National/Federal

What to Know About States’ Efforts to Limit Corporate Donations in Politics

MSN – Jennifer Sinco Kelleher and Geoff Mulvihill (Associated Press) | Published: 5/12/2026

Two states could try a new way to reduce the influence of corporations and hard-to-track dark money groups that have been able to spend unlimited amounts on politics since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling. Hawaii lawmakers sent a bill to the governor that would redefine corporations in a way that precludes spending on elections. A volunteer group in Montana is gathering signatures in hopes of putting a similar issue to voters in November.

Transportation Secretary Duffy Filmed a Reality Show, Funded by Firms He Regulates

NPR – Rachel Treisman | Published: 5/12/2026

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has returned to his reality television roots, filming a cross-country road trip with his family that will be released as an unscripted series ahead of America’s 250th birthday in July. Those involved say production costs were covered by a nonprofit called The Great American Road Trip Inc. Its public list of sponsors is stacked with travel-related companies, like Toyota, Boeing, and United Airlines, with ties to the Department of Transportation, raising ethics questions.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – New Brunswick Government Proposes Overhaul of Lobbying Rules

Yahoo News – Eli Ridder (Canadian Press) | Published: 5/12/2026

The New Brunswick government proposed an overhaul of its lobbying rules that would require hundreds more people to register as lobbyists and would empower the provincial ethics chief to fine rule breakers. If passed into law, the reforms would also require lobbyists to regularly record their meetings with politicians and other lobbying activities in an online searchable database.

California – Arcadia Mayor, Accused of Being Chinese Foreign Agent, Strikes Deal with Feds and Resigns

Yahoo News – Brittny Mejia and Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 5/11/2026

Facing charges of acting as an illegal foreign agent of China, Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang resigned after reaching an agreement to resolve the federal case. She was accused of doing the bidding of Chinese officials, such as sharing articles favorable to Beijing, without prior notification to the U.S. government as required by law. City officials and Wang’s attorneys said the conduct described by federal authorities occurred before Wang was elected.

Connecticut – CT Legislators Remove Nepotism Ban That Would Have Applied to Them

Yahoo News – Paul Hughes (CT Insider) | Published: 5/6/2026

The Connecticut House voted to strip a nepotism standard to bar public officials and state employees from arranging jobs, promotions, or special advantages to relatives or friends from an ethics bill. The prohibition would have applied to the 187 members of the General Assembly. The Office of State Ethics proposed the nepotism standard for the first time as part of its annual legislative recommendations.

Illinois – Former Chicago Mayoral Candidate Paul Vallas Fined $214,000 by Ethics Board for Campaign Finance Violations

Yahoo News – Jake Sheridan (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 5/12/2026

Former Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas was fined $214,000 for violating campaign finance rules by accepting excessive contributions from people who were doing business with the city. The Board of Ethics found an unnamed “unsuccessful candidate” in the 2023 city elections violated the law by accepting $202,000 in contributions from 12 city contractors, even though the law limits such donors to giving no more than $1,500 annually to candidates seeking city office and elected officials, according to the board.

Missouri – Wide-Reaching Missouri Election Bill Includes Changes to Automatic Campaign Donations

St. Louis Public Radio – Sarah Kellog | Published: 3/12/2026

Missouri lawmakers passed a wide-reaching election bill that included changing the process of collecting recurring campaign donations. Candidates in Missouri will no longer be able to collect automatic campaign contributions without the explicit permission of the donor. The bill also allows lobbyists to maintain candidate committees under certain circumstances.

Nevada – A Reno Mayor Candidate Kept Old Donations for Her Campaign. It Opened a Can of Legal Worms.

Nevada Independent – Eric Neugeboren | Published: 5/11/2026

When Kate Marshall began fundraising in 2024 for a bid for Reno mayor, she had a leg up over the other candidates: about $116,000 in her campaign account from her time as Nevada’s lieutenant governor. Keeping that money has kicked off a series of complaints to state election officials, most recently from the Nevada Republican Party alleging she violated Nevada campaign finance law by accepting a $500 contribution in 2022 and not eventually draining her entire campaign account.

