On December 19, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics launched the system-generated Client Semiannual Report (CSA) feature on the state’s online Lobbying Application system.

Contractual clients who lobby on their own behalf and do not utilize the services of any retained lobbyists are not required to file CSA reports.

Instead, system-generated CSA reports will be created with information directly imported from filed lobbyist bimonthly reports covering the applicable reporting period.

The system will not create a system-generated CSA if an Employed Principal Lobbyist has submitted a CSA report for the January to June reporting period.

Also, contractual clients are still required to disclose sources of funding or indicate source of funding reporting is not required.

No filing fee is required for system-generated CSA reports except to add retained lobbyist information.

Adding retained lobbyists requires a $50 filing fee and filing CSA reports going forward.

Another special election has been scheduled, this time for the 37th Middlesex district.

The House seat will become vacant on January 8 when Rep. Jen Benson, a Lunenberg Democrat, will resign to become president of the Alliance for Business Leadership.

The primary special election for Benson’s replacement will be held on March 3 and the general special election will be held on March 31.

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office will conduct online training sessions to introduce the new lobbyist filing system enhancement.

The new filing system is pursuant to the passage of legislation effective January 1, 2020.

House Bill 1248 will require lobbyists to file notification of any new positions or position changes on new or existing legislation within 72 hours of that change.

Secretary of state staff will be available to walk through the technical aspects of how to file the new disclosure in the online system.

There will be two separate online training sessions. The first training will take place on January 6, 2020, at 9 a.m.

The second training will take place on January 7, 2020, at 11 a.m.

On February 4, 2020, special elections will be held to fill vacancies in Minnesota House Districts 30A and 60A.

Rep. Diane Loeffler, a Democrat from Minneapolis, died in November creating the vacancy in District 60A.

Rep. Nick Zerwas, a Republican from Elk River, resigned from District 30A on December 6 to focus on spending time with his family.

The special primary for District 30A will be held January 14, while the special primary for District 60A will be held January 21.

The later date for District 60A accommodates college students living in the district who return that day to the University of Minnesota for spring semester.

Gov. Brad Little appointed Lauren Necochea to fill the vacant House of Representatives District 19 seat.

Necochea was one of three possible candidates and the top choice the Democratic Legislative Committee for District 19 submitted to the governor.

The seat became vacant when former Rep. Mat Erpelding resigned to take a job with the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Gov. Andy Beshear called a special election to fill two open seats in House District 67 and House District 99.

Rep. Rocky Adkins, a Democrat from Sandy Hook resigned to become Beshear’s senior adviser.

Rep. Dennis Keene, a Democrat from Wilder, resigned to become commissioner of the Department of Local Government.

The elections will be held February 25, 2020.

The city of Chicago announced a three-month delay for the effective date of an ordinance expanding the definition of lobbyist.

The expansion would include persons acting on behalf of a nonprofit if they undertake those efforts as a matter of professional engagement, regardless of pay or compensation.

Ethics Ordinance 2019-5305, originally scheduled to be effective January 1, 2020, will provide exceptions to the registration requirements for persons who, either as a member of, or on behalf of, a not-for-profit entity conduct nonpartisan analysis or research, provide technical advice, or examine broad social and economic problems.

The 100th Legislature adjourned sine die at noon on December 19 after more than 100 legislative days in session.

During the session, lawmakers voted to pass a bill to revise the rules on the governor transferring funds appropriated by the legislature to a different purpose than the one originally specified.

The legislature also voted to pass a bill to exempt equipment owned by a data center business from local special assessment levies, and some school property tax levies.

Per the state constitution, any business, bill, or joint resolution pending at the final adjournment of a regular session held in an odd-numbered year will carry over with the same status to the next regular session.

The 2020 session is scheduled to begin on January 8, 2020.

The Utah Legislature approved a sweeping tax-change bill during the one-day special session on December 12.

The bill cuts state income taxes and hikes the sales tax on food, gas, and a list of other services.

The tax bill did not reach a two-thirds majority in either the House or Senate, subjecting it to challenge by a citizen referendum on December 16.

In order to qualify, the referendum must collect more than 115,869 validated signatures across the state by January 21.

Lawmakers also passed a bill to fund behavioral health services, moving $3.9 million from unused appropriations to provide health treatment.

The behavioral health bill passed with no opposition.

Co-chairs Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr. and Rep. Greg Harris called the first hearing of the new Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform.

The hearing will take place Monday, December 23 at 10 a.m. in Room 16-503 of the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.

The hearing will include a discussion about the commission’s framework of rules, protocols, and future meetings.

The commission was established to review and make recommendations for changes to the State Official and Employees Ethics Act, the Lobbyist Registration Act, the Public Officers Prohibited Activities Act, and Article 50 of the Illinois Procurement Code.

Chicago City Council voted to pass a lobbying ordinance on December 18.

The ordinance prohibits city elected officials and employees from lobbying state or local government on behalf of private clients.

Ordinance 2019-8541 also precludes elected officials anywhere in Illinois from lobbying on behalf of private clients in Chicago.

In both circumstances, the ordinance carves out an exception for elected officials who are attorneys providing legal representation in certain administrative or legislative actions.

Ordinance 2019-8541 will become effective 90 days after passage and publication.

State Rep. Kristine Reeves, a Federal Way Democrat, resigned from the Legislature Monday.

Reeves, who represented the 30th Legislative District, implied she may run for the U.S. Congress next year.

There will not be a special election to fill the vacancy. Instead, the state Democrat party will call a meeting of the 30th District Precinct Committee officers to choose three candidates.

King and Pierce county council members will then host a joint meeting to choose Reeves’ successor.

Special elections for the 32nd Middlesex House District and Plymouth and Barnstable Senate District have been scheduled by their respective legislative bodies.

Both seats were vacated when their officeholders left for executive positions.

Rep. Paul Brodeur, a Democrat, resigned after winning the Melrose mayoral election.

Sen. Vinny DeMacedo, Republican from Plymouth, stepped down to become director of regional partnerships at Bridgewater State University.

The 32nd Middlesex primary election will be held on February 4, and a general election will be held on March 3.

The Plymouth and Barnstable primary election will be held on March 3, and a general election will be held on March 31.

House Speaker Mike Turzai announced a special election for House District 190.

The seat became vacant when Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, a Philadelphia Democrat, resigned.

Johnson-Harrell was indicted for allegedly embezzling over a half million dollars from her charity, Motivations Education and Consultation Associates (MECA).

The special election will be held on February 25.