The Lobbyist Division of the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office announced they are transitioning to a new disclosure reporting system on June 19.

Exclusive, hour-long introduction and training seminars on the new system will be held from June 19 to June 21.

Appointment requests can be sent to lob@sec.state.ma.us.

Firms should offer three preferable times between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any of the three available days.  Walk-ins for the seminar will not be accepted.

The Lobbyist Division will be offering additional training for all registered entities, lobbyists, and clients from June 24 to July 12.

Organizations that are unable to attend the introduction seminars can apply for these training sessions instead.

Gov. Steve Sisolak signed a lobbying bill to codify existing interpretations of the Legislative Counsel Bureau and to impose additional disclosure from lobbyists.

Assembly Bill 452 provides for more detailed information on registrations.

Additionally,  the bill requires a supplemental registration to be filed for any changes to registration within 24 hours during a legislative session and within 14 days during the interim.

The bill also clarifies that filing a notice of termination does not relieve the lobbyist of the duty to comply with certain continuing requirements and prohibitions of the Lobbying Act.

The bill is effective immediately.

The Legislature adjourned sine die on June 6.

The 60-day session was overshadowed by the upcoming November gubernatorial election.

However, in its final day the Legislature did pass a $30 billion budget that increased teacher pay.

Gov. Jon Bel Edwards is expected to sign the deal, which applies to the financial year beginning July 1.

The Legislature adjourned sine die in the early morning hours of June 4.

The final day of the session was spent passing a two-year state budget and multiple bills related to lobbying and campaign finance laws.

Assembly Bill 452 imposes more detailed registration requirements for lobbyists.

Additionally, the bill requires a supplemental registration to be filed for any changes to registration until the commencement of the next regular session.

The bill will become effective immediately if signed by Gov. Steve Sisolak.

Minnesota’s one-day special session ended early Saturday morning.

The session ended with the legislature passing a $48 billion budget to fund the government for the next two years.

The outline of the budget was agreed to during the regular session, which ended on May 20 after reaching the maximum number of days the state’s constitution permitted.

A budget deal needed to be finalized by July 1 to avert a shutdown.

The Minnesota Legislature adjourned sine die on May 20, the latest possible day the state constitution allowed it to be in regular session.

Lawmakers reached a bipartisan budget deal after extensive negotiations.

However, Gov. Tim Walz will need to call a special session for lawmakers to work out and vote on the details.

The Iowa Legislature adjourned sine die April 27 after a 104 day session.

In addition to legalizing sports betting and instituting limits on local government property taxes, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill to modify disclosure requirements for gifts or bequests to the state.

House File 393 requires the governor and executive departments to file the gift report electronically with the Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board if receiving a gift or bequest on behalf of the state of over $50.

The bill removes filing requirements with the General Assembly and for any gift less than $50.

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 8.

Legislators were in mourning due to the death of House Speaker Michael Busch the day prior.

A Democrat from Anne Arundel County, Busch served as speaker for 16 years, longer than anyone in state history.

Though delegates will vote for a new leader at a later date, county committee members will appoint a successor to Busch’s House seat.