May 22, 2017 •
Alaska Government Shutdown Looms as Lawmakers Unable to Compromise
Gov. Bill Walker ordered Alaska legislators into a special session just minutes after the regular session adjourned. Lawmakers have been unable to agree on how to resolve the state’s annual $2.7 billion deficit. Majority House Democrats proposed a state income […]
Gov. Bill Walker ordered Alaska legislators into a special session just minutes after the regular session adjourned.
Lawmakers have been unable to agree on how to resolve the state’s annual $2.7 billion deficit. Majority House Democrats proposed a state income tax as well as cuts to oil and gas subsidies, while Republicans in the Senate Majority favored budget cuts and spending from the Permanent Fund’s investment earnings.
Alaska’s fiscal year begins July 1, giving lawmakers just over a month to make a deal.
May 22, 2017 •
Alabama Legislature Adjourns Sine Die
The Legislature adjourned sine die late Friday, May 19, 2017. Bills to block removal of Confederate monuments and allow certified midwives to deliver babies in the home both passed. Lawmakers failed to pass the prison bill and Gov. Kay Ivey […]
The Legislature adjourned sine die late Friday, May 19, 2017.
Bills to block removal of Confederate monuments and allow certified midwives to deliver babies in the home both passed.
Lawmakers failed to pass the prison bill and Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to revisit the issue in a special session.
May 19, 2017 •
Vermont Legislature Adjourns, Special Session Likely
The Vermont Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session today, May 19, 2017. Lawmakers delayed adjournment by more than a week as they continued negotiations on the state budget. The budget includes a health insurance savings program for teachers, as demanded […]
The Vermont Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session today, May 19, 2017. Lawmakers delayed adjournment by more than a week as they continued negotiations on the state budget.
The budget includes a health insurance savings program for teachers, as demanded by Gov. Phil Scott in the eleventh hour of the session. With little time to create the proposal, the final version passed by both houses is expected to meet the governor’s veto stamp and the specter of a special session looms.
Also passed by both houses, and awaiting the governor’s action, is a bill to establish a state ethics commission and a state code of ethics.
May 19, 2017 •
NYCU Video Digest – May 19, 2017
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
May 16, 2017 •
Arizona Legislature Adjourns
The Arizona Legislature adjourned the first regular session of the 53rd Legislature sine die on May 10, 2017. Senate Bill 1123 passed, prohibiting any person acting on behalf of a state agency from entering into a contract for lobbying services, […]
The Arizona Legislature adjourned the first regular session of the 53rd Legislature sine die on May 10, 2017.
Senate Bill 1123 passed, prohibiting any person acting on behalf of a state agency from entering into a contract for lobbying services, and from spending money for any person or entity to lobby on behalf of the agency unless the person is a state employee.
The Legislature is not scheduled to convene again until early 2018.
May 11, 2017 •
Tennessee General Assembly Adjourns 2017 Session
The 2017 session of the 110th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned on Wednesday, May 10. Hesitant to make a last-minute decision on such a significant matter, lawmakers postponed a bill to increase campaign contribution limits for legislators. Legislation did pass requiring […]
The 2017 session of the 110th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned on Wednesday, May 10.
Hesitant to make a last-minute decision on such a significant matter, lawmakers postponed a bill to increase campaign contribution limits for legislators. Legislation did pass requiring lawmakers to report contributions or funding from private sources for trips and other items.
The General Assembly will reconvene at noon on Tuesday, January 9, 2018.
May 11, 2017 •
Colorado Legislature Adjourns First Regular Session
The first regular session of the 71st Colorado General Assembly adjourned Wednesday, May 10. Prior to adjournment, lawmakers passed an omnibus spending bill to save Colorado hospitals millions of dollars and reduce Medicaid spending while increasing funding for highway projects […]
The first regular session of the 71st Colorado General Assembly adjourned Wednesday, May 10.
Prior to adjournment, lawmakers passed an omnibus spending bill to save Colorado hospitals millions of dollars and reduce Medicaid spending while increasing funding for highway projects and offering a personal property tax credit to businesses. Due to partisan disagreement, however, legislators failed to reauthorize the Colorado Energy Office, effectively dismantling the agency July 1.
The second regular session will convene on January 10, 2018.
