The second regular session of the Wisconsin State Assembly concluded on May 15.

During the session, lawmakers passed campaign finance bills related to disclosures and lobbyist contributions.

Assembly Bill 664 requires any audio or video communication paid for by a candidate, committee, or party containing synthetic media to include a disclaimer at both the beginning and the end of the communication.

Senate Bill 822 requires local committees supporting or opposing local candidates and referendums to register and file campaign finance reports with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission instead of local clerks beginning July 1, 2025.

Senate Bill 741 clarifies only a special election to fill a vacancy in a state office opens the lobbyist contribution window for personal contributions to a partisan elected state official or state candidate.

Conduits receiving and releasing earmarked contributions will be required to pay a $100 annual filing fee.

The Alaska Legislature adjourned sine die on May 16 after pushing through a flurry of bills in the final days.

The Senate adjourned right before the midnight hour on Wednesday while the House continued to work into Thursday morning.

This has raised questions about the legality of those pieces of legislation which were passed after the midnight deadline.

The main focus towards the end of the session was on a few different energy bills, rather than the usual budget negotiations.

The legislature also passed several major policy bills regarding crime, the budget, and education issues.

The Vermont General Assembly adjourned sine die on Saturday, May 10.

During the session, lawmakers passed House Bill 875, which overhauls the Vermont ethics laws.

The bill grants the Ethics Commission the power to perform investigations and hearings.

Additionally, the bill creates a uniform Municipal Code of Ethics and repeals redundant municipal ethics laws.

If approved by the governor, sections of the bill will take effect on passage; January 1, 2025; or January 1, 2026.

The Connecticut General Assembly adjourned sine die on May 8.

During the session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 253 concerning foreign political spending.

The bill prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions or expenditures and individuals from receiving contributions from foreign nationals.

Additionally, it requires certification on independent expenditure reports that the person making the expenditure is not a foreign national.

If signed by the governor, Senate Bill 253 becomes effective from passage.

This does affect lobbying reporting.

The monthly employer activity report required any month the General Assembly is in regular session is due June 10.

Lawmakers adjourned sine die on Thursday May 9.

Passed bills include compensation for college sports athletes which, if signed by the governor, allows colleges to directly support college athletes while they play for the school’s team.

Any bill left alive will have another chance during the 2025 session when all 170 seats of the Legislature will be up for reelection.

The Mississippi Legislature adjourned sine die on Saturday, May 4.

Notable bills passed during this session include House Bill 1664, which included agents and owners of utility companies in the definition of covered person for the purposes of political contribution and gift restrictions.

Lawmakers also succeeded in passing a $7.9 billion budget.

Notable bills that did not pass included a bill to require lobbyists to disclose whether any client is a foreign principal of a foreign adversary and a bill requiring disclosure if the lobbyist had a material financial interest in a business that may benefit from an issue or bill.

The Tennessee Legislature adjourned sine die on April 25.

Notable passed legislation included a bill to allow armed teachers in classrooms; a bill establishing new penalties for PACs; and a bill providing a $1.9 billion tax cut and refund for businesses.

The tax cut created contention as it was formed to remedy a tax that purportedly violated the constitution’s commerce clause.

The second regular session of the 90th Iowa General Assembly adjourned sine die early in the morning on Saturday, April 20 after an all-night session.

Lawmakers are only paid for 100 days and worked 104 days to agree on a budget.

Republicans control both houses and passed many of the proposals outlined in Gov. Reynolds January address, including consolidating many boards and commissions by eliminating 83 unelected boards and commissions and requiring an annual review process of boards and commissions.

The second regular session of the 131st Legislature statutorily adjourned on April 17.

The Legislature reconvenes May 10 for a veto session before adjourning sine die.

The general effective date for nonemergency laws passed is August 9.

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.

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.

The 2024 regular session of the General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 15.

Lawmakers passed and Gov. Beshear signed a law amending requirements for independent expenditure committees and political advertising disclaimers.

House Bill 595 requires federally registered political committees to register in Kentucky if they make an independent expenditure in support of or in opposition to a Kentucky candidate or a slate of candidates.

The bill requires disclaimers on political advertising to appear and be presented in a clear and conspicuous manner to give the reader or observer adequate notice of the identity of the purchaser of the communication.

The bill also increases the penalty for campaign finance violations from $100 per day to $200 per day.

Lawmakers overrode vetoes on two dozen measures to pass everything vetoed by Beshear, including House Bill 622 requiring special elections for vacancies in the U. S. Senate.

Previously, the governor filled vacancies by appointment.

The Idaho legislative session has come to an end after being extended into the month of April.

Notable legislation passed and signed by Gov. Brad Little includes two campaign finance bills.

House Bill 664 issues guidelines for the use of synthetic media in electioneering communications and requires certain disclosures and disclaimers within such communications.

Senate Bill 1251 amends the definition of political committee by removing language exempting federal PACs from being considered a political committee.

This does affect lobbying reporting.

A lobbyist activity report will now be due on May 15 for the expenditures made during the month of April.

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 99th session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on March 26.

Lawmakers convened for Veto Day but adjourned after only a few minutes because for the first time in nearly 70 years, there were no gubernatorial vetoes to consider.

Gov. Kristi Noem signed a total of 233 bills into law this legislative session while not vetoing a single one.

A bill to prohibit the use of a deepfake in a campaign ad if it does not include a disclosure passed the Senate but died in the House.