New York – Judge Restores Blakeman’s Ticket in NY’s Matching Funds Program

MSN – Timothy Fanning (Albany Times Union) | Published: 5/17/2026

A state Supreme Court justice overturned a decision by New York’s campaign finance board that had barred Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman and his running mate Todd Hood from receiving public matching funds. Hood’s campaign was found ineligible by the state Public Campaign Finance Board to receive public funds because Hood, the sheriff in Madison County, never filed the required paperwork. That decision, which was criticized by good government groups and Republican lawmakers as a partisan move, left Blakeman at a significant financial disadvantage against Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Virginia – Virginia’s High Court Strikes Down Voter-Passed House Map Favoring Democrats

MSN – Gregory Schneider and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 5/8/2026

The Supreme Court of Virginia invalidated the referendum that could have given Democrats four extra seats in the U.S. House, a major win for Republicans who started a national redistricting war to maintain control of the chamber. The court ruled the General Assembly violated the state constitution in establishing the ballot measure approved by voters. A four-to-three majority of the court ruled the Legislature had improperly submitted the referendum to voters, rendering the results “null and void.” The court restored the pre-referendum map that was adopted in 2021.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Advocate Warns BC Lobbying Law Changes Would Increase Corruption Risk

The Tyee – Andrew MacLeod | Published: 5/5/2026

The special legislative committee that reviewed British Columbia’s lobbying rules recommended 24 changes they say are “intended to reduce administrative workload while maintaining transparency and simplifying reporting requirements to encourage democratic participation.” But Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher says the committee missed an opportunity to strengthen the law and its recommendations would increase the risk of corruption.

Arizona – AZ Lawmakers Owe 6-Digit Campaign Late Fees. Could They Be Erased?

USA Today – Ray Stern (Arizona Republic) | Published: 4/29/2026

A proposed law would let elected officials in Arizona escape late fees that can run up to hundreds of thousands of dollars for failing to file timely campaign finance reports. At least three sitting lawmakers running for reelection owe six-digit late fees. More than 20 other candidates owe thousands of dollars.

Colorado – Colorado Lawmakers Reject Bill That Would Have Required Legislative Caucuses to Report Their Donors

Colorado Sun – Taylor Dolven | Published: 5/6/2026

State lawmakers rejected a bill aimed at requiring Colorado legislative caucuses to disclose their funders. Senate Bill 168 would have required all legislative caucuses to regularly file public reports detailing their fundraising and spending. The impetus for the bill grew out of a controversial retreat at a Vail hotel in October hosted by the Colorado Opportunity Caucus, which has declined to reveal who paid for the lawmakers’ getaway with lobbyists.

Connecticut – UConn Sports Ticket Perk for Lawmakers Added to CT Ethics Proposal

MSN – Paul Hughes (CT Insider) | Published: 5/2/2026

State legislators would be allowed to accept two tickets annually from the University of Connecticut to one home game for either basketball team under a proposed change to the ethics code. The House voted unanimously to redefine allowable gifts to permit public officials or state employees to accept an offer of admission from a public college or university hosting an intercollegiate sporting event for themselves and another person once per calendar year. Tickets to sporting events are considered a gift under the ethics code.

Louisiana – Louisiana Congressional Primaries Are Suspended as a Result of the Supreme Court’s Ruling

MSN – Sara Cline, Jack Brook, and David Lieb (Associated Press) | Published: 4/30/2026

Louisiana suspended its congressional primaries as early voting was about to get underway, while pressure mounted on Republican officials in other states to redraw their U.S. House maps in light of a Supreme Court ruling that significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act. All other races on the ballot will proceed as scheduled. The Supreme Court decision and Gov. Jeff Landry’s executive order triggered a flurry of follow-up legal action.

Missouri – Springfield City Council Approves Bill Limiting the Amount of Money Candidates Can Receive from Singular Donors

MSN – Conner Trett (KY3) | Published: 5/5/2026

Individuals running for mayor and city council seats in Springfield are now limited to a total of $2,825 in both monetary and in-kind contributions per election cycle. “What I think that does is it opens the doors for your everyday Springfieldian to get into local politics,” said Roman Moody, a leader with Missouri Jobs for Justice, a group that supported the bill’s passage.

New Mexico – Over Campaign Contribution Limits? Miyagishima Just Crossed Them Out

New Mexico In Depth – Azure Mitchell | Published: 4/28/2026

After it was reported in February that New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Ken Miyagishima had exceeded limits by more than $125,000 on the amount of donated goods and services his campaign could receive, Miyagishima found a creative resolution: crossing some of them out.  Those changes appear in an amended report he filed in February. But his next campaign finance report, filed April 5, does not show payments back to the companies whose contributions he crossed out. That raises the question of whether the campaign received services it later erased from its reports without paying for them.

North Carolina – NC Lawmakers Gave Autism Nonprofit $2 Million. Much Went to a Former Colleague.

