The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) passed regulations regarding reporting payments for online communications and accounting of lobbying entities.

Regulation 18421.10 seeks to shed light on social media manipulation by “purchasers” and “bots.”

Under the new rules, committees who pay more for exposure on social media will have to disclose the amount spent and the type of manipulation bought, whether it is for more likes, followers, or shares.

Regulation 18612 replaced the old regulation, increasing the reporting requirements and clarifying the style (i.e., journal, ledger, or record) of record keeping.

Similarly, the FPPC amended Regulation 18610 and Regulation 18615 involving lobbyist accounting and lobbyist employer accounting.

Both amended regulations and 18612 clean up the language of the regulation and heighten the record-keeping requirements mandated by the state.

Assemblymember Jim Frazier announced he is resigning as representative of California’s 11^th District at the end of the year.

Frazier’s stated reason for leaving was to seek new opportunities in the field of transportation.

No date has been set for the special election at this time.

Judge John G. Fenn has been appointed by Gov. Mark Gordon to the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Fenn has sat on the Fourth Judicial District Court bench for the previous 14 years and was a private practice attorney in Sheridan for 13 years prior to his appointment.

He will be replacing Justice Michael Davis, who is retiring after serving nine years on the high court.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced she will be calling the Legislature into a special session on December 13 to address eviction protections for renters.

The state’s federal funds for rental assistance will be nearly spent by December 1, right before the country enters the winter season.

Brown wishes to extend eviction protections for renters, ensure landlords are paid for rent owed, raise $90 million additional funds for immediate rental assistance, and raise $100 million to create a long-term emergency rental assistance service controlled by the state.

The Idaho Legislature adjourned November 17, ending the state’s longest-ever legislative session.

The House, in a unique political move, chose to go on an extended recess rather than adjourn to allow a return to session without being called back by the governor.

The three-day continuation focused on COVID-19 and the presidential mandates.

No bills were passed during the continuation, only a non-binding declaration stating opposition to President Biden’s vaccine requirements for federal workers, contractors, and large employers.

The House also censured Rep. Priscilla Giddings for her publicization of the name of the 19-year-old intern who reported she was raped by another legislator.

A recall has been declared for Kshama Sawant, a Seattle, Washington District 3 City Councilmember.

Sawant has been accused of misusing city funds for electioneering purposes, disregarding COVID-19 regulations, and misuse of her official position.

Sawant challenged the recall in superior court, but the Washington Supreme Court allowed the recall to continue.

The recall is set to take place on December 7.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring a special election for the 17^th Assembly District on April 19, 2022, with a special primary on February 15, 2022.

The former Assemblymember David Chiu vacated his seat after accepting a position as San Francisco’s city attorney in early November.

The Nevada special session ended November 16 with Gov. Steve Sisolak signing off on updated redistricting maps.

The Democratic-controlled Legislature passed the maps with zero support from the Republican minority and expect lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the maps.

The new maps increase Democratic footholds in the state’s swing districts, in part by redistributing roughly one out of every seven Latino residents from the first district to the third and fourth districts.

With the looming lawsuits on the horizon, Democrats have been mostly silent on their reasoning for the new boundaries.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has announced she is in talks with legislative leaders and housing advocates to construct a plan to increase funds in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

The federal funds allocated to Oregon to assist renters and owners have been almost exhausted, which will force the Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program to stop accepting applications on December 1.

Gov. Brown declared she will call a special session to draft a proposal to combat the looming evictions when the federal assistance is fully expended.

There is not a firm date announced for the special session.

A special session announced by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak begins November 12 to vote on new congressional maps.

Nevada is a swing state with 38% of voters not identifying with the Democratic or Republican party, raising the political importance of the special session.

Currently, Democrats control the Legislature and the Governor’s Office, allowing for the creation of maps that lean in their favor.

The Democratic maps look to wrestle control of downtown Reno from the Republicans and to sure-up control of two hotly contested districts in Washoe County.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

A lobbyist activity report will be due December 10, covering the month of November, and a termination and final report for the special session will be due 30 days after the close of the special session.

Reno, Nevada Republican Donald Tatro has been chosen to fill the seat in Senate District 16 after Sen. Ben Kieckhefer accepted an appointment to the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Tatro does not plan to run in the 2022 general election.

California Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentine Cuellar has resigned to become president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace after serving as a justice for seven years.

Gov. Newsom will be tasked with appointing a replacement.

To remain a justice, the appointee will have to stand for retention in an election during the next gubernatorial race.

Once an appointed judge wins their retention election, the judge will serve a 12-year term.

The Wyoming Legislature adjourned their special session after passing HB 1002, outlawing enforcement of federal vaccine mandates.

Included in HB 1002 is the ability for Wyoming’s attorney general to initiate or participate in litigation and take any appropriate action to challenge or resist federal government mandates relating to COVID-19.

A four-million-dollar fund has been set aside to finance legal actions opposing federal government COVID mandates.

Alaska’s fourth special session adjourned under little fanfare.

Governor Dunleavy tasked members of the Alaskan Legislature to fund another permanent fund dividend payment, a request met with legislative apathy.

The Senate held only one floor session while the house met only twice, with both houses holding relatively few committee meetings.

The Legislative leaders expressed concerns over a second payout from the permanent fund without a long-term budget plan.

Dunleavy stated he does not plan to call a fifth special session.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

The fourth session adjourning in November triggers a monthly report covering November 1 to November 30, due December 31.

The quarterly legislative lobbyist report due on January 31 will only cover the month of December.