates.

Legislative Document 1867 is effective December 1, 2020.

Due to ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19, the General Court is suspending all legislative activities for at least one week.

The legislature will be closed from March 16 to March 20.

The State House will be closed to legislative members, staff, and visitors but remains open for governmental operations until further notice.

This closure does not affect lobbyist reporting.

On March 16, the Legislature announced the postponement of the session until later this week due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

Lawmakers hope to resume the session on Wednesday to take action on coronavirus legislation and the state budget.

This will not affect lobbyist reporting.