The Texas Legislature adjourned its third special session November 7 and announced a fourth special session on the same day to address the unresolved issue of school vouchers.

In Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session proclamation, he acknowledged the Texas Legislature made progress over the past month protecting Texans from forced COVID-19 vaccinations and increasing penalties for human smuggling but said more work must be done.

The agenda items of the fourth special session include the establishment of an education savings account program, and state border security.

A special election will be held to fill the vacant seat in Senate District 32 that was held by John Michael Montgomery.

Montgomery resigned from his seat in the Oklahoma Senate to take a position as the President and CEO of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce.

The special primary election will be held on Tuesday, October 10.

If a special primary election is not necessary, the special general election will be held on Tuesday, December 12.

The Aurora City Clerk’s Office increased campaign finance contribution limits August 1 following a city code mandate.

A person, political committee, or non-municipal political organization may not make aggregate contributions to a candidate committee or recall defense committee more than $450 to any one candidate in any one ward race or more than $1,150 to any one candidate in any at-large or mayoral race.

A small donor committee is limited to aggregate contributions to a candidate committee or recall defense committee of $4,500 to any one candidate in any one ward race or $11,500 to any one candidate in any at-large or mayoral race.

The adjustments are based on an amount calculated by the Colorado Secretary of State as prescribed in the Colorado Constitution.

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The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office issued a notice of temporary adoption of rules taking immediate effect, implementing contribution limit increases consistent with Constitutional requirements.

The Colorado Constitution requires contribution limits to be adjusted based upon the percentage change over a four-year period in the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Denver-Boulder-Greeley.

The Secretary of State’s Office calculates the adjustment for each limit and specifies the limits in promulgated rules.

Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and state treasurer may now accept $725 per election from individuals and political committees, and $7,825 per election from small donor committees.

Additionally, candidates for state Legislature, state Board of Education, University of Colorado regent, and district attorney may now accept $225 per election from individuals and political committees, and $3,100 per election from small donor committees.

Other increases include contribution limits of $23,600 per calendar year from small donor committees to a political party at the state, county, district, and local levels combined.

The next adjustment will take place in the first quarter of 2027.

Kansas lawmakers are considering a bill that would diminish the state campaign finance laws and the powers of the governmental ethics commission.

Sponsored by the House Committee on Elections, House Bill 2391 would allow candidates to donate money to a third-party, such as a political committee or party, and instruct the funds be routed to another campaign or entity.

The bill would legalize the ability to make a political contribution in the name of another person or entity, meaning an individual could donate the maximum amount allowed to a given candidate and then route funds through additional sources.

House Bill 2391 would end the ethics commission’s subpoena power unless it can establish probable cause and impose a two-year statute of limitations on campaign finance violations, ending any active investigations on activity that took place after 2021.

If passed, the bill would become effective July 1.

The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office has increased campaign contribution limits for the 2023-2024 election cycle.

An individual may now contribute $5,400 per election cycle to a candidate committee for statewide office and legislative office.

Additionally, an individual may contribute $6,650 per election cycle to a candidate committee for district, county, town, and city office.

Contribution limits for PACs have also increased. A PAC without Mega PAC status may contribute $5,400 per election cycle to a candidate for statewide office.

In contrast, a PAC with Mega PAC status may contribute $10,800 per election cycle to candidates for statewide and legislative office, and $13,300 per election cycle to candidates for district, county, town, and city office.

These increases are implemented by the secretary of state in January of odd-numbered years.

Arizona voters approved a constitutional amendment creating the position of lieutenant governor.

Under Proposition 131, the lieutenant governor would be elected on a joint ticket with the governor and would succeed the governor in case of a vacancy.

Arizona is one of five states without a lieutenant governor position.

As of 8:30 a.m. November 9, with 58% of the precincts reporting, the amendment passed 55% to 45%.

Arizona voters approved a campaign finance ballot measure requiring disclosure of original campaign donors.

Proposition 211 requires that anyone making independent expenditures of more than $50,000 on a statewide campaign or $25,000 on a local campaign to disclose the names of the money’s original sources, defined as the persons or businesses that earned the money being spent.

Organizations that fail to disclose would face a fine equal to the amount contributed, or up to three times that amount.

Proposition 211 applies to corporations, nonprofit groups and charities that currently are not required to disclose the names of the people who give money to political campaigns that the organization backs.

As of 8:15 a.m. November 9, with 59% of the precincts reporting, the amendment passed 72.7% to 27.3%.

The third special session of the Hawaii Senate on judicial appointments adjourned sine die October 20.

The appointments considered were nominees Timothy E. Ho for District Court of the First Circuit; John Alberto Montalbano for District Family Court of the First Circuit; and James S. Kawashima for the Circuit Court of the First Circuit.

Lobbyists and lobbyist employers who engage in lobbying activities or who make expenditures for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative action considered during a special session must file a special report on or before November 19, covering the period from May 1 through October 20.

The Hawaii Senate convened a third special session on October 19 to consider and confirm judicial appointments.

The appointments being considered are nominees Timothy E. Ho for District Court of the First Circuit; John Alberto Montalbano for District Family Court of the First Circuit; and James S. Kawashima for the Circuit Court of the First Circuit.

Lobbyists and lobbyist employers who engage in lobbying activities or who make expenditures for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative action considered during a special session must file a special report within 30 days of adjournment sine die of the special session, covering the period from May 1 through adjournment sine die of the special session.

The adjournment date of the third special session has not yet been announced.

On November 8, Arizona voters will decide on a campaign finance ballot measure that would require disclosing names of original campaign donors.

Proposition 211 would require that anyone making independent expenditures of more than $50,000 on a statewide campaign or $25,000 on a local campaign to disclose the names of the money’s original sources, which would be defined as the persons or businesses that earned the money being spent.

Organizations that fail to disclose would face a fine equal to the amount contributed, or up to three times that amount.

Proposition 211 would apply to corporations, nonprofit groups and charities that currently are not required to disclose the names of the people who give money to political campaigns that the organization backs.

The proposition would pertain only to spending on political advertising and would be administered by The Citizens Clean Elections Commission.

The Colorado Department of State approved permanent revisions to Campaign and Political Finance Rule 1505-6.

The rule amendments include setting contribution limits to candidates for school district director from persons other than small donor committees for any regular biennial or special school election in the amount of $2,500; setting contribution limits to candidates for school district director from small donor committees for any regular biennial or special school election in the amount of $25,000; and changing the post-election report filing deadline from 30 days to 35 days.

The rules will become permanently effective 20 days after publication in the Colorado Register.

An Arizona campaign finance bill passed that amends reporting requirements for political action committees and political parties.

Senate Bill 1355 provides for a calendar quarter without an election, a political action committee and political party must file a quarterly report no later than the third Monday in the month after the calendar quarter.

Previously the report was due the 15th day after the calendar quarter.

The bill takes effect September 24.