MSN – Dan Kane and Kyle Ingram (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 5/4/2026

Former Nort Carolina Rep. Cecil Brockman won $2 million in state funding for a nonprofit that provides services for people with autism and other disabilities in 2023. Since then, nearly a fifth of that money went to his predecessor and former boss, Marcus Brandon. Now the state is investigating whether taxpayer money was used to pay for lobbying of lawmakers.

Pennsylvania – These Pennsylvanians Walked 63 Miles to Get Lawmakers to Stop Taking Gifts – and Unlimited Campaign Contributions

MSN – Gillian McGoldrick (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 5/6/2026

For the last 10 years, a good-government advocacy group has been protesting at the state Capitol to press the Pennsylvania General Assembly for regulations on the way money influences state politics and policy. During that time its members have walked a lot of miles. March on Harrisburg completed its sixth long-distance march recently, with a group of 20 Pennsylvanians walking a 63-mile route from Reading to Harrisburg, with other residents joining for parts of the trip along the way.

City Council passed an ordinance limiting contributions by individuals to City Council candidates, candidate committees, PACs, or any set of related committees to $2,825 during any election cycle. Contributions were previously unlimited. Under Ordinance 2026-093, the Citizens’ Tax Oversight Committee will investigate violations of the campaign finance ordinance. The ordinance is effective June 3, and contribution limits will be adjusted per the Consumer Price Index every four years in the same manner as state contribution limits.

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The overtime session of the General Assembly adjourned sine die on May 3 after lawmakers worked 34 hours to wrap up and head home 12 days after their scheduled end date. The delay was due to disputes over property taxes and the state budget. Lawmakers passed House File 2601, which prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to ballot issue campaigns and requires committees to obtain certain affirmations from donors regarding foreign national status and source of contributions. Gov. Reynolds has 30 days to sign or veto the bill.

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Corporate Campaign Contribution Rules: What You Need to Know by State

Corporations looking to make campaign contributions from corporate funds must navigate a layered compliance process. The rules vary significantly by state, covering whether contributions are permitted at all, whether registration is required, and what reporting obligations apply. Here is a step-by-step breakdown.

Step 1: Determine Whether Corporate Contributions Are Permitted

Not all states allow corporations to give campaign contributions. Before committing funds, confirm whether the relevant jurisdiction permits corporate giving.

• Prohibited states: Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania prohibit corporations from making contributions to candidates.
• Limited giving: In Kentucky, corporations may only contribute to political issue committees and independent expenditure-only committees.
• Broad permissibility: States like Delaware and Virginia allow corporations to contribute to most candidates and committees.
• Capped giving: In New York, corporations may give up to $5,000 per calendar year to candidates and committees.

Step 2: Determine Whether Registration Is Required

Many states do not require corporations to register simply to make contributions. However, some states do trigger registration requirements based on spending thresholds.

South Carolina: A corporation that receives contributions, makes expenditures, or makes independent expenditures exceeding $500 in the aggregate during an election cycle to influence the outcome of an elective office is considered a committee and must register with the state.

Virginia: Any corporation that anticipates receiving contributions or spending more than $200 to influence the outcome of any nonfederal election must register as a political committee with the state Board of Elections. Corporations that contribute directly from operating funds are generally not required to register unless they make an independent expenditure benefiting a nonfederal Virginia candidate or political committee.

For corporations operating across multiple jurisdictions, tracking these thresholds is essential. State and Federal Communications’ corporate contribution compliance resources can help organizations stay current on registration obligations.

Step 3: Determine Whether Reporting Is Required

Even where contributions are permitted, and registration is not required, reporting obligations may still apply.

Washington: Contributions made from general corporate funds to candidates and political committees are not required to be reported annually. However, reporting is triggered when a corporation meets all three of the following conditions during the preceding calendar year:

• Contributes more than $24,000 in the aggregate to legislative or state office candidates and statewide ballot committees
• Makes independent expenditures totaling more than $1,200 for political advertising supporting or opposing one or more legislative or state office candidates and statewide ballot measures
• Employs a registered lobbyist

California: Corporations that qualify as a recipient committee, major donor committee, or independent expenditure committee must file disclosure reports with the state.

Check the Rules Before You Give

Campaign contribution laws differ substantially from state to state, and noncompliance can carry serious consequences. It is always best practice to review the applicable laws in each jurisdiction before making any contribution.

State and Federal Communications maintains resources on contribution law and compliance consulting services to help corporations navigate these requirements with confidence. Jurisdiction-specific guidance is also available through the firm’s online compliance guidebooks.

