Georgia General Assembly leaders have proposed two potential dates to reconvene the suspended session.

The Senate has proposed a return date of May 14, while the House has proposed a June 11 return date.

Given an agreement between both houses are needed for the return.

Upon the General Assembly’s return, the 2021 budget will be a chief concern as the fiscal year begins on July 1.

State level and Transportation Board lobbyists will continue to be required to file semi-monthly until lawmakers have officially adjourned sine die.

South Carolina House Speaker Jay Lucas and Senate President Harvey Peeler announced the General Assembly will reconvene on May 12.

The leaders made the announcement in a joint letter.

The General Assembly is expected to pass bills allowing them to take up a number of matters in a special session.

Additionally, the General Assembly will work to extend the time to pass a budget.

This work was set to be completed when they reconvened on April 8.

However, a public disagreement over restrictions on Santee Cooper led to a failure to come to an agreement.

The Alabama Legislature’s leadership has announced the Legislature’s return will be delayed until May 4.

Originally set to return on April 28, the decision complies with Gov. Kay Ivey’s stay-at-home order, which remains in effect until April 30.

This delay will require the Legislature to work quickly as the session must adjourn sine die on or before May 18, per the state constitution.

Gov. Ralph Northam has postponed upcoming elections for two weeks.

Pursuant to a pair of executive orders, the general and special elections scheduled for May 5 will instead be held on May 19.

Additionally, the primary election scheduled for June 9 will be held June 23.

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced the date for a special election for Senate District 4.

The passing of Senator Jack Hill on April 6 created the vacancy.

The election will be held on June 9 with a runoff election on August 11, if needed.

The Georgia Campaign Finance Commission issued formal opinions to reiterate the General Assembly is still legally in session.

Lawmakers have not officially adjourned sine die, nor has the governor issued an executive order adjourning both houses.

Members of the General Assembly and other statewide elected public officers remain subject to the session ban on campaign contributions.

However, they are permitted to issue reimbursements to themselves and campaign staff for expenses incurred during the suspended session.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has announced the special election to fill House District 87 will be held on November 3.

A runoff election is set for November 24 if needed.

The seat was vacated when Billy Andrews resigned in March.

The resignation, like Ramona Blackledge’s resignation in January, was due to House leadership ruling members could not collect state government pension while receiving legislative pay.

The Maryland Board of Elections has announced there will be three in-person voting centers for the 7th Congressional District special general election on April 28.

The centers are for voters who are unable to cast their ballots by mail.

One voting center will be located in each local jurisdiction: Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County.

The board is recommending all 7th district voters who can vote by mail do so.

Voting by mail is the safest way to vote.

However, concerns over safeguarding the voting rights of those unable to vote by mail led to the decision to open the three in-person voting centers.

The local elections boards will select the location of the in-person voting centers.

Locations will be announced no later than April 20.

Due to continued concerns over COVID-19, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has postponed the May 19 presidential primary election and the state’s general primary until June 9.

The voter registration deadline for the June 9 election will be May 11 and early voting will begin on May 18.

Further, moving the primary election to June 9 will move the primary runoff to August 11.

On April 8, the Legislature met for a single day to approve funding legislation to ensure the state can continue operating for the next fiscal year.

Despite unanimous passage in the House, debate in the Senate led to an amendment being passed late in the afternoon after the House had adjourned.

The House and Senate also failed to come to an agreement about convening a special session later in the year after the legislative session ends on May 14.

The House will have to reconvene by the May 14 constitutional deadline or convene a special session prior to the end of the fiscal year on June 30 to avoid the state being left unable to spend money.

Gov. Ralph Northam has announced the June 9 primary election will be postponed until June 23 due to concerns about COVID-19.

Northam has also requested the General Assembly postpone the May 5 municipal elections to coincide with the November 3 general election.

The General Assembly would need to reconvene to approve such a postponement.

The postponement may also extend current local official terms of office to facilitate the election of their successors.

The South Carolina Legislature is set to return on April 8 for a single day.

The session is being called to consider a continuing resolution concerning state funding.

Additionally, lawmakers will consider a resolution allowing the Legislature to adjourn sine die.

Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall has announced a grace period to file the first quarter lobbyist and principal reports due April 22.

This comes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of social distancing,

Penalties for failure to timely file will not be levied if report is filed on or before July 22; is accompanied by a sworn and notarized statement that a notary could not be obtained prior to the date the report was filed; and all other reports due by July 22 are timely filed.

Gov. Tate Reeves has ordered the special election for House District 88 set for April 21 be postponed until June 23.

The seat was vacated when Ramona Blackledge resigned in January.

Due to the House leadership ruling members could not collect legislative pay while also receiving state retirement funds.