On March 13, the Legislature adjourned until Tuesday, March 24, due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

The State House will be closed for cleaning and all staff except essential security and IT personnel will work remotely.

Legislative leaders will reevaluate whether to extend the break after the one-week closure.

On March 12, Niagara County Supreme Court Judge Boniello struck down changes to the state’s election laws recommended by the Campaign Finance Reform Commission.

The commission’s recommendations included the creation of a voluntary public campaign finance system.

Additionally, it recommended setting new contribution limits to candidates for state public office.

The court found the Legislature improperly delegated legislative action powers to the commission, which is a function reserved solely to the Legislature under the state’s constitution.

The court noted the recommendations of the commission did not follow proper procedure as mandated by the constitution.

Historically, this is followed by lawmakers when it became law without further action by the Legislature.

After the ruling, lawmakers may accept and pass the commission’s recommendations into law by statute.

Due to concerns over COVID-19, the Delaware General Assembly has postponed the legislative session for one week until March 24.

Lawmakers were originally expected to return next week to discuss the state budget.

Starting today, the Capitol building will be closed to the public including tours and official meetings.

Legislators will reevaluate how to manage the rest of the legislative session on a weekly basis.

The closure does not affect any lobbyist reporting.

The New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) announced their policy on COVID-19 and lobbying filings.

Upon request, JCOPE will grant reasonable extensions to filers who may not be able to meet the upcoming filing deadline due to a COVID-19 issue.

If a filer misses the deadline due to COVID-19 related issues, please contact the JCOPE help desk at:

• • • (518) 408-3976
    • helpdesk@jcope.ny.gov

Please contact as soon as possible to discuss a reasonable accommodation.

On March 11, Gov. Ned Lamont declared a public health emergency and civil preparedness emergency in effect through September 9, unless terminated earlier.

Legislative leaders also announced the closure of the Capitol complex.

Additionally, meetings for Thursday, March 12, through Sunday, March 15, are canceled.

The closure allows the Capitol and Legislative Office Building to be cleaned due to concerns with the coronavirus.

The General Assembly will return to Hartford on Monday, March 16, to reschedule the canceled meetings.

They will also discuss legislation proposed by the governor for an emergency relief package, and to prevent price-gouging during times of emergencies.

The closure does not immediately affect lobbyist reporting.

On February 19, State Rep. David Nangle announced his resignation from Middlesex District 17.

Rep. Nangle was arrested by the FBI and the IRS on federal charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, filing false tax returns, and making false statements to a bank.

Nangle was indicted for using campaign funds to pay for personal expenses, defraud his bank lender, and collect income he did not report to the IRS.

A date to conduct a special election will be announced to fill the vacancy.

On February 14, State Rep. Matt Trieber announced his resignation from the Windham-3 District.

Trieber resigned his legislative seat to focus on his job as a youth counselor.

Gov. Phil Scott will appoint a nominee to fill the vacancy from the same party as the departing representative.

On February 19, Gov. Murphy released a legislative package of Ethics and Transparency Reforms.

The legislative package contains five bills with the aim to strengthen restrictions on lobbying, enhance financial disclosures, and increase public access.

The lobbying bill requires lobbying firms and companies to disclose when a person or firm is hired to provide professional services other than lobbying.

Additionally, the bill reduces the registration threshold from 20 hours of lobbying to one hour per calendar year.

The bill will prohibit legislators and their staff from accepting any gift related to their public duties.

Furthermore, the bill aligns the gift rules to the same standard currently governing executive branch employees.

The legislative package also extends the one-year cooling off period for the governor, cabinet, and legislators to two years before being able to register as lobbyists.

Gov. Murphy also introduced a bill to increase transparency and requires bills or resolutions not to be voted on unless their final form has been publicly available for 72 hours on the Legislature’s website.

The governor is also expected to issue other executive actions regarding requirements for those that do business with the state.

The bill proposals were sent to Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Coughlin for review.

On February 3, State Representative Melissa Shusterman introduced a bill amending the revolving door provision.

The bill requires public officials to wait one year after their term of office before lobbying.

House Bill 2263 establishes a lifetime ban for public officials from lobbying the governmental body they were associated with.

The bill also increases the waiting period for former public employees from one to two years.

If passed, this act takes effect in 60 days after enactment.

On February 3, a bill was introduced in the New Jersey Assembly establishing the Local Governmental Process Activities Disclosure Act.

Assembly Bill 2432 extends the same disclosure, reporting, and other requirements that govern the activities of governmental affairs agents to their activities with respect to all local government levels.

If passed, this act takes effect immediately.

On December 19, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics launched the system-generated Client Semiannual Report (CSA) feature on the state’s online Lobbying Application system.

Contractual clients who lobby on their own behalf and do not utilize the services of any retained lobbyists are not required to file CSA reports.

Instead, system-generated CSA reports will be created with information directly imported from filed lobbyist bimonthly reports covering the applicable reporting period.

The system will not create a system-generated CSA if an Employed Principal Lobbyist has submitted a CSA report for the January to June reporting period.

Also, contractual clients are still required to disclose sources of funding or indicate source of funding reporting is not required.

No filing fee is required for system-generated CSA reports except to add retained lobbyist information.

Adding retained lobbyists requires a $50 filing fee and filing CSA reports going forward.

The Connecticut General Assembly is scheduled to convene for a special session on December 18.

The special legislative session is to vote on issues regarding a hospital tax settlement and a restaurant workers wage bill.

Gov. Ned Lamont and the Legislature also agreed to convene a special session in early January to address a bonding bill and a long-term infrastructure plan.

The Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced a special election for January 28 for House District 171.

The seat is vacant after Rep. Jay Powell unexpectedly died in November while attending a Republican leadership retreat.

A runoff election is scheduled for February 25 if no candidate receives a majority of the vote during the special election.

The winner of the election will serve the remaining year of Powell’s term.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced a special election on January 21, 2020 for House District 151.

The seat for House District 151 was vacated earlier this week by Rep. Fred Camillo after being elected first selectman of Greenwich in November.

The winner of the special election will complete the remaining year of Camillo’s term.