FAQ Section

Nebraska LB 1075: Lobbying and Campaign Finance Law Updates

Nebraska Legislative Bill 1075, signed by Gov. Jim Pillen on April 15, 2026, amends several provisions of the state’s lobbying and campaign finance laws. The bill applies late fees to lobbyist principals, tightens restrictions on foreign national contributions, updates political committee reporting requirements, and increases several fee amounts. The bill took effect upon signature.

What Does Nebraska LB 1075 Change?

LB 1075 addresses Nebraska lobbying and campaign finance compliance. Here is a breakdown of each change.

Lobbying Late Filing Fees Now Apply to Principals

Prior Nebraska law required both lobbyists and principals to submit periodic and special lobbying disclosure reports, but late filing fees applied only to lobbyists. LB 1075 closes that gap by extending late filing fees to principals as well.

The updated fee schedule is as follows:

Report Type	Previous Fee	New Fee
Quarterly statements	$25	$50
Disclosure reports (during session)	$100	$200

Stricter Foreign National Restrictions on Ballot Question Committees

LB 1075 imposes new certification and affirmation requirements on ballot question committees regarding foreign national influence.

Registration statements must now certify that no preliminary activity was funded by foreign nationals. Covered preliminary activities include:

• Conducting focus groups
• Drafting proposed language
• Making phone calls

Campaign statements filed by ballot question committees must include an affirmation that:

• No donor is a foreign national, and
• No donor has intentionally received, solicited, or accepted contributions or expenditures from foreign nationals exceeding $100,000 in aggregate in the four-year period before the contribution

Penalties: A ballot question committee that solicits, accepts, or receives a prohibited foreign national contribution, directly or indirectly, will be subject to a fine equal to the amount of the contribution or $100,000, whichever is greater.

Political Committee Contribution Reporting Updates

LB 1075 makes two practical changes to how political committees submit campaign statements and late contribution reports.

Address requirements: Committees may now list either a street address or a post office box number for named contributors. If the contributor is a committee itself, a street address is still required.

Filing methods: Late contribution reports may no longer be submitted by telegraph.

H2- Committee Fee Increases

LB 1075 adjusts several committee-related fees:

Fee Type	Previous Amount	New Amount
Committee registration	$100	$150
Delinquent registration filing fee (standard)	$25	$50
Delinquent registration filing fee (committees formed within 30 days before an election)	$100	$200
updates and delinquent report filing	$25	$50
Delinquent late  contribution reports	$100	$200

Staying Compliant with Nebraska LB 1075

The changes introduced by LB 1075 affect lobbyists, principals, and political committees operating in Nebraska. Organizations should review current filing practices, fee schedules, and any ballot question committee activity to ensure compliance.

For jurisdiction-specific guidance, State and Federal Communications maintains regularly updated online compliance guidebooks covering Nebraska and other states. Hands-on support is also available through the firm’s lobbying compliance consulting services.

FAQ’s

The second regular session of the 132nd Legislature adjourned sine die after a veto session on April 29. Lawmakers passed two campaign finance bills, Legislative Documents 517 and 2000. Legislative Document 517 requires public communications that use synthetic media to include a disclaimer, and Legislative Document 2000 increased the monetary minimums for filing 24-hour PAC and independent expenditure reports. The general effective date for laws passed without an emergency designation is July 29. This does affect lobbying reporting; a registered lobbyist who anticipates no further lobbying for a client may file a request for a non-session waiver with their final monthly report for the session.

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National/Federal

Supreme Court Limits Key Provision of the Landmark Voting Rights Act

MSN – Justin Jouvenal and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 4/29/2026

The Supreme Court weakened a key provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act, a ruling that limits the consideration of race in drawing voting maps and could usher in Republican gains in the House. The decision could touch off a scramble by Republicans to redraw minority-majority districts, especially in the South. New districts could shift the balance of power in Congress by imperiling the reelection prospects of some Black Democrats, possibly as soon as November’s midterms in some instances.

From the States and Municipalities

Colorado – Lawmakers Advance Bill to Regulate State Agencies, Like Lobbyists Who Try to Sway Legislation

Colorado Public Radio – Rae Solomon | Published: 4/29/2026

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is pushing back against a proposal that would treat legislative staff in his administration like any other lobbyist. The primary job of those workers, called legislative liaisons, is to try to sway lawmakers and change legislation. They are essentially lobbyists for the state government and the Polis administration, but they are not required to follow the same disclosure rules that govern most lobbyists.

