April 18, 2019 •
Ethics Bill Progressing In North Dakota Legislature
The North Dakota Senate approved House Bill 1521 on Wednesday, April 17. The bill would implement the state’s new ethics rules established by the voter’s passage of Measure 1 last year. House Bill 1521 prohibits a lobbyist from giving, offering, […]
The North Dakota Senate approved House Bill 1521 on Wednesday, April 17.
The bill would implement the state’s new ethics rules established by the voter’s passage of Measure 1 last year.
House Bill 1521 prohibits a lobbyist from giving, offering, soliciting, initiating, or facilitating a gift over $60 to a public official.
A lobbyist will also be required to file a report with the secretary of state if they spend more than $200 on lobbying.
The bill has been returned to the House for consideration before the end of the legislative session on April 26.
April 18, 2019 •
Tallahassee Board Proposes Expansion of Ethics Code
On Tuesday, the Tallahassee Independent Ethics Board proposed changes to expand the city’s ethics code. The proposal expands the Board’s jurisdiction to procurement employees and individuals required to file state financial disclosures. Additionally, the proposal increases the fines faced by […]
On Tuesday, the Tallahassee Independent Ethics Board proposed changes to expand the city’s ethics code.
The proposal expands the Board’s jurisdiction to procurement employees and individuals required to file state financial disclosures.
Additionally, the proposal increases the fines faced by lobbyists to $1,000 for the first intentional violation, and prohibits covered individuals from accepting or soliciting all gifts regardless of value from vendors and lobbyists.
The draft ordinance will head to the city commission for final approval later this spring.
April 17, 2019 •
Los Angeles City Council Working Towards Banning Developer Donations
The Los Angeles City Council rules committee voted to have the city attorney draft two versions of a proposed ban on donations to city officials from developers seeking approval for their building projects. Version one would directly follow the Ethics […]
The Los Angeles City Council rules committee voted to have the city attorney draft two versions of a proposed ban on donations to city officials from developers seeking approval for their building projects.
Version one would directly follow the Ethics Commission’s recommendation to restrict non-individuals and developers from making political contributions. The restriction would apply from the date the project application is filed until 12 months after the final resolution of the application.
Version two would ban donations from any person or entity pursuing or currently working on large development projects with the city.
Both proposals would ban elected officials from soliciting behested payments from restricted sources, and lower the disclosure threshold for behested payments to $1,000 per payor per year.
Additionally, the proposals would require the disclosure of behested payments to identify whether the payor is a lobbyist, lobbyist firm, bidder, contractor, or developer.
These drafts are expected to be presented to the full City Council within the next few weeks.
April 17, 2019 •
Hawaii Governor Signs Noncandidate Committee Reporting Bill
Gov. David Ige signed House Bill 165 on April 16, adding a new registration and reporting requirement for noncandidate committees in an election period. Under the bill, a noncandidate committee that does not intend to receive contributions or make expenditures […]
Gov. David Ige signed House Bill 165 on April 16, adding a new registration and reporting requirement for noncandidate committees in an election period.
Under the bill, a noncandidate committee that does not intend to receive contributions or make expenditures in aggregate of more than $1,000 in an election period must notify the commission of its intent in the committee’s organizational report.
Notification must be made by the fifth calendar day before the due date of the preliminary primary report.
The bill became effective April 16 upon approval by the governor.
April 16, 2019 •
Colorado Governor Signs County Candidate Contributions Bill
Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 1007, creating contribution limits under the Fair Campaign Practices Act for county office candidates. Current campaign finance law does not set limits on contributions to candidates for county office. The bill defines county office […]
Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 1007, creating contribution limits under the Fair Campaign Practices Act for county office candidates.
Current campaign finance law does not set limits on contributions to candidates for county office.
The bill defines county office as a county commissioner, county clerk and recorder, sheriff, corner, treasurer, assessor, or surveyor.
The maximum aggregate contributions a person may make to a candidate for county office under the bill includes $1,250 for the primary election and $1,250 for the general election.
Additionally, small donor committees may contribute $12,500 in the primary election and $12,500 in the general election.
The bill will take effect August 2, provided adjournment sine die of the General Assembly is on May 3, 2019.
If, however, a referendum petition is filed, the bill would not take effect unless approved by voters in the November 2020 general election.
April 12, 2019 •
Idaho Legislature Adjourns Sine Die
The Idaho Legislature adjourned sine die April 11. During the 95-day legislative session, lawmakers passed bills amending state lobbying and campaign finance laws and passed a Medicaid budget bill to fund an expansion of the program. The session was longer […]
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The Idaho Legislature adjourned sine die April 11.
During the 95-day legislative session, lawmakers passed bills amending state lobbying and campaign finance laws and passed a Medicaid budget bill to fund an expansion of the program.
The session was longer than expected as lawmakers failed to pass a bill to extend administrative rules set to expire July 1.
The governor may reinstate temporary administrative rules, or a special session may be called to resolve the issue at a later date.
The statutory requirement to file monthly reports when the Legislature is in session will end with the report due May 15.
April 10, 2019 •
Missouri Appeals Court Upholds PAC Contribution Ban
Missouri corporations may not make direct contributions to their own PACs, the Court of Appeals for the Western District affirmed on April 9. The appeals court ruling upheld a similar 2018 finding in the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s […]
Missouri corporations may not make direct contributions to their own PACs, the Court of Appeals for the Western District affirmed on April 9.
The appeals court ruling upheld a similar 2018 finding in the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s lawsuit against the Missouri Ethics Commission.
