On November 5, voters in Ohio rejected a ballot measure to create a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

Ohio will continue to use its current redistricting method led by state lawmakers and a commission of seven elected officials.

The state will keep its current state legislative maps through 2030 but the congressional map, approved without Democratic support, will be redrawn next year for the 2026 election.

As of this morning, the amendment failed 54% to 46%.

Gov. Mike Parson issued an executive order to rescind executive orders of previous governors.

Executive Order 24-11 rescinds 177 orders dating back to the 1980s after Parsons determined them to be no longer necessary or applicable.

It is now common practice for executive orders to be issued with a specific date of rescission so they do not linger in effect unnecessarily.

Parson did not rescind Executive Order 18-10, which continues to prohibit executive branch employees from knowingly soliciting or accepting any gift from a lobbyist.

A divided panel of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Ohio’s ban on foreign contributions to ballot measure committees is valid.

The ruling overturns the preliminary injunction granted by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and reinstates the foreign contribution ban lawmakers passed during a special session.

In a 2-1 decision, the majority ruled Ohio’s new law banning political donations from foreign nationals and lawful permanent residents, also called green-card holders, does not violate First Amendment rights.

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.