LobbyComply Blog

Prior to adjourning for the year, lawmakers passed a bill amending the powers and duties of the Election Commission. Effective immediately, Senate Bill 233 permits the commission to administratively disband an inactive committee. The bill also removes the discretion of the commission with respect to certain civil penalties that may be imposed and instead requires the commission to impose the civil penalties. The bill requires the commission to assess a civil penalty of $500 or $1,000, depending on the violation. Lawmakers also passed a bill prohibiting ranked choice voting.

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The Indiana Senate has adjourned and will not return to resume the regular 2026 session until January. The House adjourned on December 5, after passing House Bill 1032. In a vote at 4:40 p.m., following more than three hours of testimony, the Indiana Senate decisively voted against a redistricting bill that was designed to add two Republican seats to the state’s congressional delegation, defeating House Bill 1032 by a 31 to 19 margin.

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The Indiana House will convene Monday, December 1 due to pressure from the White House to consider congressional redistricting. Republicans currently hold seven of the nine U.S. House seats. Trump and other Republicans are hoping a new map favoring Republicans will help the party maintain control of the U.S. House in the 2026 elections.

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Gov. Mike Braun called for state lawmakers to return to Indianapolis for a special session beginning November 3 to consider altering the boundaries of Indiana’s congressional districts and to consider resolving an important issue regarding federal and state tax compliance that must be addressed. Indiana uses federal tax law as the starting point for the Indiana tax return, and the recent changes to federal tax law in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act include provisions that impact Indiana state tax filings. Gov. Braun stated addressing this discrepancy through a special session will provide taxpayers, accountants, and businesses the confidence and clarity ahead of filing season, avoid amended returns and filing delays, and continue the Indiana Department of Revenue’s strong record of fiscal management.

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The first regular session of the 124th General Assembly adjourned sine die. Lawmakers passed a bill prohibiting a political action committee from accepting a contribution or expenditure from a foreign national, effective July 1. Several bills awaiting the governor’s signature include House Bill 1679, modifying the definition of candidate for purposes of campaign finance law, House Bill 1680, prohibiting the Election Commission from Issuing advisory opinions and invalidating any advisory opinion issued by the commission before July 1, 2025, and Senate Bill 287, permitting school board candidates to declare a political party affiliation. Gov. Mike Braun has seven days to sign legislation once it lands on his desk. If he does not sign a bill, it becomes law. If he vetoes a bill, the Legislature can override the veto with a majority vote in both houses.

Lawmakers passed a bill prohibiting a political action committee from accepting a contribution or expenditure from a foreign national, as defined by federal law. House Bill 1467 also amends reporting requirements by requiring affirmations of compliance. The bill also prohibits a foreign national from soliciting or directing a contribution or expenditure by another person to influence an election on a public question. The bill becomes effective July 1.

Campaign Finance

Oregon: “The City’s Public Campaign Financing Program Allowed Candidates with Little Support to Snag Taxpayer Dollars” by Sophie Peel for Willamette Week

Ethics

California: “Assessor Reports $1M Behested Payment, Biggest Charitable Donation Made at a Local Elected Official’s Request” by Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) for MSN

National: “Trump Transition Team Ethics Pledge Appears to Exclude President-Elect” by Betsy Klein, Steve Contorno, and Arlette Saenz (CNN) for MSN

Florida: “Tickets to Master’s Tournament Trigger Feud in Hillsborough County Politics” by Jack Evans and Justin Garcia (Tampa Bay Times) for MSN

Indiana: “Nonprofit Braun Transition Group Follows Former Governors’ Model” by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz (Indiana Capital Chronicle) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

National: “Supreme Court to Examine Power of Congress to Delegate Authority” by Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “As His Power Grows, D.C. Wonders: How do you lobby a man like Elon Musk?” by Cat Zakrzewski, Faiz Siddiqui, and Pranshu Verma (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “N.Y. Ethics Commission Faces New Constitutional Challenge” by Brendan Lyons for Albany Times Union

Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun won the Indiana governor’s race Tuesday, by 13.7% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jennifer McCormick, a former Republican who split with the party after serving as the state’s schools superintendent.

Braun, 70, will succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who could not seek a third term because of term limits.

The second regular session of the 123rd General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 8, earlier than scheduled.

The Legislature was focused on education, passing several education related bills.

Gov. Eric Holcomb has seven days to sign legislation once it lands on his desk.

If he does not sign a bill, it becomes law.

If he vetoes a piece of legislation, the Legislature can override the veto with a majority vote in both houses.

The first regular session of the 123rd General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 28 after passing bills regarding nonprofit disclosures and electronic signatures for campaign finance disclosures.

Senate Bill 302 has been signed by the governor and prohibits a state agency or a state official from imposing on any charitable organization any filing or reporting requirements more stringent or burdensome than those authorized under state or federal law.

The bill provides this limitation does not apply to requirements imposed in connection with state grants, contracts, fraud investigations, or in connection with an enforcement action.

House Bill 1212, House Bill 1336 have not been signed by the governor.

House Bill 1212 prohibits a public agency from requiring a person or nonprofit organizations to provide certain personal information to the public agency.

Exceptions to the prohibition include disclosures required under state campaign finance and lobbying disclosure laws.

House Bill 1336 permits electronic signatures to be used for the reporting of campaign contributions and expenditures.

Gov. Eric Holcomb called a special election to be held for Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District on November 8 to fill the vacancy created by the death of U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski following a tragic car accident on August 3.

Due to the timing of the vacancy, the state committee of each political party will select a candidate to be placed on the ballot by August 26.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a proclamation calling a special session of the General Assembly beginning July 6 to take action on his plan to distribute $1 billion in tax relief to Hoosiers due to inflation.

The special session also would open the door for lawmakers to pass legislation addressing other issues.

Special sessions may last up to 30 session days, but no more than 40 calendar days after they begin.

The ban on contributions during session does not apply to special sessions in Indiana.

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced he plans to call Indiana lawmakers back into a special session this month to distribute $1 billion in tax relief to Hoosiers due to inflation.

The special session also would open the door for lawmakers to pass legislation addressing other issues.

The governor’s office said lawmakers could decide if they wanted to address other issues at the special session.

No date has been set for the session to begin but Holcomb stated it would be before the end of June.

The second regular session of the 122nd Indiana General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 8 after passing House Bill 1242 and Senate Bill 348.

Senate Bill 348 requires campaign finance reports to be filed electronically and allows for electronic signatures.

House Bill 1242 requires the Department of Administration to adopt administrative rules to establish a goal to procure in each state fiscal year at least 1.5% of state contracts with state agencies from minority business enterprises, nonprofit agencies for individuals with disabilities, veteran-owned small businesses, and women’s business enterprises.