There, the chamber challenged two of the commission’s ethics opinions that prohibited corporations from contributing directly to the PACs they form.
The Cole County Circuit Court issued a judgment in favor of the commission, determining corporations that serve as connected organizations cannot contribute corporate funds to their connected PACs.
April 10, 2019 •
Kentucky Governor Signs House Bill 81
Gov. Matt Bevin signed House Bill 81 on April 9. The bill expands and updates the definitions of officer and public servant. House Bill 81 also defines salaried for the purposes of gift restrictions. The bill becomes effective June 28. […]
Gov. Matt Bevin signed House Bill 81 on April 9.
The bill expands and updates the definitions of officer and public servant. House Bill 81 also defines salaried for the purposes of gift restrictions. The bill becomes effective June 28.
Gov. Bevin also vetoed House Bill 358 aimed at providing pension relief for Kentucky’s quasi-governmental entities.
He announced that an extraordinary session will be called prior to July 1.
April 9, 2019 •
Maryland General Assembly Adjourns
The Maryland General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 8. Legislators were in mourning due to the death of House Speaker Michael Busch the day prior. A Democrat from Anne Arundel County, Busch served as speaker for 16 years, longer […]
The Maryland General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 8.
Legislators were in mourning due to the death of House Speaker Michael Busch the day prior.
A Democrat from Anne Arundel County, Busch served as speaker for 16 years, longer than anyone in state history.
Though delegates will vote for a new leader at a later date, county committee members will appoint a successor to Busch’s House seat.
April 9, 2019 •
Georgia Ethics Commission to Introduce New Director
The Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission will introduce Mr. David Emadi as the next executive secretary on April 11. Mr. Emadi previously served as the chief assistant district attorney in Douglas County. Former executive secretary, Stefan Ritter, resigned in […]
The Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission will introduce Mr. David Emadi as the next executive secretary on April 11.
Mr. Emadi previously served as the chief assistant district attorney in Douglas County.
Former executive secretary, Stefan Ritter, resigned in February amid allegations of misconduct and intentionally obstructing investigations.
April 8, 2019 •
North Carolina House Files Campaign Reform Bills
The North Carolina House has introduced two bills to reform campaign finance. House Bill 512 submits a referendum to voters urging Congress to pass an amendment to the Constitution of the United States declaring that constitutional rights belong to individuals […]
The North Carolina House has introduced two bills to reform campaign finance.
House Bill 512 submits a referendum to voters urging Congress to pass an amendment to the Constitution of the United States declaring that constitutional rights belong to individuals and not corporations or entities.
The referendum also states that unlimited spending of money on political campaign contributions is not constitutionally protected free speech.
House Bill 510 requires primary elections of Supreme Court, court of appeals, superior, and district court judges to be nonpartisan judicial elections.
The bill also establishes the North Carolina Public Campaign Fund as an alternative source of campaign financing for candidates that demonstrate public support and voluntarily accept strict fund raising and spending.
The fund will be a special, dedicated, non-lapsing, non-reverting fund that participating candidates can use to receive campaign funds.
However, candidates will have higher restrictions on how much money they can receive in contributions and how much they can expend on their campaign.
If passed, House Bill 510 will become effective January 1, 2020.
April 8, 2019 •
South Carolina Announces Special Election to Fill House District 19
A special election will take place on August 20 to fill a vacancy in House District 19. Rep. Dwight Loftis resigned to become a member of the state Senate, representing District 6. Loftis had represented District 19 for 23 years.
A special election will take place on August 20 to fill a vacancy in House District 19.
Rep. Dwight Loftis resigned to become a member of the state Senate, representing District 6.
Loftis had represented District 19 for 23 years.
April 5, 2019 •
NM Gov. Signs Bill Amending Several Provisions of Campaign Finance Law
Senate Bill 3, relating to the Campaign Reporting Act, was signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday, April 4, 2019. The bill amends several provisions of campaign finance law, including definitions related to elections cycles, penalties for violating campaign […]
Senate Bill 3, relating to the Campaign Reporting Act, was signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday, April 4, 2019.
The bill amends several provisions of campaign finance law, including definitions related to elections cycles, penalties for violating campaign finance law, and independent expenditure reporting.
The bill also requires a person making an independent expenditure in an amount exceeding $1,000 in non-statewide elections and $3,000 in statewide elections to file a report with the secretary of state within specified time periods.
The report must include the name and address of the person who made the independent expenditure, the name and address of the person to whom the independent expenditure was made, the amount, date and purposes of the independent expenditure, and the source of the contributions used to make the independent contribution.
Additionally, contributions to most candidates and political committees will be limited to $5,000 per election cycle unless those contributions are from a candidate’s own personal funds or made to a political committee and used only to make independent expenditures.
Contributions to gubernatorial candidates will be limited to two times the contribution limit during a primary or a general election cycle.
The bill will become effective on July 1, 2019.
April 5, 2019 •
Alabama Legislators Introduce Bill Exempting Economic Development Professionals from Lobbyist Registration
The Alabama House has introduced a bill to revive an expired exemption to lobbyist registration. House Bill 289, similar to last year’s House Bill 317, will exempt economic development professionals from registering as a lobbyist. Under the new bill, the […]
The Alabama House has introduced a bill to revive an expired exemption to lobbyist registration.
House Bill 289, similar to last year’s House Bill 317, will exempt economic development professionals from registering as a lobbyist.
Under the new bill, the economic development professional lobbyist registration exemption does not apply if a person seeks incentives or funds through legislative action outside of incentives already available.
If passed, the law will not contain an expiration date like last year’s bill and will be effective immediately.
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