A special election has been scheduled for Pennsylvania Senate District 5 to be held on May 17, the same day as the primary election.

The seat became vacant when Sen. John Sabatina Jr. resigned following his election to the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the four-year term set to expire in November 2024.

Connecticut Gov. Lamont announced a special election for Assembly District 71 to be held on February 22.

The seat became vacant when Rep. Anthony “Tony” D’Amelio retired last week.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the two-year term set to expire in December 2022.

Cambridge, Massachusetts City Council passed an ordinance limiting campaign contributions to municipal candidates and their committees from certain business entities to $200 annually.

Business entities seeking a city contract will be required to disclose all campaign contributions made to candidates and their PACs in the preceding 12 months.

Business entities exceeding the $200 contribution limit will not be eligible for city contracts or other city action, including the receipt of special permits, zoning changes, or community development or other forms of financial assistance.

The definition of business entity is expansive and includes individuals as well as corporations and their officers.

The definition of business entity does not, however, include labor unions.

The ordinance is expected to take effect in 2022.

Massachusetts State lawmaker Rep. Claire Cronin was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Saturday as the next ambassador to Ireland.

Rep. Cronin, who currently serves as the House’s majority leader, is expected to resign, creating a vacancy in the 11^th Plymouth House District.

The House is expected to call for a special election to fill the vacancy.

The Maine State Ethics Commission released the dates of the next lobbyist harassment training.

All lobbyists must complete harassment training at the start of each legislative session and lobbyists must maintain copies of their annual certifications for at least two years.

Training sessions will be held on December 14, January 4, 2022, January 18, 2022, and March 4, 2022.

Lobbyists can register for a training session by visiting the Ethics Commission’s website.

Connecticut Gov. Lamont announced a special election for House District 144 to be held on January 25, 2022.

The seat became vacant when Rep. Caroline Simmons was sworn in as the first female mayor of Stamford.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the two-year term set to expire in December 2022.

Lamont is also expected to call for a special election to fill the vacant seat in House District 71.

State Rep. Anthony “Tony” D’Amelio announced he will retire on December 31 at midnight to spend more time with his family and focus on running his restaurant.

The Legislature met in a one-day special session on November 22 to approve a bill allowing municipalities to impose their own mask mandates.

Legislative leadership agreed to the special session after Gov. Scott made it clear he would not impose statewide masking requirements.

This session marked the Legislature’s first return to the Statehouse since the pandemic began.

Gov. Phil Scott will reconvene the Vermont Legislature for a special session on November 22 to address mask mandates.

The special session will aim to pass legislation allowing municipalities to implement their own time-limited mask mandates.

It is not yet clear when the session will end. This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Maine Gov. Mills announced a special election to be held on January 11, 2022, for House District 27.

The seat became vacant when Rep. Kyle Bailey resigned in October to pursue other career opportunities.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the two-year term set to expire in December 2022.

Public members of the state’s Drug Utilization Review Board are now required to file initial and quarterly disclosures reporting the financial benefits or interests they receive from members of the pharmaceutical industry.

Upon appointment, public members will need to report all meals, payments, gifts, salaries, stocks, or other investments they receive from pharmaceutical managers, pharmaceutical distributors, or pharmacy benefit managers in the preceding three years.

Members of the board will be required to update their financial disclosures quarterly, and reports will be publicly available.

Elizabeth “Liz” Harrington, the Lobby Systems Administrator for the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office, passed away on October 28.

A funeral mass will be held at Saint Augustine’s Church in Montpelier on November 13 at 11:00 a.m. and professional colleagues can send condolences to Liz’s family courtesy of the Secretary of State’s Office at the following address:

Vermont SOS-Elections, Attn: Family of Liz Harrington, 128 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05633.

Incumbent New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy defeated Republican Jack Ciatarelli in a tighter-than-expected race.

Murphy is the first Democratic governor to win re-election in New Jersey in four decades.

Democrat Thom Welby will serve as the next Pennsylvania state representative for District 113.

Welby defeated challenger Dominick Manetti handily in the special election and will serve the remainder of the term that ends next November.

The seat was left vacant after Sen. Marty Flynn won election to the state Senate.

Democrat Gina Curry will serve as the next state representative for District 164 after defeating Brian Shariff Taylor in a special election.

District 164 was left vacant after former Rep. Margo Davidson resigned following theft charges.

Curry will serve the remainder of the term that ends next November.

Democrat Sam Zurier defeated Alex Cannon in a special election to serve as the next Rhode Island state Senator for District 3.

The District 3 seat became vacant after Sen. Gayle Goldin resigned earlier this year to take a job with the Biden administration.