The new Lobbying Information System will be live on January 2, 2025.

The previous system will remain operational for filing reports from the 2023-2024 biennium, which are due January 15, 2025.

The Elections Division requests the reports be filed as soon as possible. The new system will use the same web address as the previous system and will be more intuitive and user friendly.

The Maine Ethics Commission has scheduled the 2025 harassment trainings for lobbyists.

The training is mandatory for lobbyists and lobbyist associates and must be completed annually.

Virtual trainings will be held on December 18, December 19, January 7, and January 9.

Registration is available through the Maine Ethics Commission website.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly concluded work for the 2023-2024 legislative session on November 13.

Lawmakers introduced but failed to pass bills related to lobbying and campaign finance.

The Legislature will formally adjourn on November 30 and is scheduled to convene the 2025-2026 legislative session on January 7, 2025.

Democrat Matt Meyer defeated Republican Mike Ramone to become Delaware’s next governor.

Meyer, the current executive of New Castle County, secured close to 55% of the vote.

Republican Kelly Ayotte defeated Democrat Joyce Craig to become New Hampshire’s next governor.

Ayotte won the Republican primary after current governor Chris Sununu announced he will not seek reelection.

Ayotte, an attorney and former U.S. Senator, secured 53% of the vote.

Voters approved Question 1 with an overwhelming majority of the vote.

The ballot question sets an aggregate $5,000 limit for individuals, business entities, and PACs contributing to PACs making independent expenditures.

Beginning December 1, contribution limits will be adjusted every two years based on the consumer price index.

Republican Gov. Phil Scott won the Vermont gubernatorial election against Democrat Esther Charlestin.

Scott, who became governor in 2017, secured close to 73% of the vote.

The Office of Secretary of State recently updated their list of 2024 election law changes. Changes include mandating all political committees other than candidate committees to file reports electronically as of November 27. Effective January 1, 2025, corporations and individuals are permitted to contribute $15,000 to candidates and $30,000 to PACs or political parties per election cycle. An election cycle begins on the 22nd day after a state general election and goes through 21 days after the next state general election. Previously, contribution limits were per election phase.

The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) will hold a live training on October 30 at 1 p.m. to provide an overview of the responsible party regulatory amendments and a review of the changes in COELIG’s Lobbying Application.

Beginning on December 1, amended regulations regarding who is responsible for the submission, completeness, and truthfulness of filings by a lobbyist or client will take effect.

Submission of lobbyist filings will require a responsible party to attest to the accuracy of the filing.

If a lobbyist or client is an organization, the responsible party must have legal authority to bind the lobbyist or client.

The rulemaking clarifies only the responsible party can submit a lobbying filing and attest to its truthfulness.

A person or entity who is hired or employed by a lobbyist or client to prepare lobbying filings can still prepare and save the filings for the lobbyist or client but may no longer submit or attest to the truthfulness of those filings.

Only the responsible party may submit or attest to the truthfulness of the filings.

Gov. Sununu signed a bill amending lobbyist reporting requirements.

House Bill 1666 requires lobbyists to register and file statements through an online filling system to be developed by the Office of Secretary of State.

Lobbyist statements will be due on January 31, May 31, and September 30.

Currently, the statements are due quarterly.

These changes do not go into effect until January 1, 2027.

The Massachusetts Legislature adjourned its formal session August 1.

Before adjourning, lawmakers passed a bill relating to housing bonds but left many bills without final action, including various political contribution bills.

The Legislature will continue to meet in informal sessions where non-controversial issues may be considered and approved.

The Delaware General Assembly adjourned on June 30.

Lawmakers passed House Bill 316, which prohibits the distribution of deep fakes of candidates within 90 days of an election without the consent of the depicted individual, if the distributor knows or reasonably should have known they are distributing a deep fake.

Gov. Carney has 10 days to act on the legislation, and the bill goes into effect upon approval.

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) announced inflation adjustments to contribution limits for 2025.

The contribution limit to gubernatorial candidates has risen from $4,900 in 2021 to $5,800 for the 2025 gubernatorial election.

ELEC will also be applying inflation adjustments to limits, fines, and reporting thresholds for non-gubernatorial candidates and committees.

For example, the penalty for a first time reporting violation increased from $9,800 to $11,600.

On June 14, the Rhode Island General Assembly adjourned.

Lawmakers passed bills to simplify language used on ballot questions and to no longer require unaffiliated primary voters to affiliate with the party holding the primary.

While bills affecting lobbying were introduced, none passed.