LobbyComply Blog

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.

New Brunswick, Canada may soon be overhauling its provincial lobbying law. On May 12, legislation was introduced into parliament to amend the current Lobbyists’ Registration Act. Bill No. 44 would mandate monthly reporting and additional disclosures not currently required, including with whom a lobbyist met, when they met, and where they met. The Office of the Integrity Commissioner would have the authority to investigate violations and to impose financial penalties. The commissioner would also create a code of conduct for lobbyists. The code, with which lobbyists must comply, will detail the expected ethical standards, behaviors, and responsibilities of lobbyists.

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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.

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.

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Speaker Jason White determined lawmakers may reconvene on April 15 to consider vetoes by Gov. Tate Reeves. House Joint Resolution 64 permitted the session to reconvene beyond the initial sine die date of April 5, unless both Hosemann and White jointly objected. Vetoed items include spending, voting, and opioid settlement bills. This does affect lobbying reporting. The end-of-session report is due April 25, covering the period of February 26 to April 15.

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National/Federal

Wealthy Donors Are Hiding Political Money in Secretive Nonprofits

Journal-News – Theodore Schleifer and Steven Rich (New York Times) | Published: 4/3/2026

Increasingly, individuals do not cut big checks to campaigns, donations in which their names would have to be disclosed to the FEC or state regulators. They come more and more from an alphabet soup of patriotic-sounding philanthropic organizations that send hundreds of millions of dollars to PACs but do not have to disclose where the money came from. So-called dark money is not new. But a review of new election filings and internal fundraising documents shows an increase in the use of these shadowy philanthropic groups to raise money on behalf of candidates in federal elections.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Top S.F. Official Who Led Dream Keeper Equity Program Charged with Felonies: ‘Abuse of power’

Yahoo News – St. John Barned-Smith and Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 3/30/2026

Once San Francisco’s most powerful civil rights watchdog, Sheryl Davis continued her fall when she surrendered to authorities to face accusations she misappropriated funds and engaged in “pervasive” self-dealing while leading a landmark initiative meant to benefit the city’s Black community. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins filed a raft of felony financial misconduct charges against Davis, who oversaw the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, and James Spingola, the former chief executive officer of Collective Impact, a nonprofit Davis funded.

Hawaii – Convicted Hawai’i Lawmaker’s Emails Were Deleted When He Left Office

Honolulu Civil Beat – Madeleine Valera | Published: 4/8/2026

Soon after state Rep. Ty Cullen left office, resigning in disgrace due to a bribery scandal, the Hawaii House of Representatives wiped his email account clean, deleting years of messages. What kinds of emails he exchanged with the man convicted of bribing him, Milton Choy, the public may never know. Also unknown is what kinds of conversations, if any, Cullen shared with lobbyist Tobi Solidum, who is believed to be connected to an investigation into $35,000 in a paper bag given to another “influential” lawmaker in 2022.

Kentucky – Lobbying Interests Fund Small Political Nonprofit – and a Republican State Senator

Yahoo News – Tom Loftus (Kentucky Lantern) | Published: 4/3/2026

Since January 2023 a political organization named Kentucky Strong Inc. has paid its executive director, state Sen. Julie Raque Adams, $80,500. In fact, 12 payments to Adams totaling $80,500 were the only expenses reported by the organization in the three-year period ending January 2026. Over roughly the same period, Kentucky Strong was funded exclusively by interests that actively lobby the Kentucky General Assembly.

New York – Blakeman Campaign Denied Matching Funds by Dems on Campaign Board

Yahoo News – Timothy Fanning (Albany Times Union) | Published: 3/31/2026

An arm of the state Board of Elections denied campaign matching funds to Republican Bruce Blakeman and five other New York gubernatorial candidates based on a rule change the agency’s staffers failed to tell anyone about. The Public Campaign Finance Board, where Democrats hold the majority, ruled along partisan lines that Blakeman was ineligible because he did not file the correct paperwork to qualify for a program that allows a candidate to obtain matching taxpayer money if they raise enough money from state residents.

North Carolina – Who Paid to Help Oust NC’s Phil Berger? Voters May Never Now. Here’s Why.

