Oakland has raised political contribution and expenditure limits.

Candidates who adopt the voluntary expenditure ceiling may accept contributions up to $900 from individuals and businesses, and up to $1,800 from qualified board-based political committees per election cycle.

Candidates who do not adopt the expenditure ceiling may accept contributions up to $200 from individuals and businesses, and up to $400 from board-based political committees.

Montana District Court Judge Mike Menahan has issued a permanent injunction preventing the state from enforcing two provisions of Senate Bill 319.

The two provisions in question were late additions to the bill, added during a conference committee a day before the Legislature adjourned.

One amendment prohibited political committees from conducting voting activities inside residence halls, dining facilities, or athletic facilities on public college campuses.

The other amendment forced judges to recuse themselves if an attorney or party in a case before them made more than 50% of the maximum allowed donation to their campaign within the previous six years.

The Montana Constitution requires bills to contain a single subject and prevents the Legislature from amending bills to the point their original purpose is obfuscated.

Gov. Greg Gianforte is currently deciding whether to appeal the injunction.

The case is currently pending, with several other lawsuits challenging the bill awaiting a court decision.

Gov. Kate Brown has tapped Appeals Court Justice Roger Dehoog to the Oregon Supreme Court.

Dehoog is replacing retiring Justice Lynn Nakamoto after six years on the state’s highest court.

Brown appointed Judge Ramon Pagan to replace Dehoog and has also appointed Kristina Hellman and Anna Joyce to the Court of Appeals, covering retirements.

The appointments take effect immediately, but all appointees will have to run in this year’s election to remain in their positions.

A federal judge struck down Montana’s Clean Campaign Act, holding the law violates free speech and due process rights of political committees.

The law requires political committees to give candidates notice when the committee sends out negative mailers within 10 days of an election.

The court held the law was a content-based restriction on free speech, leading the court to analyze the law under the strict scrutiny standard.

Under this standard, the law may remain only if the law is found to be narrowly tailored to further a compelling governmental interest.

Judge Donald W. Molloy found the law did not combat corruption but could end up chilling political speech.

Molloy further held the law violated the Equal Protection Clause, affecting political action committees differently based on the type of content the committees put out.

It is not yet known if the ruling will be appealed.

The Oregon House Democratic Caucus nominated Rep. Dan Rayfield as speaker, replacing Rep. Tina Kotek.

House Democrats have also elected Rep. Julie Fahey as majority leader to replace Rep. Barbara Smith Warner.

These changes within the party stem from a mix of resignations to run for higher office and new focus on policies regarding housing.

Advocacy groups have filed three ballot measure proposals with the Office of Oregon Secretary of State, focusing on limiting campaign contributions and increasing donor disclosure requirements.

For the proposals to be placed on the 2022 ballot, each proposal would need to gather 112,020 signatures by July 8, four months before the general election.

Gov. Newsom announced a special election to replace former Congressman Devin Nunes to be held on June 7, with the primary being held on April 5.

The election in Congressional District 22 will follow the old Congressional map.

The new map, approved late last year, will be used for the November 8 elections.

Nunes stepped down to take over as chief executive of former President Trump’s new media company, Trump Media & Technology Group.

Speaker of the House Tina Kotek announced she will resign from the Oregon Legislature January 21 to focus on her campaign for governor.

Kotek’s resignation allows her to avoid a House rule prohibiting representatives from fundraising during any legislative session.

The state Elections Division found a potential rival, Nicolas Kristof, is not eligible to run for governor.

Kristof, originally from Oregon, worked at the New York Times from 1984 to October 2021, when he returned to Oregon to start his campaign.

Secretary of State Shemia Fagan explained the Elections Division found Kristof’s tax payments, residency, and voting records were from New York for the past 20 years, with zero evidence of Kristof voting in an Oregon election during the same time frame.

Washington’s fast-approaching 2022 legislative session has hit a bit of a snag with the rampant Omicron variant.

The chief clerk of the House has announced that his chamber will hold its floor sessions remotely for the first two weeks of the session.

Only five lawmakers who are vaccinated, boosted, and masked, along with critical staff, will be allowed in the House chamber during the restrictions.

These policies will be reassessed every two weeks.

The Senate is looking into either a hybrid or fully remote sessions, though no final decision has been made.

Republican Washington State Senator Doug Ericksen has passed away.

Ericksen was in El Salvador when he contracted COVID-19 and was flown out to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for treatment.

Whatcom County Council will fill the vacancy in the 42^nd Legislative District from a list of candidates proposed by the local Republican party.

The Oregon Legislature adjourned after their one-day special session.

Lawmakers passed a $215 million emergency rental assistance bill, with $100 million earmarked to immediately assist the looming eviction crisis.

Policymakers also passed a bill to combat illegal cannabis sellers, assist in Afghan refugee resettlement, and establish a $100 million fund to assist Oregonians impacted by last year’s harsh summer.

The City of Portland’s Open and Accountable Elections Program has voted and accepted new administrative rules for candidates participating in the program.

The new rules change the name of the program to the Small Donor Elections Program.

The new guidelines clarify candidate reporting requirements and address any sections of the program left to the Portland Elections Commission in the code.

The commission set the limit on seed donations to $500 per entity.

Seed money contributions are allowed to be made by any legal entity, including corporations.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a special election for state Assembly District 49.

Newsom appointed the current Assemblyman, Ed Chau, to the Los Angeles Superior Court bench.

The primary for the special election will be held on February 15, 2022, and the special election on April 19, 2022.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has introduced a bill to restrict how public officials can solicit behested payments.

The legislation prohibits elected officials and city department heads from requesting donations to charities from lobbyists, persons seeking contracts with the city, and other interested parties.

Additionally, the San Francisco Ethics Commission is slated to discuss a ballot measure to lay out stricter guidelines on bribery, gifts, prohibited behaviors, and ethics training.

These changes come on the heels of the 2020 arrest of Public Works Director Nuru, after three Recology subsidiaries admitted to conspiring to bride Nuru in exchange for raising garbage rates.