Hawaii – Sylvia Luke on Indefinite Leave as Keith Regan Becomes Acting Lieutenant Governor

Yahoo News – Dan Nakaso (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) | Published: 4/24/2026

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke is now on unpaid “indefinite leave” after the state attorney general sent her a target letter in a bribery investigation with ties to Hawaii’s infamous 2022 political scandal that sent two state legislators to federal prison. Gov. Josh Green announced that state Comptroller Keith Regan had accepted the job as acting lieutenant governor. If Luke does not return from her leave, Regan would serve as lieutenant governor until Inauguration Day on December 7, after voters pick a new, permanent lieutenant governor in the November 3 general election.

Illinois – 7th Circuit Upholds Ex-Speaker Madigan’s Conviction of Bribery, Other Corruption

Yahoo News – Hannah Meisel (Capitol News Illinois) | Published: 4/27/2026

A federal appeals court panel upheld the 10 guilty verdicts that sent former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to prison, finding no errors in the way the jury was instructed or the “mountain of evidence” the government used to prosecute the influential Democrat during his lengthy bribery trial. While another Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently ordered the release from prison and a new trial for two people convicted of bribing Madigan in a related trial, the judges who heard the former speaker’s appeal were unconvinced of the similar arguments.

Maine – Maine Gov. Janet Mills Drops US Senate Bid Ahead of June 9 Democratic Primary Against Graham Platner

MSN – Kimberlee Kruesi and Patrick Whittle (Associated Press) | Published: 4/30/2026

Maine Gov. Janet Mills dropped her bid for the U.S. Senate just weeks before the Democratic primary in a race that reflected an internal party debate over how to win one of this year’s most competitive Senate seats. Mills struggled to outshine first-time candidate Graham Platner, her opponent in the June 9 Democratic primary. Platner has maintained strong popularity despite facing controversy over past comments he made online and a tattoo he had that is widely recognized as a Nazi symbol.

New Mexico – NM State Ethics Commission Sues Secretive Group Behind Pro-Project Jupiter Ad Campaign

Yahoo News – Joshua Bowling (Source New Mexico) | Published: 4/23/2026

The New Mexico State Ethics Commission filed a lawsuit against Elevate New Mexico, the anonymous, out-of-state company behind the ad campaign that urged people to support the controversial OpenAI and Oracle data center complex Project Jupiter. The lawsuit alleges that since Elevate New Mexico spent at least $2,500 to lobby the state Environment Department to approve air quality permit applications during a public comment period for natural gas power plants associated with Project Jupiter, it should have registered as a lobbyist organization.

North Dakota – Ethics Commission Adopts New Travel Disclosure Rules for Some North Dakota Officials

Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 4/28/2026

The North Dakota Ethics Commission adopted new rules requiring some state officials to file forms when they take trips paid for by third parties. The rules apply to all elected and appointed officials of the executive and legislative branch. Reports would have to be filed with the commission within 15 days of a trip. The Ethics Commission will post all travel disclosure statements on its website and retain each one for three years.

Ohio – US Supreme Court Won’t Take Up Appeal of Ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/27/2026

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder’s corruption conviction and 20-year prison sentence in the House Bill 6 scandal will stand after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal. The justices also denied taking up the appeal of co-defendant Matt Borges, a lobbyist and former Ohio Republican Party chair. Householder masterminded the corruption scheme in which FirstEnergy funneled some $60 million through dark-money channels to Householder, who used it to push for the bill’s passage in 2019.

Oklahoma – No Free Lunches: At least 11 Republican candidates have pledged to reject lobbyist meals and gifts

Oklahoma Watch – Keaton Ross | Published: 4/24/2026

Lobbyists have spent more than $414,000 on meals, beverages, and gifts for Oklahoma lawmakers since January 2025. That number is likely to increase as the legislative session marches toward sine die and the latest lobbyist spending reports come due in May. Many lawmakers, who work part-time and are term-limited, said the meals help them learn about complex issues and fine-tune legislation. But the rate of spending has drawn the ire of a slew of Republican primary challengers, who are hitting the campaign trail with a message that their opponents are more beholden to lobbyists than their constituents.

Washington – Recall Effort Against Washington Governor Ends

Yahoo News – Jerry Cornfield (Washington State Standard) | Published: 4/28/2026

Campaign finance activist Conner Edwards’ quixotic quest to recall Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson was intended to prod the governor into filling two vacant seats on the state Public Disclosure Commission. It worked. Ferguson appointed Teebah Alsaleh, a lawyer for Microsoft, to the commission. Her selection came a week after the governor installed Matt Segal, a former King County Superior Court judge, to the other opening. With that, Edwards said he would end his pursuit of a recall.

National/Federal

Trump Fought to Keep the Ballroom Fundraising Contract Secret. Here’s What’s in It.