Yahoo News – Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 4/3/2026

Much remains unknown about who funded the race that ended Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger’s more than two decades in the North Carolina Legislature, with voters electing challenger and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page to represent the district by fewer than two dozen votes. A large part of the opacity comes from political advertising by individuals, groups, and nonprofits, many of which are not required to disclose donors. Some of those ads, called electioneering communications, mention a candidate but stop short of explicitly urging voters to support or oppose them, a practice often referred to as issue advocacy.

Ohio – US Supreme Court Overturns PG Sittenfeld Corruption Conviction

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/6/2026

The U.S. Supreme Court granted federal prosecutors’ request to overturn ex-Cincinnati City Councilperson PG Sittenfeld’s corruption conviction, opening the door for a lower court to dismiss his case given that President Trump pardoned him last year. The ruling marks what could be the first time in Supreme Court history that the nation’s high court accepted an appeal from a defendant who had already received a presidential pardon for a criminal conviction.

Rhode Island – Jim Thorsen Wins Fight to Clear His Name of Ethical Misconduct Charges on 2023 Philly Trip

Yahoo News – Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 4/8/2026

Former Rhode Island Director of Administration Jim Thorsen was cleared of all wrongdoing following an ethics trial tied to an infamous business trip to Philadelphia. The state Ethics Commission decided Thorsen’s failure to immediately pay the $133-a-plate meal at Irwin’s in Philadelphia in March 2023 did not constitute knowing, willful, and deliberate flouting of the state ethics code.

Tennessee – Foreign Adversary Lobbyist Bill Sidelined for Session

Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 4/8/2026

Legislation brought by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s administration requiring lobbyists to register when representing foreign adversaries has been derailed for the year. Sen. Adam Lowe, who carried the Senate version of the bill, said the state is trying to identify the influence of foreign money on Tennessee policy but that the methods for identifying that impact are changing.

Washington – Ferguson’s Failure to Fill Seats on WA Campaign Watchdog Panel Incites Recall Bid

Yahoo News – Jerry Cornfield (Washington State Standard) | Published: 4/7/2026

A recall effort is underway against Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson for failing to fill vacancies on the commission that enforces state campaign finance laws. The petition to remove Ferguson from office accuses him of misfeasance and violating his oath of office by not filling two seats on the Public Disclosure Commission within a timeline prescribed in state law. One has been open for nearly all of Ferguson’s term, which began in January last year.

Utah Senate Bill 145, signed by Gov. Spencer Cox on March 17, 2026, amends several provisions of the state’s lobbying laws. The changes are effective May 6, 2026, and address procurement lobbying, contingency fee restrictions, university event expenditures, and de minimis gift thresholds.

What Does Utah SB 145 Change?

SB 145 touches four distinct areas of Utah lobbying compliance. Here is a breakdown of each amendment.

Procurement Lobbying Deregulated for Local and Education Entities

SB 145 removes procurement activities from the relevant lobbying definitions that apply to local government lobbying and board of education lobbying. Under the revised definitions, local and education lobbying generally covers legislative and administrative actions, but does not include  adjudicative proceedings and purchasing and contracting decisions.

This change deregulates local and education procurement lobbying, reducing compliance obligations for those communicating with a public official for the purpose of influencing a purchasing and contracting decision  at the local government and board of education level.

Contingency Lobbying Restrictions Extended

Prior Utah law prohibited hiring a lobbyist for compensation contingent, in whole or in part, upon a specific legislative or executive outcome. SB 145 expands these restrictions to also cover local and educational actions.

Under the updated law, incentivized lobbying is prohibited when a lobbyist’s compensation is tied to:

• A government action occurring, or
• The amount appropriated for a government program

Organizations engaging lobbyists in Utah should review existing compensation structures to confirm they remain compliant under the broadened scope. Learn more on our Lobbying Compliance Consulting page

Broader Event Exemptions for University-Sponsored Events

Expenditure reporting will no longer be required for admission, attendance, and travel to or from the following types of events, provided they are hosted by public or nonprofit higher education institutions:

• Recreational events
• Sporting events
• Artistic performances
• Art exhibitions
• Other artistic events

To qualify for the exemption, the event must occur at the institution, and the purpose of the public official’s attendance must be to build a relationship with the institution.

