Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation to convene a second special legislative session on October 28 to consider a second set of maps as part of the redistricting process.

The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA) will release a second set of maps by October 21.

Lawmakers are permitted to reject the first two maps without amendment. This does not affect Alerts reporting.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker certified the changes to Senate Bill 539, an ethics omnibus bill passed with an amendatory veto in September.

Public Act 102-0664 is effective January 1, 2022, and requires state registration under the Lobbyist Registration Act by persons lobbying local officials in counties, townships and municipalities, preempting and superseding all existing laws and ordinances that are inconsistent with the Act, except in municipalities with a population over 500,000.

The bill also requires registration by persons lobbying other specified state officials, and requires any consultant hired by a lobbyist or lobbying entity to register if they communicate with an official, and all consultant expenditures to be reported on the lobbying entity reports.

The bill also further restricts fundraising anywhere in the state during sessions of the General Assembly.

The bill also creates a revolving door restriction for the General Assembly and officers of the executive branch prohibiting any activities that require registration for six months after leaving office.

The bill also adds anyone who participated personally and substantially in the award or fiscal administration of state contracts to the revolving door prohibitions for procurement officers and employees, prohibiting them from accepting employment within a period of one year immediately after termination of office or state employment.

The Marion Superior Court ruled that the Indiana General Assembly has the authority to convene emergency legislative sessions without the governor’s consent under House Enrolled Act 1123.

Gov. Eric Holcomb filed the lawsuit, claiming the new law was unconstitutional because it impermissibly infringes upon his constitutional authority.

Marion Superior Judge Patrick Dietrick ruled that the General Assembly now has complete authority to set the rules governing the timing of its sessions.

It may extend its session, as it did this year to complete the redistricting process, or enact measures such as HEA 1123, giving it the ability to commence a session limited to a specified agenda.

Gov. Holcomb is expected to appeal the decision.

Ohio’s Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Larry A. Jones Sr. died unexpectedly on October 7, the third sitting judge in Cuyahoga County to die in nine days.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Nancy McDonnell died September 28 and Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Joseph Russo died October 2.

Judge Jones was first elected to the court in 2008, and won re-election to this third term on November 3, 2020.

Under the Ohio Constitution, Gov. DeWine will appoint a temporary replacement until a successor is elected at the general election on November 8, 2022, to fill Judge Jones’ unexpired term which ends February 9, 2027.

The Iowa Legislature adjourned sine die October 5 after a one-day session in which lawmakers voted to reject the redistricting plan and passed a resolution outlining their concerns with the plan to be sent to the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA), which is tasked with drawing the maps.

The LSA has 35 days to submit a new plan addressing lawmakers’ concerns.

After the plan is submitted, Gov. Kim Reynolds is expected to call for another special session so lawmakers can consider it.

This does not affect lobbying reporting.

North Dakota lawmakers announced they will convene on November 8 for a special session to adopt a redistricting plan and to allocate funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Gov. Doug Burgum has not called the Legislature into session as expected under House Bill 1397, which would permit lawmakers as much time as needed for the session.

If the Legislature calls itself into session, the session can only last four days.

Under the North Dakota Constitution, any bills passed after August 1 are effective 90 days after filing.

For the redistricting plan to take effect earlier, upon filing with the Office of Secretary of State, it must pass by a two-thirds vote of each house.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

The South Dakota Legislature will convene a special session beginning November 9 to debate the impeachment of Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.

Ravnsborg was charged with two misdemeanors and received no jail time for hitting and killing Joe Boever in September of 2020.

Under the South Dakota Constitution, the Legislature may be convened in special session by the presiding officers of both houses upon the written request of two-thirds of the members of each house.

The Senate voted to proceed last week, and the House has more than the necessary 47 signatures to proceed.

The proclamation sets the special session to immediately follow a special session for redistricting on November 8.

Gov. Kristi Noem has repeatedly called for Ravnsborg’s resignation, but he refused to resign.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds called a special election for House District 29 on October 12 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Rep. Wes Breckenridge on September 10.

There is no primary, and candidates will be nominated directly by political parties.

The winning candidate will serve the remainder of Breckenridge’s term, which runs through 2022. 

The veto session of the first regular session of the 101st Missouri General Assembly adjourned sine die on September 16 with no vetoes overturned by the Legislature.

During the session, House Majority Leader Dean Plocher was chosen to succeed Speaker Rob Vescovo, who will exit in 2023 due to term limits.

The appointment must be approved by the House during the 2023 session, and Plocher will continue in his current role as majority floor leader until then.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation to convene a special legislative session on October 5 to consider and enact a plan of legislative and congressional districting.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Iowa Republican Mike Bousselot beat Democrat Andrea Phillips by 377 votes to win the special election for House District 37.

The seat became vacant in July following the death of Rep. John Landon.

Republicans now hold a 59-40 lead in the House.

There will be one more special election on October 12 to replace Rep. Wes Breckenridge, a Democrat who resigned.

Justin Bibb, a nonprofit executive, and City Council President Kevin Kelley will square off in Cleveland, Ohio’s mayoral general election this November after receiving the most primary votes out of a field of seven candidates.

The winner will replace Frank Jackson, first elected in 2005 and now the longest-serving mayor in Cleveland history.

The first special session of the Kentucky General Assembly adjourned sine die on September 9.

Lawmakers passed five bills in the three days of the special session shifting power away from Gov. Andy Beshear to local governments to address the pandemic.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

The Illinois House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 539 with the amendatory veto issued by Gov. JB Pritzker.

The bill passed along party lines in a vote taken September 9, after it was rejected in an earlier vote last week.

The bill, which now goes back to Pritzker for his signature, expands state lobbyist registration requirements to the local level; prohibits all fundraising statewide during legislative sessions; expands revolving door restrictions; and requires certain consultants hired by a lobbyist or lobbying entity to register and report.

If signed, the bill will be effective January 1, 2022.