Anchorage Daily News – Jonathan Edwards and Dan Diamond (Washington Post) | Published: 4/21/2026

The Trump administration’s contract governing hundreds of millions of dollars in private donations to build Donald Trump’s White House ballroom shields donors’ identities, excludes the White House from conflict-of-interest protections, and was disclosed only after a lawsuit and a judge’s order. White House officials have declined to disclose the total amount raised, the identities of all donors or, until recently, basic details about the building’s design. Court documents show Trump knew he was going to tear down the East Wing at least two months before doing so, but he never told the public

House Democrat Resigns Ahead of Possible Expulsion Vote Over Alleged Financial Crimes

MSN – Anna Liss-Roy, Mariana Alfaro, Marianna Sotomayor, and Kadia Goba (Washington Post) | Published: 4/21/2026

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned from Congress to avoid a possible expulsion vote on allegations she used Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) money mistakenly sent to her family’s health care company during the pandemic to boost her 2022 campaign for Congress. The House Committee on Ethics found she violated more than two dozen ethics rules. Cherfilus-McCormick separately faces criminal charges that could lead to decades in prison tied to the errant FEMA dollars.

Chavez-DeRemer Stepping Down as Labor Secretary

MSN – Nick Niedzwiadek (Politico) | Published: 4/20/2026

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is stepping down from her Cabinet post amid a series of misconduct allegations against her and her top staffers. Chavez-DeRemer has been under scrutiny since January, when Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito opened an investigation into allegations she was involved in an extramarital affair with a member of her security detail, that she drank on the job, and top aides concocted official events to facilitate her personal travel plans.

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – Alabama’s Top Ethics Official Quits Mabel Amos Board After Money Went to His Children: ‘It was not prohibited’

MSN – Mike Cason (AL.com) | Published: 4/18/2026

Alabama Ethics Commission Executive Director Tom Albritton resigned from the board of the Mabel Amos Memorial Fund as part of a dispute over allegations of self-dealing. It is the latest development in a years-long legal dispute over the scholarship fund named in honor of Amos, who was Alabama’s Secretary of State from 1967 until 1975. Lawsuits by state Attorney General Steve Marshall and others challenged the scholarship awards to Albritton’s children and others.

Connecticut – More Money, More Influence? Here’s Who Spends the Most Paying Lobbyists in CT

Yahoo News – Brianna Gurciullo (CT Insider) | Published: 4/19/2026

Each year, lobbyists in Connecticut receive tens of millions of dollars in combined compensation from companies, trade groups, unions, nonprofits, and other clients trying to influence decisions by state government officials. Those clients have spent more than $70 million paying in-house or outside lobbyists in 2025 and 2026. Lobbyists say they provide information and perspectives to officials as they craft legislation and policies, and their spending is tracked by the Office of State Ethics. But do the companies or groups that spend the most have an outsized influence in Hartford?

Hawaii – Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke Received Target Letter in $35,000 Probe

Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 4/22/2026

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke received notice that she is a target in the Hawaii attorney general’s investigation of $35,000 given to an influential state lawmaker in 2022. Lobbyist and businessperson Tobi Solidum also received a target letter in the case. The attorney general’s probe is an offshoot of a federal investigation that landed two ex-state lawmakers, Ty Cullen and J. Kalani English, in prison. For years, Cullen and English were taking cash bribes from businessperson Milton Choy.

North Carolina – Four Lobbyists Indicted over Kentucky Bourbon Distillery Trip for NC Lawmakers

Yahoo News – Dan Kane and Virginia Bridges (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 4/22/2206

A Wake County grand jury indicted four Raleigh lobbyists, saying they violated North Carolina’s gift ban by getting their clients to sponsor a bourbon-tasting junket to Kentucky that included state lawmakers. Kevin Wilkinson, David Ferrell, Douglas Bowen Heath, and Douglas Miskew each face a misdemeanor charge. Three of the four represent alcoholic beverage companies. The indictments say the money went to tour sponsor Greater Carolina, which then paid the travel, meal, and hotel costs.

Ohio – Ohio Treasurer Candidate Showered with Gifts from CEOs, Fundraisers, Lobbyist, Disclosures Show

Signal Ohio – Jake Zuckerman | Published: 4/10/2026

Republican state treasurer candidate Jay Edwards received more than 42 gifts worth at least $75 a piece last year as he prepared his campaign, financial disclosures show. The list of gift-givers spans a mix of industrial titans and personal friends of Edwards. That includes health care entrepreneurs, construction executives, campaign fundraisers, and a lobbyist for the vendor that is regularly in the hunt for state lottery contracts. Did Edwards really receive more than $3,100 worth (at minimum) of gifts, as he disclosed in his financial statement? Probably not, he said in an interview.