Previously, such attendance offers were only permitted for public colleges and universities as governmental sponsors. The revision extends the exemption to nonprofit higher education institutions as well.

De Minimis Gift Thresholds Increased

SB 145 raises the threshold for de minimis expenditures that lobbyists may make for public officials without triggering reporting requirements:

Item Category	Previous Threshold	New Threshold
Nonfood items	$10	$25
Publications & commemorative items	$30	$50

The adjustment reflects higher costs for such items and responds to the prior thresholds being found overly restrictive in practice.

When Do the Changes Take Effect?

All amendments under Utah SB 145 take effect May 6, 2026.

Lobbyists and their organizations should audit current practices, particularly around contingency compensation structures, to ensure compliance before that date. Lobbyists interested in making larger value expenditures should review the updates to ensure continued compliance.

For jurisdiction-specific guidance, State and Federal Communications maintains regularly updated online compliance guidebooks covering Utah and other states.

Utah Senate Bill 145 FAQs 

National/Federal

After a Year of Trump’s Washington, Private Sector Prepares for Some Democratic Power

MSN – Alex Gangitano and Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) | Published: 3/26/2026

The private sector and their army of lobbyists are preparing for Democrats to seize some control away from President Trump next year. Democrats plan to launch into aggressive oversight mode, investigating a slew of Trump’s actions and how the corporate world treated him, from donations to his ballroom project and his inauguration to drug pricing dealmaking.

House Democrat Violated Ethics Rules, Panel Finds, Putting Her Seat in Jeopardy

MSN – Kadia Goba and Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) | Published: 3/27/2026

Beleaguered Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick violated House ethics rules, a House ethics committee panel said, citing the findings of a years-long investigation into whether she used covid pandemic money to bolster a run for Congress. The vote follows a rare public hearing Thursday, in which members of the ethics committee queried Cherfilus-McCormick’s lawyer about allegations related to her family’s South Florida health care business. The committee’s investigation outlined 27 potential ethics violations.

Trump Attends Supreme Court Arguments Over His Executive Order, a Presidential First

NPR – Rachel Treisman | Published: 4/1/2026

President Trump became the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court when he showed up to watch proceedings in a case challenging one of his executive orders. Barbara v. Trump revolves around an executive order that Trump signed on the first day of his second term, seeking to deny automatic citizenship to babies born in the U.S. to parents who were in the country either illegally or temporarily. It has not gone into effect because multiple lower courts immediately ruled it unconstitutional.

From the States and Municipalities

California – San Jose Mayor Rips Sacramento as Lobbying Audits Nearly Disappear

Hoodline San Jose – Eric Tanaka | Published: 3/30/2026

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan urged state leaders to move auditing California’s influence industry to the top of their to-do list after a media investigation revealed regulators have conducted almost none of the lobbying audits that state law requires. The probe by Bloomberg Government found only five audits of lobbyists or their employers were completed between 2019 and 2025, a tally the outlet said amounts to less than one percent of the checks the Political Reform Act requires.

California – Donations to Gubernatorial Candidate Could Violate California Campaign Rules

MSN – Sophia Bollag (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 3/31/2026

Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco received maximum donations from two closely linked companies that have been run by the same siblings, which could violate California’s campaign finance law. Bianco, who is seeking to replace Gavin Newsom as governor, received $78,400 donations from M&D Development and Downs Energy, the maximum amount allowed for an individual donor. Contributions from companies that are controlled by the same person or people should be aggregated, or treated as contributions from the same donor, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Colorado – Federal Judge Upholds Constitutionality of Colorado Campaign Contribution Limits

Colorado Politics – Michael Karlik | Published: 3/27/2026

A federal judge upheld Colorado’s individual campaign contribution limits as constitutional, finding three Republican plaintiffs failed to prove the framework violates their First Amendment rights. U.S. District Court Senior Judge John Kane wrote Colorado voters legitimately enacted the limits to guard against “quid pro quo” corruption, and they do not prevent political challengers from mounting successful campaigns.

Connecticut – Connecticut Election Officials Say Some Lobbyists Can Donate Despite Foreign Contribution Ban

MSN – Paul Hughes (CT Insider) | Published: 4/1/2026

The State Elections Enforcement Commission ruled in-house lobbyists working for foreign-owned businesses can make personal contributions of their own volition to political campaigns in Connecticut. The commission said a 2024 state law that prohibits foreign nationals from donating or making expenditures generally does not apply to these paid lobbyists.

Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmakers Could Have More Foreign Trips Covered by Outside Groups

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 3/26/2026

Louisiana lawmakers would be able to accept a wider range of international travel paid for by outside groups without having to disclose those trips publicly under new legislation. House Bill 260 would allow nonprofits, political organizations, foreign governments, and others to pay for more international trips for state lawmakers.

New York – 4 Charged in Corruption Investigation Linked to NYC Homeless Shelter Operator

MSN – Jake Offenhartz and Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 3/31/2026

Four people connected to a company hired by New York City to operate homeless shelters were arrested as part of a federal public corruption investigation that is also examining a city council member and a top aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Two leaders of BHRAGS Home Care are accused of stealing more than $1.3 million from the organization, and two subcontractors who the indictment says paid bribes and kickbacks to the men in exchange for contracts. Investigators are also probing whether Councilperson Farah Louis and her sister Debbie Louis, an aide to Hochul, accepted bribes related to the appropriation of city funds to the nonprofit.

Ohio – Jury Deadlocked in FirstEnergy Bribery Trial as Yost Vows to Retry Case

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 3/31/2026

The high-profile bribery trial of two former FirstEnergy executives ended with a hung jury. On the ninth day of deliberations, jurors said they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the trial of former FirstEnergy Chief Executive Officer Chuck Jones and ex-top lobbyist Michael Dowling on charges that accused them of bribing a state regulator who helped draft scandal-marred House Bill 6 in Ohio. Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross stopped short of declaring a mistrial, saying she would make a ruling at a later date.

The Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission decided lobbyists who represent domestic subsidies of foreign principals can make contributions despite the ban on contributions from foreign nationals in Connecticut elections. These lobbyists can make personal contributions if they are using their own funds and their lobbying and political activities are not directed or controlled by a foreign parent company.

Beginning on April 1 and lasting until September 30, 2026, unregistered lobbyists will not face fines for certain violations of British Columbia’s Lobbyists Transparency Act. One of the main goals of the  “temporary fine freeze” is to encourage currently unregistered lobbyists and organizations to register with the province’s Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists. In order to avail oneself of this freeze, a person or organization must not have previously received a fine from the registrar’s office, not have been registered since May 4, 2020, and must be forthcoming with the registrar’s staff about all required information to be submitted into the registry. This freeze does not apply to violations related to the prohibition on lobbying by former public office holders or for previous lobbying performed in connection with a contract for providing paid advice to the government of British Columbia or another provincial entity. The fine freeze is not available to registered lobbyists, to unregistered lobbyists that the registrar believes may have committed flagrant violations of the law, or to unregistered lobbyists attempting to use the temporary fine freeze to delay or obscure transparency.

National/Federal

Super PAC Spending Passes $200M, with Some Groups Hiding Their Cause

MSN – Clara Ence Morse and Dan Merica (Washington Post) | Published: 3/21/2026

The political arm of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee funneled over $5 million to other groups as part of its work to defeat Illinois Democrats critical of Israel in recent U.S. House primaries. The secretive giving is the latest example of how outside groups are obscuring their spending in competitive campaigns. Special interest groups have sometimes tried to veil their spending by using affiliated organizations that appear unrelated to the parent organization’s stated policy goals.

Rubio Testifies Against Friend Accused of Secretly Working for Maduro

MSN – Teo Arnus (Washington Post) | Published: 3/24/2026

Marco Rubio and David Rivera charted a rise in Miami’s famously scrappy politics together. They befriended each other as campaign volunteers in the 1990s and climbed the ranks of local politics side-by-side. As young state legislators they bought a house together near Tallahassee, where they orchestrated Rubio’s rise to Florida House speaker and then launched winning bids to Congress. But the two long-time friends faced each other recently in a different setting: a federal courtroom. Rubio, now the secretary of state, testified as a witness against Rivera, who is accused of serving as an unregistered foreign agent for Venezuela’s socialist government.

