On May 18, the final day of the regular session, the Alabama Legislature voted to approve with Gov. Kay Ivey’s amendment to Senate Bill 161.

This amendment allocates the $1.8 billion received by the state from the CARES Act.

Thus, the Alabama Legislature now stands adjourned sine die.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has scheduled a special election to replace Rep. April Weaver of House District 49.

Weaver recently announced her resignation to take a position with the Trump Administration.

If necessary, the primary election for the seat will be held on August 4 with a runoff set for September 1.

Additionally, the special general election will be held on November 17.

On May 12, the South Carolina Legislature met to approve a resolution allowing the state to continue to spend money until the budget can be addressed later this year.

In addition to the budget and any potential legislation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Legislature may take up any legislation that has passed either the House or the Senate during the fall session.

As of May 14, the Legislature stands recessed until September 15

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn have announced the Legislature will reconvene the 2020 Legislative Session at 1:00 p.m. on May 1.

In addition, the end-of-session report will be due 10 days after the adjournment sine die of the regular legislative session.

The expected adjournment date was extended to June 9 when the session was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.

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.