Oklahoma – New Questions Emerge Over Oklahoma’s Invest in Oklahoma Contract After Shared Lobbyist Discovered

KOGU – Paul Monies (Oklahoma Watch) | Published: 4/22/2026

Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ hired the same lobbying firm as the parent company of a financial firm he later recommended for a state contract, raising more questions about whether the treasurer’s compressed selection process was fair and transparent. The contract gives 311 Capital Management, a subsidiary of Citizen Capital, a potentially lucrative investment advisory role over billions of dollars of investments from state pension and trust funds. The common lobbying thread is The 1907 Group, which represented the interests of Citizen Capital before the treasurer, governor, and lawmakers for the past two years.

Virginia – GOP’s Hope to Undo Virginia’s New Redistricting Power Grows After Judge Halts Maps

Yahoo News – Markus Schmidt (Virginia Mercury) | Published: 4/21/2026

After losing the redistricting referendum, Virginia Republicans are now shifting their focus to the courts, arguing the legal fight, not the ballot box, will ultimately determine whether the measure stands. That battle escalated when a Tazewell County Circuit Court judge issued a new ruling that halts implementation of the voter-approved amendment less than 24 hours after it passed. While the result initially cleared the way for newly drawn congressional maps to take effect, the latest ruling by Judge Jack Hurley pauses that process, at least for now, as the case ultimately heads to the Supreme Court of Virginia.

The Nebraska Legislature adjourned its regular session sine die on April 17. Lawmakers passed Legislative Bill 1075, a bill related to campaign finance and lobbying. The bill increases committee registration fees and increases late filing fees for committee registrations, registration updates, reports, and independent expenditure reports. The bill also requires ballot question committees to include in their statements of organization a certification that no preliminary activity was directly or indirectly funded by one or more foreign nationals. The bill allows committee reports disclosing certain contributors to list a post office box address for the contributor, unless the contributor is a committee, and increases late filing fees for lobbyist and principal activity reports. The bill was passed as an emergency and takes effect immediately. This does affect lobbying reporting. An activity report is due 45 days following adjournment on June 1.

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National/Federal

Donald Trump Ballroom Donations Under Scrutiny for Potentially Breaking Law

MSN – Kate Plummer (Newsweek) | Published: 4/7/2026

Donations made to President Trump’s White House ballroom are under scrutiny for potentially breaking the law. The Campaign Legal Center wrote to Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, urging her office to investigate whether lobbyists violated federal lobbying law by not disclosing donations to this and other projects overseen by the president.

Reps. Swalwell, Gonzales Say They’ll Leave Congress Ahead of Possible Expulsion Votes

MSN – Mariana Alfaro and Amy Wang (Washington Post) | Published: 4/13/2026

Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales separately announced plans to depart from Congress ahead of possible expulsion votes related to allegations of sexual misconduct. The departures of Swalwell and Gonzales, one Democrat and one Republican, would mean the Republicans’ narrow majority in the House remains unchanged if they leave the chamber at the same time

From the States and Municipalities

Colorado – Colorado Justices Weigh Constitutionality of Unique Disclosure Requirement for Ballot Measures

Colorado Politics – Michael Karlik | Published: 4/13/2026

Members of the Colorado Supreme Court considered whether a provision of the state’s campaign finance law violates the First Amendment by requiring the disclosure of a ballot measure committee’s legal representative on advertisements. Initially, No on EE – A Bad Deal for Colorado spent more than $3 million on communications opposing a ballot measure without listing its registered agent, who is the person designated to receive mailings and file campaign finance reports. After a complaint, the group revised its advertisements to correct the omission.

Illinois – Appeals Court Says It Will Reverse Convictions, Orders Two ‘ComEd Four’ Defendants Released from Prison

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 4/14/2026

A federal appeals court announced it will grant new trials to former Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) Chief Executive Officer Anne Pramaggiore and lobbyist Michael McClain and ordered them released from prison on bond. The extraordinary development comes nearly three years after Pramaggiore and McClain were convicted as part of the landmark “ComEd Four” case alleging a conspiracy to bribe then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Indiana – State Ethics Commission Rules Against Former IEDC Official, Grants Waiver to Governor’s Aide

Yahoo News – Leslie Bonilla Muñiz (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 4/10/2026

The Indiana State Ethics Commission unanimously found thata statutory one-year waiting period applies to a former state official hoping to accept a job offer at a company whose contracts he previously oversaw. The commission also approved a waiver of other state ethics laws for Jason Johnson, currently the deputy chief of staff of legislative affairs for Gov. Mike Braun’s office. Johnson requested a waiver of the one-year waiting requirement before former state employees can work as lobbyists.