The Well-Timed Trades Made Moments Before Trump’s Policy Surprises

MSN – Alexander Osipovich and Jack Pitcher (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 3/25/2026

President Trump has moved markets with sudden shifts in policy, from tariff U-turns to military strikes. On several occasions, unusual trades hit the tape ahead of his announcements. Most recently, there was a mysterious flurry of trading activity in oil and S&P 500 futures about 15 minutes before Trump de-escalated tensions with Iran with a post on Truth Social, which sent oil prices tumbling and stocks rallying.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Doug Ford’s Records-Secrecy Plan Would Hide Top Lawmakers’ Meetings with Lobbyists

Toronto Today – Charlie Pinkerton (The Trillium) | Published: 3/25/2026

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s plan to eliminate the public’s ability to access certain records of the province’s top lawmakers would eliminate the main way to know which lobbyists they met with, and when. The Ford government is planning to introduce legislation to amend the law shaping Ontario’s freedom of information system to end the public’s ability to request the records of the premier, cabinet ministers, parliamentary assistants, and their offices.

California – Pebble Beach Golf, Maui Resorts, European Tours: How special interests woo California lawmakers

MSN – Yue Stella Yu and Jeremia Kimelman (CalMatters) | Published: 3/20/2026

State lawmakers in California took dozens of free trips last year, most sponsored and attended by special interest groups with business before the Legislature. Nearly 120 organizations – including nonprofits, corporations, foreign governments, state agencies, tribes, and campaigns – spent at least $1.2 million on travel for legislators in 2025. The bulk of the tab, $1.1 million, was picked up by nonprofits that are largely allowed to keep their donors secret, leaving the true source of the funding murky.

Florida – Democrat Scores Upset Win in Trump’s Backyard for Florida State House Seat

MSN – Dan Merica (Washington Post) | Published: 3/24/2026

Democrat Emily Gregory won the special election to represent a state House district in Florida that includes President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, a stunning upset that signals Democratic momentum ahead of the 2026 midterms. Gregory, a first-time candidate and fitness business owner, defeated Jon Maples, a Republican endorsed by Trump and aligned with his policies. Mike Caruso, the Republican who vacated the seat to become Palm Beach County clerk and comptroller, won the district by 19 percentage points in 2024.

Mississippi – Supreme Court Appears Ready to Limit Mail-In Balloting Ahead of Midterms

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 3/23/2026

The Supreme Court appeared likely to embrace a conservative challenge to tallying mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, a move that could upend election procedures in states across the country as voters prepare to cast ballots in the midterm elections. A majority of justices seemed ready to side with arguments by Republicans and Libertarians who told the court that federal election law preempts Mississippi from counting ballots that arrive up to five days after polls close as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.

New York – Hundreds of Nonprofits Made Illegal Campaign Contributions in New York

Yahoo News – Emilie Munson (Albany Times Union) | Published: 3/22/2026

In the past decade, hundreds of New York nonprofits, which often are formed to provide integral services to underserved communities, have donated to political campaigns despite federal and state laws that prohibit it, an Albany Times Union investigation found. Roughly two-thirds of those institutions have filed detailed tax documents with the Internal Revenue Service in which they claimed under penalty of perjury they were not involved in politics, an assertion that routinely appears to be left unverified by the government.

Ohio – FirstEnergy Bribery Trial Deliberations Are in Day Six. Experts Say That’s Normal

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 3/26/2026

The jury entered its sixth day of deliberations in the high-profile bribery trial of two former FirstEnergy executives, a timeline that experts say is not unusual for complex cases. The trial began with jury selection on January 27. Testimony lasted six weeks. The jury so far has asked the judge three questions. Former FirstEnergy Chief Executive Chuck Jones and ex-top lobbyist Michael Dowling are accused of bribing state regulator Sam Randazzo with $4.3 million.

Vermont – Bench Press: Judges seeking reappointment turn to lobbyists

Seven Days Vermont – Hannah Bassett | Published: 3/24/2026

Lobbyists are nearly omnipresent at the Vermont Legislature, where they press lawmakers on everything from housing policy to health care. Even judges seeking to keep their seats rely on lobbying, but typically less for persuasion than for explanation, according to people familiar with the process. That distinction is in focus as six Superior Court judges face a retention vote before the full Legislature that will decide whether they can keep their seats on the bench.