Michael Beckett, Esq., Author at State and Federal Communications

Meet Michael Beckett, Esq., Associate Director, Research Services! What are your areas of expertise? I direct the Research Department and oversee website content regarding lobbying, campaign finance, ethics and gifts, procurement, and pay-to-play. How long have you been with State […]

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Ohio Statehouse

A bill to shine light on dark money groups is the latest attempt to ensure better transparency in Ohio’s political spending. House Bill 13 would end an exception for nonprofit 501(c)(4) groups who are currently not required by Ohio law […]

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Wyoming Capitol - By Bradlyons

The Wyoming Legislature adjourned sine die on April 7 after passing an increase to lobbying fees. House Bill 148 raises the annual registration fee from $25 to $75. Fees for individuals receiving $500 or less in compensation increases from $5 […]

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Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) announced additional time to file registrations and reports due in January 2021. Any filing due in January will be considered timely filed if submitted by January 29, 2021. The extension is in response […]

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Oregon State Capitol Building

Voters passed a state constitutional amendment paving the way for the Oregon State Legislature and local lawmakers to limit political contributions and expenditures. Measure 107 also allows for rules regarding disclosure of campaign activity in order to require campaigns to […]

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Wisconsin State Capitol Building

Legislative leaders declined the proposal of Gov. Tony Evers postponing in-person voting for the presidential primary and state elections Tuesday, April 7. Evers called the Legislature into a special session on April 4 to take up legislation avoiding in-person voting. […]

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Wisconsin State Capitol Building

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced he wants to postpone the presidential primary and state Supreme Court elections scheduled for Tuesday, April 7. Evers is calling the Legislature into a special session on April 4 to take up legislation to avoid […]

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Ohio Statehouse

Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to sign a coronavirus response bill passed by legislators. The bill includes a provision to extend absentee balloting till April 28 for the presidential and state primary elections. The state’s Health Department postponed in-person voting […]

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine

Gov. Mike DeWine has delayed Ohio’s in-person voting by order of the state’s Health Department after a day of uncertainty about the status of the presidential primary election. DeWine indicated earlier in the day at a press conference he did […]

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine

The state budget bill signed by Gov. DeWine includes a provision removing a tax exemption for attorneys and lobbyists beginning in 2020. Since 2013, the state business income deduction (BID) has allowed those deriving income from any pass-through entity (e.g., […]

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Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan

Gov. Larry Hogan allowed two election law bills to become law without his signature. House Bill 878 alters fees due for failure to file campaign finance reports or affidavits. The bill raises the fees from $10 each day a report […]

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West Virginia Capitol Building - O Palsson

The Elections Commission adopted legislative rules to enforce the provisions in Senate Bill 622. Provisions include increasing campaign contribution limits and disclosure requirements for PACs and independent expenditure groups. The commission worked on language to better clarify what committees and […]

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Fort Wayne, Indiana City Hall

Allen Superior Court Judge Jennifer DeGroote heard arguments on Wednesday in a case focused on a 2018 Fort Wayne City Council ordinance. The ordinance limits financial contributions of contractors and their family members to political campaigns in Fort Wayne. The […]

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Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser - by AFGE

Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Fair Elections Emergency Amendment Act of 2019 on May 22. The act amends the definition of a qualified small-dollar contribution to set a minimum value of cash or in-kind contributions at $5. The act became […]

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State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.

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