The Washington Legislature adjourned sin die on April 23.

Lawmakers passed over 450 bills during the session, including a $69 billion dollar budget bill that raises pay for state employees and public-school teachers.

Additionally, Senate Bill 5170 was signed into law, allowing the solicitation of gifts, grants, or donations to support conferences of national or regional legislative organizations held outside the state by certain legislators and staff.

The 445th Maryland General Assembly adjourned from their 90-day session on April 10.

Passed legislation includes the Fair Wage Act of 2023 and the Family Prosperity Act of 2023.

These bills are aimed toward reducing child poverty and raising the minimum wage which will increase wages for approximately 163,000 workers, and ultimately benefit 120,000 children in the state.

The Idaho Legislature adjourned sine die Thursday, April 6.

During the contentious session, legislators were able to pass a revised Medicare budget, a new public school budget, and overturn a veto to enact a property tax reduction bill.

Legislators also passed House Bill 11, expanding the prohibition regarding the use of private moneys for the purpose of election administration to include officials and state employees.

This does affect lobbying reporting. The final lobbyist activity report for the year is due May 15.

State Representatives Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson were officially expelled from the legislature after individual resolutions were brought by Republicans proposing their removal.

A procedural vote cleared the chamber, and the two-thirds vote of the House needed to formally expel the representatives was received.

The lawmakers’ districts comprised the cities of Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis.

Rep. Gloria Johnson also faced expulsion but was not removed as the two-thirds vote failed by a single vote.

Special elections will be held to fill the seats vacated by the two members.

The Mississippi Legislature adjourned sine die on April 5 after a little over 90 days in session.

This session was highlighted by increased funding for hospitals, roads, and bridges, along with a $100 million dollar increase in educational funding.

The lobbyist end-of-session activity report is due April 15.

The 2023 regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 30.

A procurement bill and a bill requiring special elections for Louisville passed.

House Bill 0522 increases the small purchase amounts for public agencies from $30,000 to $40,000 before requiring a newspaper advertisement seeking bids.

House Bill 0191 requires a special election must be held 60 days after the declaration of vacancy, to fill an open Louisville Metro Council seat if the vacancy occurs over three months before a regular election.

Several Campaign finance bills did not pass, including:

• A bill requiring campaign consultants to register
• A bill permitting paper filings
• A bill prohibiting candidates, committees, and contributing organizations from making an expenditure to an intermediary.

The 98th session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on March 27.

During the session, lawmakers passed House Bill 1060 increasing the threshold for requiring a purchasing agency to advertise for bids or proposals for a contract for the purchase of supplies or services, other than professional services, from $25,000 to $50,000 and any public improvement contract from $50,000 to $100,000.

A lobbying bill prohibiting the spouse of a member of the legislature from being employed as a lobbyist and a campaign finance bill to increase contribution limits did not pass.

The Wyoming State Legislature adjourned sine die March 3, after passing 196 bills during the 37-day session.

Among the passed bills, the legislature ratified Senate Bill 40. Senate Bill 40 closed an exemption for federal political action committees (PACs) active in Wyoming elections.

Under the new law, federal PACs must file state campaign finance reports unless they are solely making contributions or expenditures to federal candidates or issues.

Other major bills passed during the quick session include universal tax-relief and an omnibus bill focusing on rehabilitating the state’s water infrastructure.

The Virginia Legislature adjourned the regular session on February 25 after 46 days.

Lawmakers considered over 2,800 pieces of legislation during this time and managed to pass over 1,600 bills in both the House and Senate.

Notably, the Legislature passed a “mini-budget” providing funding for urgent items for the state.

Budget negotiations will continue and the Legislature is scheduled to reconvene on April 12.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced a special session during her State of the State address on March 7.

This session will begin March 8 and will focus on allocating the remaining $1.1 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan.

Among the issues to be covered will be how to both pay debts and invest in broadband and water infrastructure projects.

The Florida Legislature has ended its special session today, February 10.

Legislators passed bills supporting state control over Disney’s special district, migrant flights, and police election units.

The bills will now be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis where it is expected he will sign the bills into law.

Lawmakers will now prepare for the start of their upcoming regular session on March 7.

The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature will hold a special session this week to deal directly with Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.

Gov. Ron DeSantis previously pushed lawmakers to end the existence of Reedy Creek and in April of 2022, signed into law the legislation abolishing the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

Now, the state must decide whether to assume control of the district and how to deal with the district’s debts.

The special session began February 6.

Campaign Finance

National: “Billions at Stake as Online Fundraising Practices Turn Off Voters” by Jessica Piper (Politico) for MSN

Virginia: “Virginia Senate Panel Blocks Campaign Finance Reform Bills, Again” by Graham Moomaw for Virginia Mercury

Ethics

National: “What the Jan. 6 Probe Found Out About Social Media, But Didn’t Report” by Cat Zakrzewski, Cristiano Lima, and Drew Harwell (Washington Post) for MSN

Maryland: “Former Delegate Pleads Guilty to Misconduct in Office for Misusing State Funds to Pay for Middle River Cottage” by William Zorzi for Maryland Matters

New Mexico: “Ex-GOP Candidate Arrested in Shootings at Lawmakers’ Homes” by Rio Yamat (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

Washington: “Lawsuit Filed Over State Lawmakers’ Use of ‘Privilege’ to Deny Access to Public Records” by Shauna Sowersby for The Olympian

Lobbying

National: “How Restaurant Workers Help Pay for Lobbying to Keep Their Wages Low” by David Fahrenthold and Talmon Joseph Smith (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Ohio: “How Dark Money Groups Led Ohio to Redefine Gas as ‘Green Energy’” by Maxine Joselow (Washington Post) for MSN

Gov. Tom Wolf ordered a special session of the General Assembly to begin Monday, January 9.

Both chambers have been called back to Harrisburg to consider a proposed amendment to Pennsylvania’s constitution seeking to aid survivors of child sexual abuse.

Lawmakers have until January 27 to act on the amendment in order for it to make it onto the May primary ballot.