May 9, 2017 •
Florida Adjourns Legislative Session
The Florida Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session on Monday, May 8, 2017. Lawmakers extended the session an extra day after failing to reach an agreement on the state budget, despite Republican majorities in both houses. The $82.4 billion budget […]
The Florida Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session on Monday, May 8, 2017.
Lawmakers extended the session an extra day after failing to reach an agreement on the state budget, despite Republican majorities in both houses.
The $82.4 billion budget was $1.1 billion less than Gov. Rick Scott’s proposal, leaving open the possibility of at least a partial veto.
A special session also remains possible to deal with implementing the medical marijuana amendment passed by voters last year.
May 8, 2017 •
Contribution Limits in New Brunswick Lowered to $3,000
On May 5, the third session of the 58th Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada adjourned, passing legislation lowering the political contribution limit to $3,000 from $6,000. Additionally, the Local Governance Act and the Community Planning Act were enacted, replacing […]
On May 5, the third session of the 58th Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada adjourned, passing legislation lowering the political contribution limit to $3,000 from $6,000.
Additionally, the Local Governance Act and the Community Planning Act were enacted, replacing the Municipalities Act and an older Community Planning Act.
The Legislative Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, October 24, 2017.
May 5, 2017 •
Hawaii Legislature Adjourns Sine Die
The 29th Hawaii Legislature adjourned sine die on Thursday, May 4. Prior to adjournment, House members elected Rep. Scott Saiki as Speaker of the House. He replaces Rep. Joseph Souki, who resigned after lawmakers failed to come together to pass […]
The 29th Hawaii Legislature adjourned sine die on Thursday, May 4.
Prior to adjournment, House members elected Rep. Scott Saiki as Speaker of the House. He replaces Rep. Joseph Souki, who resigned after lawmakers failed to come together to pass certain bills.
Lawmakers passed 233 bills during the 2017 legislative session, including budgets for fiscal years 2018 and 2019.
Pending bills will carry over to the 2018 legislative session.
May 2, 2017 •
Arkansas Legislature Adjourns Only to Call Special Session
The 91st General Assembly adjourned sine die on May 1, 2017. A half hour after adjourning, the Legislature convened a special session. The special session was called to address approving authorization for Arkansas Works waivers, restructuring the Arkansas Health Insurance […]
The 91st General Assembly adjourned sine die on May 1, 2017. A half hour after adjourning, the Legislature convened a special session.
The special session was called to address approving authorization for Arkansas Works waivers, restructuring the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace, cleaning up medical marijuana laws, and boosting long-term reserve funding for Arkansas.
The special session is likely to adjourn by the end of the week.
May 2, 2017 •
Montana Legislature Adjourns
The Montana Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session April 28, 2017. House Bill 340, eliminating the Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices, made it through the House but was tabled in the Senate and did not pass. Senate Bill […]
The Montana Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session April 28, 2017. House Bill 340, eliminating the Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices, made it through the House but was tabled in the Senate and did not pass.
Senate Bill 368, increasing contribution limits for both individuals and political action committees and placing the Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices under the jurisdiction of the state Attorney General, passed at the last minute and will be sent to the Governor.
The Montana Legislature will pick up again in January 2019.
May 2, 2017 •
North Dakota Adjourns Legislative Session
The North Dakota Legislature adjourned its legislative session on April 27. The session lasted 77 days, ending ahead of the 80-day maximum set by the Constitution. Lawmakers approved a $13.6 billion budget for the 2017-2019 biennium before adjourning.
The North Dakota Legislature adjourned its legislative session on April 27.
The session lasted 77 days, ending ahead of the 80-day maximum set by the Constitution.
Lawmakers approved a $13.6 billion budget for the 2017-2019 biennium before adjourning.
April 28, 2017 •
Arkansas Lobbyists Prohibited from Giving Loans to Constitutional Officers
Effective July 30, 2017, Arkansas constitutional officers are prohibited from soliciting or accepting loans from lobbyists. Senate Bill 7, now known as Act 1108, amends the definition of gift to include any advance or loan. The bill excludes an advance […]
Effective July 30, 2017, Arkansas constitutional officers are prohibited from soliciting or accepting loans from lobbyists.
Senate Bill 7, now known as Act 1108, amends the definition of gift to include any advance or loan. The bill excludes an advance or loan made in the ordinary course of business by a financial institution or business regularly extending credit.
Bills signed during the regular session are effective 90 days after the final, official day of session, unless otherwise specified. The 91st General Assembly is set to adjourn sine die on May 1, 2017.
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