Four more states making changes to lobbying and ethics laws. Find out which jurisdictions in this edition of News You Can Use Video Digest!

The Alaska Republican Party must select three nominees to forward to the governor to fill the vacant Senate District M seat.

The vacancy was created by the sudden passing of Senator Chris Birch.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy will make the final selection from the three nominees.

The Republicans in the Senate must agree with the governor’s choice before the nominee gets sworn in.

A self-imposed deadline for receiving applications has been set for August 18.

A bill requiring a person who makes payments of $10,000 or more for electioneering or issue lobbying communications to make specified disclosures has passed the Assembly and has been sent to the Senate.

Assembly Bill 1217 would require a person making payments for electioneering or issue lobbying communications to disclose the names of the persons providing the funding for those payments and to maintain records to verify the accuracy of the required disclosures.

The bill would also amend and update the definitions of electioneering communication and issue lobbying communication.

If passed, the bill will take effect immediately.

The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission has selected Laura Hromyak Hendrix to serve as the new executive director.

She is currently serving as the commission’s legal counsel.

Hendrix will assume the post on September 1 following the retirement of current director John Schaaf.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) launched new search function capabilities from its lobbying application.

JCOPE website users can now choose “Lobbying Focus” to search for recorded lobbying on specific bills, resolutions, and regulations at both the state and municipal levels.

The new “Parties Lobbied” tool allows users to see which specific agencies or lawmakers were lobbied and on what subject.

The public search is available at https://jcope.ny.gov/lobby-data-demand.

Gov. Matt Bevin announced a special election for the vacated 63rd House District seat.

The special election will be held on November 5, the same day as the general election.

Rep. Diane St. Onge resigned from the 63rd House seat on August 12, citing a new marriage and move out to California.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Montana law requiring groups to register with the state as political committees if they run any kind of ad that refers to a candidate or ballot issue within 60 days of an election.

The state law requires any group to register and file disclosures once it spends $250 or more on ads or mailers referring to a candidate, political party, or ballot issue within 60 days of an election.

The National Association for Gun Rights challenged the reporting requirements as an unconstitutional restriction on free speech.

The association argued the law’s definition of electioneering communication was too broad and should apply only to materials that advocate directly for or against a candidate.

However, the appeals court said disclosure requirements should not be limited only to regulation of express advocacy.

The Montana law was meant to shine a light on campaign related spending by groups that don’t disclose their spending or donors.

The appeals court did strike down a portion of the Montana law requiring groups to have a treasurer who is a registered voter in Montana.

The court found that requirement was not substantially related to any important governmental interest.

The National Association of Gun Rights has not made a decision on whether to appeal the ruling.

Gov. Doug Burgum and Senate leadership selected Ron Goodman, Ward Koeser, Cynthia Lindquist, Paul Richard, and David Anderson to North Dakota’s new state government ethics commission.

The candidates verbally accepted their appointments after the selection meeting.

Their terms will begin on September 1, with Goodman and Lindquist serving four-year terms.

Anderson will serve a three-year term, and Koeser and Richard will serve two-year terms.

The selection committee chose Goodman as chairman to convene the commission’s first meeting in September.

The Alabama Ethics Commission issued an advisory opinion finding employees of airport authorities are public employees and therefore subject to the state ethics law.

Attorneys for the Birmingham and Huntsville airport authorities argued airport employees are private because they are paid with funds generated by the airport.

However, the commission ruled the airport’s revenue is considered “state, county, or municipal funds” because the Legislature grants the airport authority the ability to collect those fees for a specific purpose.

Airport employees are criminally liable for ethics violations and, if they meet specific income thresholds, are required to file annual statements with the commission.

The Birmingham Airport Authority intends to appeal to the Montgomery County Circuit Court.

A special election for the Providence City Council Ward 10 seat has been set for November 5, with a primary on October 8.

Luis Aponte resigned from the Ward 10 seat after pleading no contest to embezzling money from his campaign.

The Board of Elections announced potential candidates must declare their candidacy on August 29 and 30.

The second special session of the Alaska Legislature that began with controversy and division ended quietly on Tuesday with no further legislative action.

Tuesday marked the 30-day session limit.

The Legislature approved restoring much of the operating budget money Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed.

Additionally, the Legislature approved a $1,600 pay out of the permanent fund dividend.

Gov. Dunleavy did not give a clear indication of whether he may call a third special session, but he must give a 30-day notice before the legislators must appear again.

The City Council unanimously passed Ordinance 2019-26, instituting several major changes to city ethics law.

The ordinance establishes an ethics board, to be staffed by an independent panel of retired judges, to investigate potential violations and conflicts of interests.

Additionally, the ordinance bars gifts to city councilmembers valued over $300

The state budget bill signed by Gov. DeWine includes a provision removing a tax exemption for attorneys and lobbyists beginning in 2020.

Since 2013, the state business income deduction (BID) has allowed those deriving income from any pass-through entity (e.g., LLCs, LLPs) to pay no tax on the first $250,000 of income and a flat 3% on any income above the threshold.

House Bill 166 excludes otherwise eligible income from legal services provided by an attorney or income from legislative, executive agency, or retirement system lobbying activity.

A professional coalition including the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) is beginning a grassroots campaign to reverse the exclusion.

Republican leaders representing state House District 55 have selected three candidates to replace recently resigned Rep. Mike McLane.

McLane resigned on July 1 to become a judge on the 22nd Judicial District Circuit Court.

Vikki Iverson, Deborah Tilden, and Peter Sharp were chosen during the meeting in La Pine.

The final decision will be made by county commissioners from areas within the district.

A decision must be made by August 13.

The appointee will fill out the remaining portion of McLane’s two-year term and will have to run for the office in 2020.