The Virginia General Assembly adjourned their special session on March 1.

The special session focused on pandemic relief efforts and the state’s budget.

Additionally, the General Assembly passed bills abolishing the death penalty, legalizing marijuana, and establishing new environmental regulations.

The South Carolina Ethics Commission issued an opinion finding candidates for public office may not accept campaign contributions in the form of digital cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.

Advisory Opinion 2021-001 references and adopts the reasoning of a similar opinion issued in 2018 by the South Carolina House Ethics Committee.

The opinions found cryptocurrencies do not meet the definitions of a “thing of value” or “contribution” as defined under current state law.

Both opinions state the decision to permit such contributions should be done through an act of the Legislature rather than through an advisory opinion.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice appointed Republican Joshua Booth to fill the 19^th House District seat vacated by Derrick Evans.

This comes after Evans’s arrest in connection with the storming of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Justice chose Booth from a list of three candidates provided to him by Republican Party representatives.

However, the Wayne County Republican Executive Committee has filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of the appointment.

According to the committee, Justice reportedly received two different lists of candidates.

The lawsuit argues state law requires Justice to choose a name from the original list submitted by the Wayne County Executive Committee, which did not include Booth.

In addition, the committee argues Justice should ignore the second list submitted by the chairman of the state Republican Party.

As a result, an expedited review by the West Virginia Supreme Court has been requested.

The Nashville Office of Metropolitan Clerk’s new online reporting portal will not be launched prior to the 2021 reporting due date.

The clerk’s office has indicated those lobbying activity reports should instead be emailed to the clerk’s office on or before the January 31 due date.

The Florida House and Senate have instituted COVID-19 safety protocols during committee meetings ahead of the 2021 legislative session.

For the month of January, Senate committee meetings will be limiting in-person attendance to individuals invited by the committee leaders.

Rooms at the Leon County Civic Center have been reserved and will be made available to other individuals wishing to remotely appear and provide testimony.

House committee meetings attendance will also be limited.

Individuals seeking to attend and provide public testimony must register online at least three hours prior to the meeting.

Once seating capacity is reached, individuals will be allowed to provide written testimony.

The testimony will then be distributed amongst the committee members prior to the meeting.

The new House protocols will be in effect until February 28.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced a special election to be held on March 23 for the 38^th Senate District.

The seat was previously held by Sen. A. Benton Chafin, Jr. who passed away January 1.

A bill prohibiting corporate campaign contributions has been introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates.

House Bill 1906 would not only prohibit direct contributions to candidates and committees but also prohibit indirect contributions.

This would include designated contributions or contributions directed through another person or committee.

The proposed bill includes a civil penalty of up to twice the amount of the prohibited contributions.

Del. Derrick Evans has announced his resignation from the West Virginia Legislature.

This comes after being arrested and charged for his part in storming the U.S. Capitol Building.

Evans was set to serve his first term as delegate for West Virginia’s 19^th House District after winning the seat in November.

Gov. Jim Justice is expected to appoint a replacement for Evans in the coming weeks.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections has announced an increase in the limits on contributions made to candidates.

The limit will increase from $5,400 to $5,600 due to the 2.8% rise in the consumer price index from 2018 to 2020.

This increase is effective from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022.

Inauguration festivities for Gov. Roy Cooper and other statewide officials will be held as a limited event on January 9 in Raleigh.

Due to ongoing pandemic concerns, attendance at the inauguration will be limited to family, staff, and media.

However, the event will be televised statewide.

The Inaugural Ball celebration has been postponed to an unspecified date when it can be conducted safely.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the special election dates for House District 73 to coincide with the previously announced special election for Senate District 14.

The special primary election will be held on March 30, 2021, with a runoff on April 27, if necessary.

The general election will be held on July 13.

The House District 73 was vacated when Rep. Matt Fridy resigned after being elected to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.

After a drive-thru primary on December 13, Candi King has emerged as the Democratic candidate to fill a vacant seat in the 2nd District of Virginia’s House of Delegates.

The seat was vacated by Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy who resigned to focus on her candidacy for governor.

King will face Republican nominee Heather Mitchell in the special election scheduled for January 5, 2021.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the special election dates for the Senate District 14 seat previously held by Sen. Cam Ward.

The special primary election will be held on March 30, 2021, with a runoff on April 27, if necessary.

In addition, the general election will be held on July 13.

Ward left the office to accept an appointment as director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.

Memphis City Council voted against adopting an ordinance requiring those lobbying the council to register with the city and name their clients.

The ordinance would have required lobbyists to register annually and pay a registration fee of $50.

The ordinance would have also subjected lobbyists to similar reporting requirements of those lobbying the Tennessee General Assembly and the Metro Nashville Council.