Gov. Phil Bryant signed three writ of elections today, declaring March 12 as the special election date for House Districts 32, 71, and 101.

If necessary, a runoff special election will be held on April 2.

Reps. Willie Perkins (District 32), Adrienne Wooten (District 71), and Brad Touchstone (District 101) were elected to different judgeships in the November 2018 election and had to resign from the House of Representatives.

Minnesota will hold a special election for Senate District 11 on February 5.

Sen. Tony Lourey resigned after being appointed to Gov.-elect Tim Walz’s cabinet.

If necessary, a primary will be held on January 22.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has called a special election to fill the vacancy in Senate District 31.

The seat had been held by Ray Jones since 2001, but it became vacant when he resigned after being elected judge executive.

The district encompasses the counties of Elliott, Martin, Lawrence, Morgan, and Pike.

Gov. Janet Mills and Sec. of State Matthew Dunlap announced a special election to be held on March 12 for House District 124.

Rep. Aaron Frey vacated the office to serve as attorney general.

House District 124 includes portions of Bangor and Orono.

U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm, has enjoined Maryland from enforcing M.C.E.L. §§ 13-405 and 13-405.1.

The statutes in question, require online platforms, like search engines and social media sites, to publicly disclose the contact information and amount paid by the purchaser to the online platform for the placement of the qualifying paid digital communication within 48 hours.

In the 50-page opinion, the judge concludes the statutes encroach on First Amendment freedoms. The state may file an interlocutory appeal.

Effective January 8, a lobbyist who had also been elected to public office is prohibited from making or authorizing, from political contributions accepted as a candidate or officeholder, a political expenditure that is a political contribution to a candidate, officeholder, or political committee.

This restriction applies after the ending date of the last term for which the lobbyist was elected to public office. This law was created by House Bill 505 of the 2017 Legislature and adds Section 305.029 to the Government Code.

On December 14, 2018, the Texas Ethics Commission adopted an amendment to Texas Ethics Commission Rules §50.1, increasing the legislative per diem from $190 to $221.

Per Texas law, the detailed reporting threshold for food and beverages, entertainment, transportation, and lodging is 60 percent of the legislative per diem.

The detailed reporting threshold therefore increased to $132.60 for these expenditures made on or after January 6, 2019.

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Mike Stack announced a special election to fill the vacancy in the 37th Senate District.

The seat became open with the election of Guy Reschenthaler to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The district includes suburbs in western and southern Allegheny County as well as part of Washington County.

The Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office has announced the launch of a new online Lobbyist Center.

The Lobbyist Center allows lobbyists to register online and gives the public real-time access to a list of Wyoming lobbyists and associated filings.

The Lobbyist Center can be accessed at the Secretary of State’s website.

The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office will be offering two lobbyist trainings on lobbyist registration, reporting requirements, and a segment on sexual harassment.

The trainings are voluntary and will be held on January 10, 2019, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and January 17, 2019, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

The Secretary of State has yet to release additional details on how to register.

Special elections for the 114th and 190th House Districts have been set for March 12, 2019.

The 114th District became vacant in October after the death of State Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich, while the 190th District was vacated after Vanessa Lowery Brown was convicted in a bribery case late last year.

Candidates for the seats will be chosen by a process determined by the political parties.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission announced the new electronic filing system for lobbying registrations and disclosures is currently being tested and will not be available in early January as anticipated.

Lobbyists who plan to continue lobbying in 2019 must renew registrations as usual by Monday, January 28.

Lobbying expenditure reports are due as usual on Thursday, January 31.

The Commission will hold a training session on January 7 at 10 a.m. to provide an overview of the lobbying laws.

The Commission has yet to announce a release date for the new e-filing system.

Gov. Pete Ricketts announced the appointments of Julie Slama and Andrew La Grone to represent District 1 and District 49, respectively.

Slama will fill the seat vacated by Sen. Dan Watermeier who was elected to the Nebraska Public Service Commission and La Grone will replace Sen. John Murante who was elected state treasurer.

The appointments will complete the terms ending in January 2021 and will be eligible to run for election in November 2020.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced January 29, 2019, as the special election date for House Districts 79 and 145.

Rep. Joe Pickett of District 79 will resign effective January 4, 2019, citing health issues.

In District 145, Rep. Carol Alvarado resigned after being elected to the state Senate.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a special election date for public advocate to be held on February 26.

Tish James, the current public advocate, is vacating the seat after being elected state attorney general.