U.S. District Court for Minnesota Enjoins Enforcement of Grassroots Lobbying Reporting

The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota granted a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in Minnesota Right to Life et al. v. Rashid. The injunction prohibits the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board from enforcing certain disclosures for grassroots lobbying enacted in 2023 by House File 1830. The provisions of M.S. §10A.04(6)(d) require lobbyist principals spending more than $2,000 on grassroots advertising to disclose the names and addresses of their vendors in an itemized expenditure report. The court found the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their case and face irreparable harm without a preliminary injunction.

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Gov. Mike Braun called for state lawmakers to return to Indianapolis for a special session beginning November 3 to consider altering the boundaries of Indiana’s congressional districts and to consider resolving an important issue regarding federal and state tax compliance that must be addressed. Indiana uses federal tax law as the starting point for the Indiana tax return, and the recent changes to federal tax law in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act include provisions that impact Indiana state tax filings. Gov. Braun stated addressing this discrepancy through a special session will provide taxpayers, accountants, and businesses the confidence and clarity ahead of filing season, avoid amended returns and filing delays, and continue the Indiana Department of Revenue’s strong record of fiscal management.

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The one-day special session of the Legislature adjourned September 23. Lawmakers passed legislation to fund a 1,500-bed, $650 million replacement for the state penitentiary building that opened its doors prior to statehood. The new men’s prison will be the most expensive capital project ever funded by the state’s taxpayers. Both chambers needed a two-third majority to approve the bill. The bill passed the House 51-18 and the Senate 24-11 before it was signed by Gov. Larry Rhoden later in the evening.

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 A divided panel of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a new per curiam opinion in the OPAWL v. Yost case about the constitutionality of 2024 Special Session House Bill 1, which prohibited foreign contributions to ballot measure committees. In June 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio granted a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the prohibition finding the law was likely unconstitutional because federal law allows permanent residents to make contributions. Then on October 8, 2024, a divided three-judge panel granted the state’s motion to stay the district court’s preliminary injunction, with one judge dissenting. On September 16, a divided three-judge panel affirmed the October 8 ruling reversing the district court’s order granting the injunction and remanding the case to the District Court for further proceedings consistent with the new opinion and with that of the majority in the October 8, 2024, ruling.

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The second extraordinary session of the 103rd General Assembly adjourned sine die on September 12. Lawmakers passed a redistricting bill and a joint resolution prohibiting a foreign adversary or foreign national from making any contribution in support of or opposition to a statewide ballot measure. Special Session House Joint Resolution 3 permits the General Assembly to enact reporting requirements relating to foreign support or opposition to ballot measures and provides investigation and enforcement provisions. The resolution is to be submitted to voters at the 2026 general election and will be effective upon voter approval.

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MISSOURI: Lawmakers began a special session on September 3 to enact legislation establishing updated congressional districts and amending the state’s initiative petition process. Under the Missouri Constitution, lawmakers have 60 days to complete work on items in a special session.

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MICHIGAN: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has called a special election for May 5, 2026, to fill the vacancy in Senate District 35 caused by Sen. McDonald Rivet stepping down to serve in Congress. In August, a group of voters filed a lawsuit against Whitmer seeking to compel her to call a special election to fill the vacancy. The special primary will be February 3, 2026.

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A proposed ordinance would limit contributions by individuals to City Council candidates and committees to $2,600 during any election cycle. Currently, contributions are unlimited. The proposed ordinance, introduced at the August 25 City Council meeting, also requires all political committees to file a statement of organization with the clerk of the city no later than 10 days. Political committee is defined in the ordinance to include a group of persons making over $200 in contributions to candidates. If passed the ordinance will be effective immediately.

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 A bill introduced in the House would prohibit lawmakers from receiving free sports tickets. House Bill 409 prohibits members of the General Assembly from knowingly accepting a free or discounted ticket to a professional sporting event, unless the free or discounted ticket is given or sold as part of a promotion generally available to the public, and on the same terms as generally available to the public. The bill defines professional sporting event as a sporting or athletic event played by a team that is a member of the national football league, the national hockey league, major league baseball, major league soccer, or the national basketball association.

The Ethics Commission announced the new campaign finance website will be launched this month. The current website will be taken down on August 15 and no further data will be able to be input into the old system. The conversion is expected to be completed by Monday, August 19. Brief video tutorials on how to use the new system will be on the website at launch. The Ethics Commission is offering in person and online trainings ahead of the next campaign finance reporting date of January 15, 2026.

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Gov. Tim Walz issued a writ of special election for November 4, to fill the Senate District 29 vacancy caused by the death of Sen. Bruce Anderson, and the Senate District 47 vacancy formerly held by Sen. Nicole Mitchell. A special primary, if necessary, for nomination of candidates for the office of State Senator for District 29 or 47 will be held on August 26.

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Gov. Larry Rhoden issued an executive order establishing a special legislative session to be held September 23 to pass funding for a new prison facility in Sioux Falls. This is the 12th time lawmakers have been called into special session since 2000.

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Gov. Tim Walz issued a writ of special election for September 16, to fill the House District 34B seat vacancy caused by the death of Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was killed in June along with her husband in a targeted attack. Hortman, who was among the most influential Minnesota elected officials in the past decade, served as House Speaker from 2019 to 2024.

Gov. Kim Reynolds called a special election for August 26, to fill the Iowa Senate District 1 vacancy caused by the death of Republican Sen. Rocky De Witt. The election will determine whether Republicans regain their two-thirds majority in the chamber. Republican Christopher Prosch will run against Democrat Catelin Drey and the winner will serve out the remainder of De Witt’s term, which ends January 2027.

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