The Minnesota Legislature is considering two bills proposing an overhaul to the lobbyist reporting requirements.

Senate File 1636 requires lobbyist principals to report the total amount, spent by the principal during the preceding calendar year on each of four types of lobbying:

1. Lobbying to influence legislative action
2. Lobbying to influence administrative action
3. Lobbying to influence official action of political subdivisions
4. Lobbying to influence administrative action in cases of rate setting, power plant and powerline siting, with no rounding of the amounts, so lobbyist principals will be reporting actual amount spent for each category of lobbying.

House File 1723 requires lobbyist principals to report the total amount, rounded to the nearest $10,000 spent by the principal during the preceding calendar year on each of four types of lobbying:

1. Lobbying to influence legislative action
2. Lobbying to influence administrative action
3. Lobbying to influence official action of political subdivisions
4. Lobbying to influence administrative action in cases of rate setting, power plant and powerline siting, and granting of certificates of need for a large energy facility.

Currently principals are only required to report the total amount, rounded to the nearest $20,000, for all categories.

The 98th session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on March 27.

During the session, lawmakers passed House Bill 1060 increasing the threshold for requiring a purchasing agency to advertise for bids or proposals for a contract for the purchase of supplies or services, other than professional services, from $25,000 to $50,000 and any public improvement contract from $50,000 to $100,000.

A lobbying bill prohibiting the spouse of a member of the legislature from being employed as a lobbyist and a campaign finance bill to increase contribution limits did not pass.

State senators Rob McColley and Theresa Gavarone introduced Senate Bill 92, a bill to permit special elections to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August under any of the following circumstances:

• For the purpose of submitting a statewide ballot issue to the voters under Section 1 of Article XVI, Ohio Constitution
• When a primary election is required preceding a special election to fill a vacancy in an office
• For the election of a party candidate for U.S. Congress due to the withdrawal, disqualification, or death of a congressional candidate prior to the 19th day before the day of the general election.

August elections for these purposes were eliminated by a law passed in 2021.

The Ohio office of Secretary of State has published increased contribution limits.

The contribution limits for PACs, PCEs and individuals may contribute to statewide candidates, candidates for General Assembly, county parties, PACs, and PCEs increased from $13,704.41 to $15,499.69 per election; and from $41,113.24 to $46,499.08  per calendar year to state parties; and from $20,556.62 to $23,249.54 per calendar year to legislative campaign funds.

The amount of gifts corporations and labor unions may provide per year to a state political party, county political party, or legislative campaign fund, for certain specified purposes, such as facilities; equipment, and supplies, increased from $11,274.23 to $12,751.16.

Bismark, North Dakota City Commissioner Mark Splonskowski is resigning effective March 20, due to conflicts of interest when he assumes the Burleigh County auditor/treasurer position in April.

Sponkowski was elected to the county post in November.

The city commission will vote at the March 14 meeting on whether to have a special election to fill his seat or appoint someone to serve out the remainder of the term.

Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas loaned $100,100 to his campaign after advancing to the April 4 runoff election against Brandon Johnson.

The two candidates may now receive unlimited contributions because contribution limits do not apply in any city race where the self-funding or independent expenditure threshold of $100,000 is exceeded.

The city’s pay-to-play limits on campaign contributions remain in place.

Companies and people doing business with the city or its sister agencies are limited to contributing $1,500 to any one candidate per year.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot will not have a second term and none of the nine candidates in the race for mayor secured over 50% of the vote.

The runoff election between candidates Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas is scheduled for April 4.

Lightfoot is the first incumbent to lose a reelection bid in 40 years.

Sen. Michael Rohl introduced Senate Bill 197 to prohibit spouses of current members of the Senate or House of Representatives from being employed as a registered private lobbyist.

He stated that the bill addresses two problems

• Preventing legislative spouses from having an advantage that other lobbyists and everyday people do not.
• Providing clarity about their role because legislative spouses tend to have more access to restricted areas and lawmakers.

The bill passed out of committee Monday and will next be discussed and voted on by the Senate.

The State Board of Elections published the new contribution limits summary sheet, which increases limits on January 1 of every odd-numbered year to reflect increases in inflation.

The amount corporations and labor organizations may contribute in each election cycle increased from $12,000 to $13,700 to any candidate committee; from $24,000 to $27,400 to any political party or legislative caucus committee; and from $24,000 to $27,400 to any PAC.

The amount an individual may contribute in each election cycle increased from $6,000 to $6,900 to any candidate committee; from $12,000 to $13,700 to any political party or legislative caucus committee; and from $12,000 to $13,700 to any PAC.

The amount PACs are limited to contributing to any candidate committee, political party committee, legislative caucus committee, or PAC each election cycle increased from $59,900 to $68,500.

Gov. Andy Beshear announced a special election on February 21, 2023, to fill the vacancy in Senate District 19 created by the resignation of Senator Morgan McGarvey.

Under state law, when a legislator vacancy occurs while lawmakers are not in session, the Governor may call the special election.

McGarvey is resigning from the position because he was elected U.S. representative for Kentucky’s 3rd congressional district.

The 101st Michigan Legislature adjourned sine die on December 28, 2022, after 88 legislative days in session.

During the session, lawmakers voted to pass House Joint Resolution R to amend section 10 of article IV of the Michigan Constitution to require certain disclosures and to modify limitations on terms of office of state legislators.

The resolution requires each member of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state, and the attorney general to electronically file an annual financial disclosure report by April 15, 2024, and annually thereafter, including gifts, travel payments and reimbursements, and payments to a charity in lieu of honoraria made by lobbyist or lobbyist agent.

The resolution also modifies term limits in section 54 of article IV of the Michigan Constitution to prohibit anyone from being elected as a state representative or senator for terms or partial terms that combined total more than 12 years. The resolution is to be submitted to voters at the next general election and will be effective upon voter approval.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers ordered a special election to be held on April 4, 2023.

The session is being held to fill a vacancy in the Senate District 8 seat created by the retirement of Sen. Alberta Darling.

If a primary election is necessary, it will be held on February 21, 2023.

South Dakota Secretary of State Steve Barnett published the 2023 annual limit for lobbyist gifts to public officials.

The annual cumulative value is adjusted each year based on the change in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers in the preceding year.

The change for 2021 was a 7% increase from the current limit of $107.92, making the newly adjusted cumulative gift limit $115.47.

No public official and no member of the immediate family of a public official may accept from any lobbyist or principal any gifts with a cumulative value greater than $115.47 during the 2023 calendar year.

City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting the city of Cleveland from doing business with companies found to practice wage theft or commit payroll fraud.

Ordinance 892-2022 requires businesses seeking city contracts or financial assistance to report to the city’s Fair Employment Wage Board any adverse determinations by a government agency finding that they, or a subcontractor committed wage theft or payroll fraud within the last three years.

If a person fails to self-report such a finding against a business, they could be found guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor.

Wage theft is defined as any violation of state or federal law regarding the prompt payment of wages, payment of minimum wage, or prevailing wage rates.

Payroll fraud is defined as the concealment of a business’s true tax liability by not reporting or underreporting applicable wages or by paying employees under-the-table.

The Fair Employment Wage Board will be responsible for maintaining a list of businesses that have been found to commit wage theft or payroll fraud.