Gov. Jim Justice vetoed Senate Bill 729, citing technical errors in the bill.

Gov. Justice plans to call a special session of the West Virginia Legislature to address the errors in the economic development bill, which creates a self-sustaining loan fund managed by the West Virginia Economic Development Authority.

The special session will coincide with the Legislature’s interim meetings scheduled between April 24 and April 26.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed Senate Bill 102 establishing the new congressional districts, citing the new maps were in violation of the 14th Amendment.

Further, Gov. DeSantis has called a special session of the Florida Legislature to address the rejected maps.

The special session will convene on April 19 and can adjourn no later than April 22.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a special session of the Virginia General Assembly to convene on April 5.

The General Assembly will finalize the biennial budget which was left unfinished when they adjourned on March 12.

The General Assembly will also consider Youngkin’s proposed three-month gas tax holiday.

The Court of Appeals of Maryland issued an order postponing the 2022 primary elections.

Originally scheduled for June 28, the state’s highest court has moved the elections to July 19 due to ongoing legal challenges to the 2022 legislative redistricting plan.

There is a concern that a midsummer date could negatively affect local election boards’ ability to obtain the necessary personnel to run the election.

Additionally, some have expressed concern that this may cause confusion amongst voters, while others have welcomed the postponement as an opportunity to better educate voters on the issues and candidates ahead of the primary election.

The 2022 session of the Florida Legislature adjourned sine die on March 14.

Originally set to adjourn on March 11, the session was extended to enable the passage of the state’s $112 billion budget, which passed with bipartisan support.

However, most of the notable bills passed were approved along party lines, including a 15-week abortion ban, the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, the “Stop WOKE Act” and the creation of an election police force.

The 2022 session of the West Virginia Legislature adjourned sine die on March 12.

Key measures passed include the $4.65 billion state budget and Senate Bill 4, which repeals the state’s ban on nuclear power plants first established in 1994.

Additionally, a proposed amendment to the state constitution shifting the power of public education policy and rule decisions from the Board of Education to state lawmakers was passed.

This proposed amendment will be submitted for voter ratification on November 8.

The 2022 session of the Virginia General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 12, but failed to complete and pass the biennial budget.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin is expected to call a special session to enact a budget once lawmakers have reached an agreement.

Passed bills included Senate Bill 57 to provide an exception to gift restrictions for certain tickets and admission if performing official duties; and House Bill 125 to impose a $10,000 penalty for illegal negative campaign advertisements.

Both bills now await gubernatorial action by Youngkin.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

The lobbyist gift notification to public officials is due on April 2.

Following an ethics workshop discussing recommendations by the city’s Independent Ethics Board, the Tallahassee City Commission voted to move forward with introducing ordinances amending the city’s ethics code, including a ban on contingency lobbying.

However, the commission declined to move forward on other recommended changes to lobbying laws including changes to the definition of lobbyist; a lobbyist contact log requirement; and a charter amendment to give the Independent Ethics Board direct oversight over lobbyists.

Tennessee Rep. Robin Smith has resigned effective immediately after being charged with federal wire fraud for allegedly taking kickbacks from a campaign vendor.

Smith was elected to the House District 26 seat in 2018.

The Tallahassee City Commission is holding an ethics workshop to discuss and consider several proposed changes to the city’s ethics ordinances.

The proposals by the city’s Independent Ethics Board include clarifying the definition of lobbyist and expanding disclosure requirements.

Other proposals include broadening the board’s jurisdiction and the city’s whistleblower protections.

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced a special election for Georgia House District 45 will be held on April 5 with a runoff to be held on May 3, if needed.

The seat was vacated when Rep. Matt Dollar resigned to accept a position with the Technical College System of Georgia.

Rep. Matt Dollar announced his resignation from the Georgia House of Representatives.

The resignation comes after he accepted a position as deputy commissioner of economic development for the Technical College System of Georgia.

Dollar previously announced he would not seek reelection after his District 45 seat was drawn into another district during last year’s redistricting process.

Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to set a special election date for the remainder of the term before the new district maps go into effect for the general election in November.

The North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 605, delaying the 2022 primary elections to June 7.

The primary elections were already delayed by the state Supreme Court due to ongoing litigation over redistricting from March 8 to May 17.

The Republican-supported bill now faces a potential veto by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

Although Cooper has not said whether he would veto the bill, a spokesman for him has said the bill undermines the voting process.

Rep. Mandy Kimmons has resigned from the South Carolina House of Representatives.

In a letter to House Speaker James Lucas and posted on social media, Kimmons cited a desire to focus on her legal career and service to her local community as reasons for the sudden resignation.

A special election will be scheduled to fill the 97th District seat for the remainder of the term.

This, along with the recent passing of Sen. Hugh Leatherman and the suspension of Rep. Rick Martin due to a recent criminal indictment, means the South Carolina Legislature will convene the 2022 legislative session on January 11, 2022 with three empty seats.