Virginia lawmakers reconvened for a one-day session to debate Gov. Youngkin’s various vetoes and amendments to legislation.

The vetoed bills included a bill concerning the right to contraception, the skill games regulations bill, and a tax decrease.

Lawmakers agreed to set aside the version of the budget passed in March and plan to meet for a vote on a new compromised version in a special session beginning May 13.

The new budget needs to be approved before June 30 to avoid a government shutdown.

Maryland’s 90-day legislative session ended on April 8.

The top items on the agenda that passed were the state budget; an economic relief act for the workers and businesses that relied on the Port of Baltimore; and several bills regarding public safety, affordability, economic competitiveness, and public service.

The state’s budget is notable as the governor signed an executive order extending the legislative session 10 days in order to give legislators time to finish it.

However, lawmakers did not need the extra time and managed to adjourn the day the session was previously planned to end.

The Georgia Legislature passed a bill to require registration and disclosure for agents of foreign principals.

Senate Bill 368 defines foreign principal broadly to include a foreign government, political party, and a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country.

The registration requires extensive disclosure including the registrant’s nationality, nature of business, compensation, expenditures, and details regarding activity performed on behalf of the foreign principal. The registration must be updated every six months.

U.S. subsidiaries of foreign principals are not explicitly exempt from additional disclosures.

Agents of foreign principals must also disclose their identity to government agencies and the General Assembly each time they appear on behalf of a foreign principal.

The bill also prohibits foreign nationals from making campaign contributions to a candidate, campaign committee, independent committee, or political action committee.

Senate Bill 368 has not yet been signed by the governor.

If signed, the bill becomes effective July 1.

State Rep. John Rogers resigned from his House District 52 seat on March 13 after pleading guilty to federal conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges related to a grant program.

A special primary election for House District 52 will be held on June 18 and a runoff on July 16, if necessary.

The general election is set for October 1.

Senate joint resolution 1114 has passed both chambers and now making its way to Gov. DeSantis.

The resolution calls for a referendum on whether the public wants to end the Public Campaign Finance Act of 1986, which uses a portion of taxpayer money to help fund political campaigns.

The act provided roughly $13 million to candidates and is credited with allowing less wealthy candidates to run.

A new bill introduced into the West Virginia House of Representatives could repeal all state lobbying statutes and criminalizes the act of paying someone to influence any member of the Legislature.

House Bill 5402 could also criminalize the act of receiving money to influence any member of the Legislature.

Both acts would be considered a felony and will constitute a fine or, after no more than five infractions, imprisonment.

Lawmakers are convening a special session called by Gov. Tate Reeves to finalize a $10 billion economic project on January 25.

The project’s aim is to create two large scale data centers.

The name of the company will be announced after the session concludes.

This session is similar to a previous special session held last week for an equally impactful economic project.

As before, this special session could last as little as one day.

Lawmakers are convening a special session called by Gov. Tate Reeves to finalize a huge economic project in an effort to bolster Mississippi’s job market and economy.

Reeves said the project will create 2,000 jobs in Marshall County with an average annual salary of $66,000.

The special session is occurring during the regular 2024 legislative session and is predicted to last only a single day.

The South Carolina Ethics Commission adjusted the spending limits for lobbyist principals effective January 1.

The limits increased from $60 per day and $480 per calendar year to $70 per day and $560 per calendar year.

No lobbyist principal or person acting on behalf of a lobbyist principal may provide to a public official or a public employee the value of lodging, transportation, entertainment, food meals, or beverages exceeding the spending limits per public official or public employee.

Georgia is replacing its lobbyist e-filing system for 2024.

Clients and lobbyists will have to register, but only once in the new system.

Lobbyists will be able to reregister every year based on this initial registration and clients will only register once to establish their account.

Lobbyists are currently authorized to lobby on behalf of new clients they register while authorization approval is pending.

This ability to lobby on behalf of new clients while awaiting approval of clients is for calendar year 2024 only.

Due to the new system, the Ethics Commission has decided to not collect or assess late fees for lobbyists provided they make a concerted effort to file reports and comply with their reporting requirements until March 31.

A special election has been scheduled on February 13 for state Senate District 30.

The vacancy is due to the resignation of Sen. Mike Dugan, who is running for Congress.

A runoff, if needed, will be held on March 12.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a special election to fill the newly created District 48 seat in the House of Delegates.

After being reelected just over a month ago, Del. Les Adams noted the reason for his resignation was to make himself available for another position of service.

The special election will be held on January 9, 2024.

South Carolina will hold a special election in State House District 109 following the resignation of Sen. Deon Tedder, who won a special election for the Senate District 42 seat on November 7.

The April 2, 2024 election will be preceded by the primary on January 30 and a primary runoff on February 13, if necessary.

Democrats have managed to flip the Virginia House of Representatives in a heated primary.

Several wins in key districts were claimed in an attempt to thwart Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s agenda on topics such as abortion, education, and the economy.

These seats were taken back from Republicans who, in 2021, won a slim majority.

News outlets have stated that the Virginia elections may give a glimpse of the 2024 presidential cycle and show a rallying support for the Democratic Party.