Massachusetts Legislature Adjourns Formal Session

The Massachusetts Legislature adjourned its formal session August 1 after a historic 23-hour session.

Before adjourning, lawmakers passed laws legalizing sports betting, expanding mental health care, and overhauling regulations related to recreational marijuana.

The Legislature will continue to meet in informal sessions where non-controversial issues may be considered and approved by a voice vote.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

A special election has been scheduled for the vacant District 5 seat to be held on November 8.

The District 5 seat became vacant when Councilor Corey O’Connor was appointed the new Allegheny County Controller by the Pennsylvania Senate.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the term set to expire at the end of 2023.

The New York General Assembly adjourned its extraordinary session on July 1.

Lawmakers passed new gun safety legislation and approved a proposal to guarantee abortion rights at the state level, taking the first step in a multi-year process to amend the state’s constitution.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

The 151^st session of the Delaware General Assembly adjourned sine die on Thursday, June 30.

Though bills related to campaign finance law were introduced, none were passed.

Before adjourning, lawmakers passed a package of six gun safety laws and a new $5 billion state budget.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting dates.

Gov. Hochul will reconvene the New York General Assembly for a special session on June 30 to address the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision invalidating a portion of the state’s concealed carry law.

It is not yet clear when the special session will end.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting

The Center for Judicial Accountability filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of the New York Ethics Commission Reform Act of 2022.

The act was passed as part of the state’s budget bill and would replace the Joint Commission on Public Ethics with a new Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government on July 8.

The suit, filed with the Albany County Supreme Court, argues the act is unconstitutional and requests it be invalidated.

Petitioner requested an opportunity to be heard on an application for a temporary restraining order and a hearing has been scheduled for June 17.

The Springfield, Massachusetts City Council authorized a special election for the vacant Ward 5 seat with a primary election to be held on August 16, followed by a general election on September 14.

The Ward 5 seat became vacant when Council President Marcus Williams resigned on May 31.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the two-year term set to expire at the end of 2023.

New York Gov. Hochul announced a special election for U.S. Congressional Districts 19 and 23 to be held on August 23.

The District 19 seat became vacant when Rep. Antonio Delgado resigned to serve as lieutenant governor, and the District 23 seat became vacant when Rep. Tom Reed resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct.

The winners of the special elections will serve the remainder of the two-year terms set to expire at the end of this year.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed Senate Bill 348 codifying the attorney general’s interpretation of state campaign finance limits.

Contribution limits apply to each of the three phases of the election cycle: the exploratory phase, the primary election, and the general election.

Individuals and corporations are permitted to contribute up to $5,000 per election phase to candidates and candidate committees and up to $10,000 per election phase to non-candidate political committees and political parties.

Under the new campaign finance limits, non-candidate political committees and political parties will be able to contribute an unlimited amount to other non-candidate political committees and political parties.

Senate Bill 348 will take effect on January 1, 2023.

New York Rep. Tom Reed announced his retirement from Congress seven months before his final term was set to conclude.

His resignation comes after the congressman faced allegations of sexual misconduct.

Rep. Antonio Delgado is also expected to resign to become Gov. Hochul’s new lieutenant governor.

Both resignations will trigger special elections for congressional districts that are currently being redrawn.

The Vermont General Assembly adjourned sine die on Thursday, May 12.

Lawmakers passed Vermont’s first statewide ethics code with new gift limits and a revolving door provision applicable to legislative employees.

Bills related to campaign finance were introduced, but not passed.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

The second regular session of the 130^th Maine Legislature adjourned sine die on May 9.

Two campaign finance bills were passed during the session and signed by the governor.

Legislative Document 1782, effective January 1, 2023, permits business entities to contribute the paid staff time of its employees to the entity’s separate segregated fund committee.

Legislative Document 1754 amends the state’s major contributor disclosure law and will take effect on August 8.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

A registered lobbyist who anticipates no further lobbying for a client may file a request for a non-session waiver with their final monthly report for the session due June 15.

The 2022 session of the Connecticut General Assembly adjourned on May 4.

Lawmakers passed a state budget including more than $600 million in tax cuts, made Juneteenth a state holiday, and dedicated $300 million toward fighting the opioid epidemic.

Bills related to campaign consultants, municipal campaign finance filings, and banning foreign money in state elections were introduced but not passed.

This does affect lobbyist reporting dates.

The monthly employer activity report required any month the General Assembly is in regular session is due June 10

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed Senate Bill 171 establishing a statewide ethics code.

The bill prohibits public officials and employees from accepting or soliciting gifts not expressly permitted by the code.

Permitted gifts include food and beverage where the cost does not exceed $100 and unsolicited de minimis gifts with a value of $50 or less.

The bill also prohibits former legislative employees from being paid to appear before the General Assembly or its committees for one year following the termination of their service.

The bill will take effect on July 1.