Gov. Bill Lee announced that the General Assembly will convene for a special session on August 23.

Lee released a statement on June 27 announcing that the primary purpose of the special session is to select a new Speaker of the House following Glen Casada’s resignation.

In addition, Lee has asked the General Assembly to take up approval of recent amendments to the Supreme Court rules.

South Carolina lawmakers met for a one-day special session June 25 to review several bills Gov. Henry McMaster recently vetoed.

The special session was held to consider Gov. McMaster’s 28 budget vetoes worth approximately $41 million.

Additionally, lawmakers considered a bill which allowed erasing of a public disorderly conduct charge for first offenders under certain conditions.

Lawmakers aren’t expected to return to the State House until session reconvenes in January.

Gov. David Ige signed a lobbying bill into law on June 25.

The bill removes statutory remnants from when lobbying violations resulted in criminal penalties.

Senate Bill 144 replaces “willfully” with “negligently” in the requirements of proof that a violation of the lobbyist law was committed for failure to file a statement or report.

Proceedings that were begun prior to the signing of the bill are not affected.

Additionally, rights and duties that matured and penalties that were incurred prior to the bill are not affected.

The bill became effective when signed.

The 129th Legislature adjourned sine die just after 6:45 a.m. on June 20 after six months in session.

During the session, Gov. Janet Mills signed amendments to the Maine Clean Election Act, clarifying disclosure requirements for political communications.

Legislative Document 1721 provides automated, pre-recorded telephone calls and scripted live telephone communications that name a clearly identified candidate must clearly state the name of the person who made or financed the expenditure for the communication and whether the communication was authorized by a candidate.

Disclosure must be made during the 28 days, including election day, before a primary election or the 35 days, including election day, before a special election or between Labor Day and the date of a general election.

The bill further provides whenever a person makes an expenditure exceeding $500 expressly advocating through prerecorded automated telephone calls or scripted live telephone calls for or against an initiative or referendum appearing on a ballot, the telephone calls must clearly state only the name of the person who made or financed the expenditure for the communication.

The amendments will take effect on September 19, 2019.

A federal judge blocked a state law that prevents candidates for public office from accepting campaign contributions more than two years before an election.

The ruling prompted an immediate appeal from the attorney general.

Plaintiff Peggy Jones of Pulaski County filed suit on April 5 over Arkansas Code 7-6-203(e).

Jones claimed the blackout period infringed on her First Amendment right of political expression by preventing her from donating money now to those she wishes to support as candidates in the 2022 election cycle.

Jones contended the blackout period is unconstitutional because it is not closely drawn to address the important governmental interest of preventing corruption.

She also claimed the law is over-broad because it bars all campaign contributions, including small contributions that do not present a potential for corruption.

U.S. District Judge James Moody Jr. granted a preliminary injunction on June 17, enjoining the state from enforcing the law during the pendency of the matter.

A special election will take place on August 20 followed by a runoff election on November 5.

The elections will fill a vacancy in House District 42.

Former Rep. Jimmy Martin held the seat until his passing in May.

A special primary election will take place on July 30 followed by a special election on October 1 to fill a vacancy in House District 84.

The seat is vacant after former Rep. Ronnie Young passed away in May.

A special primary runoff election is scheduled for August 31.

A special election will take place on August 13 with a primary expected July 16 to fill a vacancy in Ald. District 13.

Former Rep. Terry Witkowski, 74, resigned after serving since 2003.

A special election will take place on November 5 to fill a vacancy in House District 36.

Former Rep. Charles Blake left office to become Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott’s chief of staff.

The 101st General Assembly adjourned its spring session on Sunday, June 2 after going into overtime to address Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s agenda.

During the spring session, Senate Bill 1545 was introduced to prohibit a legislator from lobbying local government during his or her term of office.

The bill provided that a violation would constitute a Class A misdemeanor. The bill made its way to the Assignments Committee on March 22.

Similarly, Senate Bill 180 was introduced to prohibit a legislator from seeking future employment with a lobbying entity if that entity engages in lobbying with members of the General Assembly during the legislator’s term of office.

Senate Bill 180 would also ban state officials for a period of one year of their term of office from engaging in compensated lobbying with members of the General Assembly.

The bill made its way to the Assignments Committee on March 22.

The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene for a veto session in October.

The Alabama Legislature adjourned sine die on May 31, about two weeks ahead of schedule.

During the session, House Bill 289 passed, renewing the proposition that an individual acting as an economic development professional is not a lobbyist.

Additionally, Senate Bill 230 was introduced to remove the ban of lobbyist gifts to public officials.

Instead, a lobbyist or principal would be required to disclose a thing of value on the quarterly lobbyist report.

The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee but did not pass.

The Legislature is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, February 4, 2020.

The first regular session of the 57th Legislature adjourned on May 31 at 5 p.m, one week ahead of its constitutional deadline.

Senate Joint Resolution 22 was among the bills passed, rejecting amendments proposed by the Ethics Commission during the legislative session.

The resolution rejected a revolving door restriction that would have prohibited elected state officers and chief administrative officers from lobbying for two years following their terms of office.

Additionally, the resolution rejected a proposal to provide examples of activities that are not considered electioneering communications.

Examples include news or feature reporting activities and candidate debates.

The Legislature is schedule to reconvene on Monday, February 3, 2020.

Gov. Jared Polis signed The Clean Campaign Act of 2019 into law on May 29, increasing disclosure of political spending.

House Bill 1318 extends existing restrictions barring a foreign corporation from making independent expenditures.

Restrictions now include a natural person who is not a citizen of the United States or a foreign government.

The bill expands existing disclaimer requirements by requiring a disclaimer to include communication placed on a website, streaming media service, or an online forum for a fee, or that is otherwise distributed.

Additionally, the bill ensures that corporations spending money on ballot initiatives disclose that they paid for the communication.

The bill took effect upon the governor’s signature.

Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a resolution on May 28 to disapprove proposed amendments to the state ethics rules relating to lobbying and campaign finance.

Senate Joint Resolution 22 rejects rule amendments submitted by the Ethics Commission during the 2019 legislative session.

Among the proposals rejected was Proposed Rule 2019-01, which would have added a definition to “coordination” or “coordinated” for purposes of determining what is considered a contribution in a campaign for elected state office.

The resolution also disapproved Proposed Rule 2019-03, which would have provided a two-year waiting period before an individual who served as an elected state officer or chief administrative officer of a state agency may lobby, or be paid to influence an action of the legislature or the entity the officer previously served.

Proposed Rule 2019-04, which sought to prohibit candidates from directing contributions from a limited political action committee to one or more candidates or candidate committees, was also rejected.

The proposed rules would have taken effect after adjournment sine die of the legislative session.