Louisiana – Louisiana Political Donors Would Have Addresses Redacted from Public Reports Under Bill

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 4/14/2026

The Louisiana Legislature might block the public from seeing the addresses of political donors who give money to campaigns starting August 1. Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter sponsored a sprawling bill meant to continue the rewrite of state campaign finance laws that were drastically overhauled last year. The legislation also raises the threshold at which political contributions have to be reported.

New York – NY Elections Officials Have Sued Nearly 300 Campaigns as Enforcement Increases

MSN – Emilie Munson (Albany Times Union) | Published: 4/9/2026

Four years ago, New York’s election enforcement division had filed no cases against campaigns alleged to have broken the law by failing to file official reports. That is despite the fact that thousands of candidates and political committees had missing reports in violation of the law. But since then, election officials have started to more aggressively crack down on violations. Since October 2023, the state Division of Election Law Enforcement filed court cases against at least 261 candidates and committees that have failed to file their campaign information or were delinquent.

Oregon – Kotek Quietly Signs Bill Weakening, Delaying Parts of Oregon’s Campaign Finance Law

MSN – Hillary Borrud and Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 4/11/2026

Campaign donors will be allowed to spend more money on Oregon elections, with less transparency, under a bill that Gov. Tina Kotek signed into law. Good government groups called on the governor to veto the legislation, citing a variety of ways House Bill 4018 would let interest groups and wealthy individuals spend more than allowed under the state’s 2024 campaign finance law. Contribution limits in that two-year-old law do not take effect until next year, and Oregon currently allows unlimited political spending.

Pennsylvania – Did Pa. Governor Candidate Stacy Garrity Need to Register as a Lobbyist? Her Work for a Defense Contractor Raises Questions

WHYY – Carmen Russell-Sluchansky | Published: 4/14/2026

Before taking office as Pennsylvania treasurer in January 2021, Stacy Garrity served in senior positions at a defense contractor, where a significant part of her last role focused heavily on influencing public policy tied to military manufacturing and global trade. She has publicly taken credit for successfully moving legislation forward and has met with legislators and otherwise pushed her company’s interests with government officials. And yet, she never registered as a lobbyist.

Vermont – Ethics Panel Dismisses Complaints Over Lawmakers’ Trip to Israel

Seven Days Vermont – Hannah Bassett | Published: 4/14/2026

The House Ethics Panel dismissed complaints against five Vermont representatives who visited Israel last September on a trip sponsored by the Israeli government. The panel concluded that the lawmakers did not violate the state ethics code by participating in the overseas visit. Jewish Voice for Peace Vermont-New Hampshire alleged the legislators violated the gifts provision in the law by improperly accepting free airfare, lodging, and meals from the Israeli government for an event whose “chief purpose” was lobbying.

The Maine General Assembly passed a bill increasing the monetary threshold for 24-hour PAC reports and independent expenditure reports. Legislative Document 2000 requires PACs to file 24-hour reports after receiving a contribution of at least $10,000 or making an expenditure of $2,500 or more. Previously, PACs were required to file when receiving a contribution of at least $5,000 or making an expenditure of $1,000 or more. The threshold for PACs to file independent expenditure reports is increased from $250 or more per candidate to $1,000 or more per candidate. The bill became effective upon Gov. Mills’s approval.

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The Kansas Legislature adjourned its regular session sine die on April 11. Lawmakers passed the House substitute for Senate Bill 260, concerning election and campaign finance laws. Introduced in 2025 as a bill related to horse racing, the bill was substituted in March with a bill for state data collection on newborns to advertise children’s savings accounts and amended in conference committee to its final form. The bill removes the requirement to list a committee treasurer’s name in attributions in political advertisements and on communications intended to influence the vote in question-submitted elections. In addition, when a committee expenditure is made by payment to an advertising agency, public relations firm, or political consultants for disbursements to vendors, reports of expenditures are no longer required to show in detail the name of each vendor. Gov. Laura Kelly approved the bill on April 7, and it takes effect July 1.

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The Mississippi Legislature adjourned after passing the state budget but may reconvene on April 15 unless it is declared unnecessary by the leaders of the House and Senate. Many procurement and political contribution bills died in committee this session. These include a bill that would raise competitive bidding thresholds to $15,000, a change in primary election dates, and prohibition on contributions from foreign nationals. Bills that have passed include raises to teachers’ salaries, changing the structure of public employee’s retirement systems, and natural disaster relief.

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