Pennsylvania lobbyists and lobbying firms are required to complete an annual equity disclosure report by October 7.

This year’s report covers the period of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

Subsequent annual reports will be due July 30 of each year.

Each report must include how much equity a lobbyist or lobbying firm holds or has held in an affiliated principal for whom that lobbyist or lobbying firm has lobbied during the reporting period.

The amount of equity held can be represented by a dollar amount or by a percentage.

The state broadly defines equity as ownership in interest in property, especially in a business.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has called the state Legislature to reconvene today, September 1.

The session’s primary order of business will be to extend the state’s eviction moratorium, but the meeting is also expected to address the open meetings law, and issues related to legally producing and distributing cannabis.

Massachusetts state officials scheduled a special election on November 30 for the state House seat in the 4th Essex District.

The seat became vacant when Rep. Brad Mill resigned to accept an appointment to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

A primary will be held on November 2.

Massachusetts State Rep. Brad Hill resigned to accept an appointment to the state’s Gaming Commission.

His current term is set to expire on January 3, 2023.

Gov. Baker is expected to call for a special election to fill the vacant Essex 4th District seat.

Rhode Island State officials scheduled a special election on November 2 for the state Senate seat in Providence District 3.

The seat became vacant when Sen. Gayle Goldin resigned to accept a position as a senior adviser in the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau.

A primary will be held on October 5, if necessary.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation one week after the state Office of Attorney General released a report concluding he sexually harassed nearly a dozen women.

The resignation will take effect in 14 days on August 24.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will serve as governor for the remainder of the term set to expire on January 1, 2023.

Hochul will be the first female governor of New York.

Effective September 28, New Hampshire House Bill 263 increases contribution limits and reporting, registration, and itemization threshold amounts for political committees.

The bill limits contributions to PACs to $10,000 and raises the registration and reporting threshold for those committees to $1,000 from $500.

Additionally, PACs will need to itemize expenditures and contributions of $50 or greater and provide more detailed information about contributors who give $200 or more, an increase from the current $25 and $100 thresholds.

The Pennsylvania Speaker of the House announced a special election for House District 164 on November 2, the same day as the general election.

The district seat became vacant when Rep. Margo Davidson resigned after being charged with theft and election code violations related to her improper use of state funds and improper campaign finance reporting.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of Davidson’s term ending November 30, 2022.

Pennsylvania State Rep. Margo Davidson resigned from her seat in House District 164 on July 22.

This comes after she was charged with theft, solicitation to hinder apprehension, and election code violations related to her improper use of state funds and improper campaign finance reporting.

House Speaker Bryan Cutler is expected to announce a special election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term ending November 30, 2022.

The Maine State Legislature adjourned sine die July 19 after passing a bill to approve spending federal COVID-19 relief funds.

Legislation passed during the special session, including measures related to lobbyist registration fees; changes in the use of PAC funds; and expanded regulations related to PAC reporting, registration, and exemptions will be effective October 18.

The New Hampshire General Court stands adjourned until the next call of the chair.

Before adjourning, lawmakers passed House Bill 263, which would repeal voluntary expenditure limits, increase the expenditure and contribution reporting threshold for all political entities, and increase the dollar threshold for reporting by political committees.

The bill now awaits Gov. Sununu’s signature.

Both chambers of the Rhode Island General Assembly recessed after passing the budget for the fiscal year 2022.

The Legislature is expected to reconvene in the fall in order to address some outstanding issues.

This includes a voting package that would continue less restrictive absentee voting rules temporarily in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Connecticut state contractors must now include certain representations in their contracts and bids.

House Bill 6444, a modernization of state services and technology bill, requires ethics compliance, nondiscrimination, and consulting agreement representations to be included in the contract itself, instead of being submitted on a separate certification form.

House Bill 6444 also creates additional disclosure requirements for state contractors and prospective state contractors.

Now, contractors will need to disclose whether they, or any of their principals, made a prohibited donation or any permitted contribution within the past four years to a party committee, an exploratory committee, a candidate for statewide office or the General Assembly, or a political committee authorized to make contributions or expenditures for the benefit of such a candidate.

The bill became effective July 1.

The Connecticut General Assembly convened a one-day special session on July 14 to authorize an extension of Gov. Lamont’s emergency powers.

Both the Senate and House adjourned sine die that afternoon.