The city council recently approved an ordinance this week which temporarily raises the contribution limits for candidates who agree to limit how much they spend on their campaigns. The new contribution limits for those candidates who accept the voluntary spending limits will temporarily increase from $650 to $900 for individuals, businesses, or other organizations, and from $1,300 to $1,800 for broad-based political committees. The temporary limits apply to the 2026 and 2028 elections and are effective immediately.

The 83^rd Nevada Legislature adjourned sine die on June 3. During the session, a couple of bills passed relating to the state’s campaign finance law. Assembly Bill 73 requires certain communications with synthetic media to contain a specified disclosure. Assembly Bill 79 revises various aspects of the campaign finance law and establishes a contribution limit of $5,000 for a special election other than a recall election. This contribution limit is applicable regardless of the number of candidates for the office, or whether the special election is held on the same day as a primary election or general election. Both bills have been sent to the governor, and if signed become effective January 1, 2026. This does affect lobbying reporting. The termination and final report is due July 3.

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The 34^th session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on May 20. Lawmakers ended the session without completing work on campaign finance and election bills. House Bill 16 limits contributions from individuals to $2,000 in donations per candidate in each two-year election cycle, while the Senate Bill 64 makes various changes to absentee voting. Both bills are expected to rollover to next year’s legislative session. This does affect lobbying reporting. The final monthly legislative lobbyist report is due June 30.

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Gov. Greg Gianforte recently signed a bill revising various lobbying thresholds. House Bill 804 codifies the lobbyist payment threshold at $3,000 and provides for adjustment of the threshold in each even-numbered year. The inflation factor will be determined by dividing the consumer price index for June of even-numbered years by the consumer price index for June of the prior year, with changes becoming effective January 1 of the following odd year. The principal reporting threshold will also decrease from $5,000 to $3,000 during any calendar year, with monthly reports being triggered upon spending $3,000 or more during the prior calendar month. House Bill 804 becomes effective October 1.

The Legislature adjourned sine die on May 7. The legislative session lasted for 120 days, with more than 650 bills introduced. Lawmakers passed House Bill 1315 to modify the way vacancies in the General Assembly are filled by election. The bill defines election cycle as it relates to a vacancy candidate committee during the party selection process as the period beginning on the effective date of the vacancy and ending 30 days following the date upon which the vacancy committee selects an individual to fill the vacancy. Election cycle as it relates to major political party vacancy elections is the period beginning on the date upon which a vacancy committee selects a member to fill the vacancy and ending 30 days following the major political party vacancy election. The legislation also clarifies contribution limits for vacancy candidate committees as those limits specified in the state constitution. If signed by the governor, the legislation will become effective August 5.

The Board of Commissioners recently passed an ordinance which requires lobbyist registration and reporting. The new law will require a lobbyist to register upon meeting certain thresholds such as agreeing to provide personal services for money or any other consideration, and spending 10 or more hours during any calendar quarter lobbying, excluding travel and time. Statements of lobbying expenses will be required to be filed by both the lobbyist and principal with the county. Amongst other information, the reports must show the total amount of money expended on food, refreshments and entertainment, and the name of any public official to whom, or for whose benefit, an expenditure which exceeds $50 has been made for the purpose of lobbying, and the date, name of payee, purpose, and amount of the expenditure. These reports will be quarterly and due January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year. The ordinance is effective July 1, 2026.

The 69^th legislature adjourned sine die on April 30. Lawmakers were busy passing various bills related to campaign finance and lobbying. House Bill 759 provides for limitations that only a limited liability company which is taxed as a sole proprietorship or a partnership, or a partnership taxed as a partnership, may make contributions to a candidate. The contributions must be reported under the name of the member or partner making the contribution with the member or partner being subject to the individual contribution limits. Senate Bill 25 regulates the use of AI and deepfakes in elections. The legislation provides for various definitions, a prohibition on the use of deepfakes in election and electioneering communications within 60 days of an election, with this prohibition not applicable if the communication includes a specified disclosure. House Bill 804 both increases and codifies the lobbyist payment threshold from $2,150 to $3,000. The monthly calendar reports due on the 15^th of each month in which the principal has spent $5,000, will now be due each month in which the principal has spent $3,000. These bills have been sent to the governor and if approved, will become effective October 1. This affects lobbyist reporting. The end-of-session report is now due May 30.

