The Alabama Ethics Commission found probable cause to believe Gov. Robert Bentley committed violations of both the Alabama Ethics Act and the Fair Campaign Practices Act.

The investigation is related to Bentley’s relationship with Rebekah Mason, a former political adviser.

The matter has been referred to the Montgomery County District Attorney for further review and potential prosecution.

Beverlye Brady has been appointed to the Alabama Ethics Commission by Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey.

Brady, a practicing attorney with more than 30 years of experience, was a founding member of the Lee county Indigent Defense Commission.

Brady’s term is effective immediately and will expire on August 31, 2021.

Gov. Nathan Deal announced a special election will be held on April 18, 2017, for state Senate District 32.

Sen. Judson Hill resigned from the seat to run in the special election for the Sixth Congressional District, scheduled for the same day, to replace Rep. Tom Price.

If necessary, a runoff election will be held on May 16. Candidate qualifying runs for three days, beginning February 22, 2017.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions was confirmed as President Trump’s attorney general on February 8, 2017.

To fill the Senate vacancy, Gov. Robert Bentley has appointed state Attorney General Luther Strange to succeed Sessions. Bentley’s appointee will serve the U.S. Senate with 22 months of incumbency until the next general election.

Some controversy surrounds Bentley’s appointment; state Auditor Jim Ziegler filed a written request with Bentley opposing his decision to appoint a replacement and hold off with special elections until November 2018.

Ziegler cited Alabama code stating a special election could only be delayed until the next regular election if the senate vacancy occurred within four months of the next regular election.

Photo of Senator Luther Strange from the State of Alabama website.

According to a memorandum from the Alabama House Bill Clerk, lobbyists and state agency representatives will be issued identification badges.

After registering with the Ethics Commission, a lobbyist or state agency representative must sign up with the Alabama House to receive the new badges.

Badges may be acquired by calling House Bill Clerk Dildred Bass at (334) 242-7616, or in-person at Bass’s office located in the Alabama State House, Office of the Clerk, Room 504-B.

The Alabama Ethics Commission (AEC) has suspended the implementation of an advisory opinion released in September. The controversial opinion expanded the definition of lobbyist principal to include anyone in the organization with authority such as executives, officers, and members of boards of directors.

Because lobbyists and principals cannot give a thing of value to legislators, the expanded definition of principal was a concern to nonprofits. At an AEC meeting on December 7, 2016, representatives of nonprofits stated many of their chief donors had ceased contributing over concerns about the expanded definition of principal. In response to those concerns, the AEC members voted to suspend the advisory opinion.

A special election has been called to fill House Rep. Oliver Robinson’s District 58 seat. Robinson decided to retire so his daughter can serve as House liaison for Gov. Robert Bentley.

A special primary election will be held on March 7, 2017, and the special general election will be held on May 23, 2017, provided a runoff is not required.

Robinson’s resignation was effective on December 5, 2016.

Photo of Oliver Robinson from the Alabama Legislature directory.

Gov. Robert Bentley is considering a special session to address funding for four new super prisons. Bentley may call the special session within or right before the 2017 session.

Despite Bentley’s failure to pass his $800 million prison plan last year, he hopes a special session will address the issues of overcrowding and violence against officers at state prisons.

A special primary election in Alabama will be held to fill Darrio Melton’s vacant seat in the House of Representatives for District 67.

The vacancy is a result of Melton’s successful bid to be the mayor of Selma.

The special primary will be held January 31, 2017, and the special general will be held April 18, 2017, provided a runoff is not required.

Voters approved Amendment 6, also known as the Alabama Impeachment Amendment. Effective January 1, 2017, the Constitution of Alabama will require a supermajority, or two-thirds, vote of state senators present to convict and impeach a state official.

The current impeachment article did not specify how many state senators would be required for impeachment.

On September 22, 2016, Secretary of State John Merrill certified Republican Joe Lovvorn as the winner of House District 79. As a result, the special general election scheduled for November 29 has been canceled.

Originally, Lovvorn was supposed to face Libertarian Gage Fenwick, but Merrill’s office stated Fenwick failed to get enough signatures to qualify for ballot access.

On September 27, 2016, a federal appeals court upheld the ban on transfers between political action committees, or PAC-to-PAC transfers.

The Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC) sued to overturn the ban arguing the prohibition of PAC-to-PAC transfers was a violation of freedom of speech and due process.

In the opinion, written by U.S. Circuit Judge Beverly Martin, the court found the ban to be closely drawn “to meet Alabama’s interest in preventing quid pro quo corruption (or its appearance) as applied to the ADC here.” In turn, the ban survives constitutional scrutiny.

The special general election for House District 79, former House Speaker Mike Hubbard’s seat, will be on November 29, 2016.

Alabama Republicans selected Joe Lovvorn as their candidate in the September 13 special primary. Because Lovvorn won a majority of votes, no special runoff election is needed.

Lovvorn will face Libertarian candidate Gage Fenwick in November.

The first special session of 2016 adjourned sine die on September 7, 2016. Gov. Robert Bentley’s lottery proposal failed in the Senate. Instead, the Legislature approved House Bill 36 to use part of the BP oil settlement to provide funds for the Alabama Medicaid Agency.

Despite legislators attempts to use the special session to revamp the ethics laws, House Bills 10, 11, and 32 were not passed.