Gov. Jared Polis signed the Lobbyist Transparency Act into law on May 20, shining new light on the disclosure requirements of lobbyists and their clients.

House Bill 1248 increases transparency by stopping attorneys registered as professional lobbyists from asserting confidentiality in order to conceal client information and lobbying activity.

The bill provides that when the general assembly is in regular or special session, a professional lobbyist must notify the secretary of state within 72 hours of agreeing to lobby in connection with new legislation or taking a new position on a new or existing bill for a new or existing client.

Additionally, the bill instructs the secretary of state to form a working group to upgrade the electronic filing system in order to ease the use of data reported and to increase overall transparency.

The secretary of state must convene the working group no later than July 1, and the group must meet at least once before December 31.

The first regular session of the 100th General Assembly adjourned May 17 at 6 p.m. after four months in session.

Several lobbying bills were introduced, including House Joint Resolution 48 which made its way to the Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee.

The committee voted do not pass on May 13. The bill would have banned all lobbyist gifts to lawmakers instead of the current $5 maximum limit.

Similarly, House Bill 1199 was introduced to amend the definition of a lobbyist principal to add an entity with authority to direct the lobbyists’ activities. The bill made its way through the Legislative Oversight Committee but did not pass either chamber.

The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on January 15, 2020.

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will introduce three city charter amendments on May 17 addressing ethics and campaign finance restrictions.

The proposed reforms would ban lobbyists from giving gifts of more than $5 to city elected officials.

The amendments would also restrict individuals or entities seeking city contracts from donating to a candidate for a city elected office between 90 days before the city seeks bidders and 90 days after the contract has been awarded.

The package would further bar contributions to candidates for city office made with the intent to conceal the identify of such donations’ actual source.

This restriction would apply to contributions made to committees that donate to a candidate’s campaign.

If endorsed by the board, the three city charter amendments would go before voters who must approve by a three-fifths majority at the November 2020 election.

The Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s Office approved a petition on May 13 to collect signatures to recall Rep. Tom Sullivan in House District 37.

More than 10,000 signatures are needed by July 12 to force a recall election for Sullivan’s replacement.

Former Rep. Rochelle Galindo was also facing a recall election but resigned on May 12.

A Democratic vacancy committee will name Galindo’s replacement.

The 123rd General Assembly adjourned at 5 p.m. Thursday after approving a resolution allowing lawmakers to reconvene for a statewide session beginning May 20.

Concurrent Resolution 785 provides that the General Assembly meet in a statewide session to consider special matters including any vetoes by Gov. Henry McMaster.

Additionally, the Assembly will consider bills that have passed both Houses in different versions and are in a conference committee.

The General Assembly will return at noon on May 20 and continue until not later than 5 p.m. on May 22.

Business women in the Greater Akron Region gathered to honor Chief Meteorologist Betsy Kling at the Greater Akron Chamber’s Knowledgeable Network of Women (KNOW) Empowering Women Luncheon on May 8 at the Fairlawn Hilton.

As WKYC-TV’s first female chief meteorologist and creator of Channel 3’s Weather Education Day with the Cleveland Indians, Kling addressed the daily challenges professional women face in striving to manage work and family life.

Kling narrated her journey in building her career and emphasizing the importance of setting aside occasional personal time.

She said taking time for herself strengthens the way she is able to help those around her.

A special election will take place on October 8 for City Council Districts 1, 6, and 7.

The seats were filled through appointments following vacancies late last year and early January.

The council appointed Clinton Woods to the District 1 seat formerly held by current Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales.

Crystal Smitherman was appointed to the District 6 seat previously held by current Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson.

Following the resignation of Jay Roberson, who left the council after moving to Alabaster, the council appointed Wardine Alexander to the District 7 seat.

The 111th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned May 2 after a nearly four-month session.

During the session, Senate Bill 234 passed requiring any multicandidate political campaign committee registering a new committee to pay the appropriate registration fee.

The fee is due at the time the committee certifies its political treasurer.

Additionally, payment of the registration fee by one affiliated political campaign committee includes disclosed affiliated committees registering separately.

The bill became effective when signed by the governor on April 1.

The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on January 14, 2020.

Gov. Janet Mills recently signed two lobbying bills and one campaign finance bill into law.

Legislative Document 76 bans future lawmakers from any paid lobbying within their first year out of office beginning with the 130th Legislature.

Legislative Document 825 expands the scope of harassment prevention training required for legislators, legislative staff, and lobbyists to include racial harassment.

The bill will take effect 90 days after adjournment of the legislative session.

Legislative Document 780 reduces from $850 to $500 the maximum allowable contribution individuals, corporations, PACs, and labor unions may make to candidates for municipal office.

The bill will take effect on January 1, 2020.

The 72nd Colorado General Assembly adjourned sine die on May 3 after 120 legislative days.

During the session, House Bill 1007 passed creating contribution limits under the Fair Campaign Practices Act for county office candidates.

Additionally, Senate Bill 68 passed expanding disclosure of electioneering communications.

The last day for the governor to act on bills for the 2019 session is June 2, 2019.

The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on January 8, 2020.

A three-judge federal panel unanimously ruled Ohio’s gerrymandered congressional district map unconstitutional under the First and 14th Amendments.

On behalf of the League of Women Voters, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio filed the suit.

The suit claimed the congressional map disfavored democratic voters on the basis of their political affiliation.

The court ordered the state to create a new map by June 14 to prepare for the 2020 election.

The 30th Hawaii Legislature adjourned sine die on May 2 after 60 legislative days in session.

During the session, House Bill 165 passed adding a new registration and reporting requirement for noncandidate committees.

Committees that do not intend to receive contributions or make expenditures of more than $1,000 in an election period must notify the commission of its intent in the committee’s organizational report by the fifth calendar day, before the due date of the preliminary primary report.

The 31st Legislature is scheduled to convene on January 15, 2020.

Delicately wrapped treats in a wicker basket laced by a gold ribbon arrived in a package outside the offices of State and Federal Communications yesterday. Along with the treat basket came a small card that read: A Special Gift…Just for You!

The Public Affairs Council congratulated State and Federal Communications on winning the Ready, Set, Walk challenge by sending a basket of treats from Wine Country Gift Baskets on August 2^nd.

President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz announced the arrival of the gift basket during the company staff meeting.

A special thank you to the Public Affairs Council for providing us with this wonderful surprise!

After a one-week walking challenge between the Public Affairs Council and State and Federal Communications, the results have arrived at last!

Coming in first place with 1,771,196 steps, 23 employees at State and Federal Communications took the win, out-walking the Public Affairs Council by 129,967 steps.

The top 23 walkers at the Public Affairs Council reached 1,641,229, coming very close to victory. Both teams utilized their time and effort to improve their health and spark friendly competition.

Intern Maria Varonis of State and Federal Communications, who participated in the walking challenge, spoke of how this competition influenced her and all of the participants.

“The first day we didn’t have to wear our pedometers, something felt amiss at my hip….It was sort of sad since I realized I wasn’t contributing to anything anymore,” Varonis said. “Working as a team to obtain a common goal both of health and of victory is an amazing feeling. We should all be proud of ourselves. I know I am.”