The Portland City Auditor Office of Campaign Finance and Lobbying Regulations issued guidance for the recently updated lobbying portal. Beginning with lobbying reports covering the second quarter of 2025, communications will be reported and grouped by associated official actions of interest, rather than by date and type. Details will be combined in order to group similar lobbying communications together within one entry. Other updates involve the simplification of lobbying expenditure reporting and updates to voluntary disclosures. A reminder was issued that both time and money spent by lobbying entities on indirect lobbying count towards the city’s registration and reporting thresholds. Indirect lobbying includes efforts to influence city officials by communicating through an intermediary to promote, oppose, or advocate on official action. These updates are meant to reduce the administrative burden and simplify lobbyist activity reporting.

The 2025 legislative session adjourned sine die on Sunday, April 27. The session lasted 105 days with a focus on addressing a $16 billion budget shortfall but also included a passed bill which addresses and amends the Ethics in Public Service Act. Senate Bill 5143 revises and reorganizes various definitions such as the definition of gift, along with newly added definitions for charitable association, civic organization, and community organization. The gift threshold is also raised from $50 to $100, with additional exemptions such as $25 gift cards received by legislative employees and unsolicited gifts from legislators to legislative staff. This bill has been sent to the governor and if approved, the new gift limit will be effective July 27.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a proclamation declaring a special election to be held for Assembly District 63. The seat became vacant after Assembly member Bill Essayli announced he was resigning to take an appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. The special primary election will be held on June 24, followed by the special general election on August 26.

The Legislature adjourned sine die on April 11. Lawmakers passed various bills related to campaign finance, including House Bill 2054, which increases the state’s contribution limits. House Bill 2106 prohibits contributions or expenditures from foreign nationals regarding campaigns to amend the Kansas Constitution. The bill also mandates constitutional amendment campaigns disclose contributions over $50 and certify they and their donors have not accepted significant foreign funds. House Bill 2206 renames the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission to the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission and creates a new definition for cooperation or consent, in relation to express advocacy expenditures. The legislation also raises the limit from $10 to $50 in the amount of a political contribution an individual may accept without knowing the identity of the donor. House Bill 2054 is effective April 10, with House Bills 2106 and 2206 becoming effective  July 1.

The 68^th Legislature adjourned sine die on Friday, April 4. The session lasted 89 days with a focus on tax cuts but also included a passed bill affecting the Lobbyist Registration Act. House Bill 398 reorganizes the state’s Sunshine Laws by moving the lobbying provisions within Title 67, Chapter 66, State Government and State Affairs, to Title 74, Chapter 7, Transparent and Ethical Government. The bill also updates the definition of lobbying to clarify both direct and indirect efforts to influence covered officials are considered lobbying. The bill becomes effective July 1.

The Orange County Council has voted to raise the campaign contribution limit from $2,500 to $2,700 per election cycle. The Orange County Campaign Reform Ordinance requires the board to adjust the campaign contribution limitation in February of every odd year. The Orange County Council adjusts the contribution limit according to changes in the Consumer Price Index and rounds to the nearest $100. The new campaign contribution limit becomes effective April 10, 2025.

The 68^th Legislature adjourned sine die on Thursday, March 6. The session lasted 37 days with 165 passed bills, including five overrides out of the seven vetoes by Gov. Mark Gordon. Initially, there was a focus on election bills but only one bill regarding a prohibition on the distribution of unsolicited absentee ballot request forms has received the Gordon’s signature.