A three-judge panel of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to allow the ban on foreign contributions to ballot measure committees to be enforced until October 8. This will give the panel sufficient opportunity to consider whether to overturn the preliminary injunction granted by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. State lawmakers passed the foreign contribution ban during a special session, adding green-card holders to the list of prohibited contributors. In a statement, Secretary of State Frank LaRose said his office is ready to begin immediate enforcement of the ban.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio granted a preliminary injunction against enforcement of a new state law prohibiting foreign contributions to ballot measure committees.

Special Session House Bill 1, which was set to take effect September 1, extended the ban on foreign political contributions to include those from non-U.S. citizens living here legally.

The bill would have prohibited lawful permanent residents (LPRs) or green card holders from making contributions or expenditures regarding ballot issues or candidates.

Judge Michael H. Watson found the law was likely unconstitutional because federal law allows permanent residents to make contributions.

The Ethics Commission announced it will hold a public hearing to address proposed amendments to the commission’s complaint process at 9:00 a.m. on September 26.

The purpose of the proposed amendments is to establish uniform deadlines and procedures during the complaint process by modifying the timeline for an appeal from a summary dismissal; providing a timeline to appeal a finding of the Ethics Commission to district court; describing the process the used to compute time; and clarifying terminology related to time computations.

The hearing will be held in Bismark at 600 E Boulevard Ave, Judicial Wing Room 321 and online through Microsoft Teams.

The Office of Secretary of State issued two interpretive statements clarifying the state’s lobbyist gift ban.

The LaBrant Interpretive Statement prohibits a lobbyist or lobbyist agent from providing a public official any gift, including tickets, if the value of the ticket is over the gift limit of $76, even if the public official reimburses the lobbyist or lobbyist agent for the value of the gift over the limit.

The Michigan Association of Health Plans Interpretive Statement indicates complimentary admission to an educational conference paid by a lobbyist or lobbyist agent for a lawmaker’s attendance is only permissible if the value of the conference admission is equal to or less than the value of the services provided by the attending public official.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit vacated a 2022 order from the lower court barring Indiana media company Sarkes Tarzian Inc. from contributing $10,000 to the Indiana Right to Life Victory Fund and granted the preliminary injunction sought.

The court ruled the Indiana campaign finance rules are inconsistent with the First Amendment and remanded the case to the district court with instructions to enjoin enforcement of the state law prohibiting corporate contributions to PACs if earmarked for independent campaign‐related expenditures.

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Missouri’s 2-year revolving door restriction violates the First Amendment.

On appeal from the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Missouri, former state Rep Rocky Miller and General Assembly employee John La Vanchy prevailed in Miller v. Ziegler, invalidating the ban.

The ban was enacted in 2018 and prohibited any person serving as a member of or employed by the General Assembly from acting or serving as a paid lobbyist, registering as a paid lobbyist, or soliciting prospective employers or clients to represent as a paid lobbyist during the time of their service until the expiration of two calendar years after the conclusion of the session of the General Assembly in which the member or employee last served.

Ward 8 City Council Member James Hardy resigned effective July 1.

Hardy was elected in November 2023 but stepped down after his professional duties with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation expanded.

Council will have 30 days to appoint a new member and voters will select a permanent replacement for the position in 2025.

A special election for Senate District 45 will take place on the day of the general election, November 5.

Sen. Kelly Morrison, Assistant Majority Leader, announced Thursday she is resigning her seat to launch her bid to represent Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District.

The vacancy triggers a special election putting Democrats’ one-seat Senate majority in play this November.

The second regular session of the 102nd General Assembly adjourned sine die as of midnight May 30, in accordance with the constitution.

Lawmakers passed a campaign finance bill permitting committees to use credit cards and debit cards authorized and paid for through the official depository account.

Previously expenditures could only be made by check.

The Legislature adjourned May 29.

Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2412 preventing candidates who were not in the primary from being listed on the ballot at the general election.

However, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Gail Noll issued a temporary injunction on May 22, blocking the law from taking effect until she issues a written decision in the case heard on June 3.

Cleveland City Council passed an ordinance doubling campaign contribution limits for City Council candidates.

Contribution limits to candidates for City Council increased from $1,500 to $3,000 for individuals and from $3,000 to $6,000 for PACs in a calendar year.

Emergency Ordinance No. 615-2024 will become effective immediately upon being signed by Mayor Justin Bibb, or in 10 days if not signed.

Bibb and all members of City Council are up for reelection in November 2025.

Lawmakers passed a bill modifying the restrictions and penalties for using deep fakes to influence elections before adjourning May 20.

Effective August 1, House File 4772 changes the standard from reasonably knowing to acting with reckless disregard about whether the item being disseminated is a deep fake.

The bill also changes the applicable timeframe for violations to within 90 days before a political party nominating convention or after the start of absentee voting prior to a presidential primary or state or local primary or general election.

Penalties for candidates using deep fakes include forfeiting their nomination or office and disqualification from being appointed to that office or any other office.

Gov. Mike DeWine called a special session of the General Assembly to begin on Tuesday, May 28.

The purpose of the first special session in 20 years is to pass legislation ensuring both major party presidential candidates will be on the Ohio ballot in November.

A legislative fix is necessary because the late date of this year’s Democratic convention comes after Ohio’s statutory deadline to certify presidential candidates for the November ballot.

In the past, such issues have been handled with quick legislative fixes but a number of Republican legislators have balked this year.

Lawmakers will also consider legislation to prohibit campaign spending by foreign nationals.

The second regular session of the Wisconsin State Assembly concluded on May 15.

During the session, lawmakers passed campaign finance bills related to disclosures and lobbyist contributions.

Assembly Bill 664 requires any audio or video communication paid for by a candidate, committee, or party containing synthetic media to include a disclaimer at both the beginning and the end of the communication.

Senate Bill 822 requires local committees supporting or opposing local candidates and referendums to register and file campaign finance reports with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission instead of local clerks beginning July 1, 2025.

Senate Bill 741 clarifies only a special election to fill a vacancy in a state office opens the lobbyist contribution window for personal contributions to a partisan elected state official or state candidate.

Conduits receiving and releasing earmarked contributions will be required to pay a $100 annual filing fee.