The Institute for Free Speech is challenging the constitutionality of a South Dakota law restricting the organization’s right to publicize views of ballot measures without extensive reporting and disclaimer requirements.

The organization is asking for permission from a federal judge to distribute an analysis of Initiated Measure 24 and Constitutional Amendment W, claiming that the measures will impact citizens’ First Amendment rights.

Last week, Gov. Gary Herbert promised to call a special session of the legislature to address medical marijuana after the November election.

In the election, Utah will vote on Proposition 2, an initiative to allow patients with certain medical conditions to purchase medical marijuana.

No matter what voters decide in November, Utah lawmakers have proposed and agreed on an alternate medical marijuana plan.

No date for the session has been announced.

A public interest law firm challenged an executive order banning lobbyists from giving anything of value, including written materials, to executive branch officials.

The Institute for Justice, a Virginia-based nonprofit libertarian law firm, filed suit against Gov. Mike Parson and members of the Missouri Ethics Commission for enforcing Executive Order 17-02, which expands the definition of gift to include publications addressing public policy issues.

The Institute for Justice claims that by prohibiting the distribution of two of its public policy publications to government officials, the executive order violates the law firm’s First Amendment right to free speech. The law firm also claims the executive order violates its right to equal protection by prohibiting only lobbyists from sharing publications with state officials of the executive branch.

The order was issued on January, 9, 2017, by former Gov. Eric Greitens.

On October 4, 2018, the Anchorage Superior Court heard witnesses in the formal appeal of an Alaska Public Office Commission (APOC) decision allowing unlimited contributions to independent expenditure groups.

Several citizens, represented by the nonprofit group Equal Citizens, claim the contributions are pursuant to a 2006 Alaska State law.

APOC relied on the application of Citizens United when it rejected the original claim.

North Carolina will vote on a constitutional amendment to establish an eight-member Bipartisan Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement in November.

A 2017 law establishing an eight-member board was struck down by the North Carolina Supreme Court because it reduced the governor’s executive authority and failed to provide representation for unaffiliated voters.

If the amendment passes, majority and minority leaders of the legislature would nominate potential members from which the governor would choose.

Lawmakers in the Virginia House of Delegates have canceled a redistricting session scheduled for October 21.

Gov. Ralph Northam has previously stated his intentions to veto the current redistricting proposal, House Bill 7003, if the bill reaches his desk.

Without a legislative solution, the redistricting of House districts will be handled by a court appointed independent party.

Two-term Democratic state Rep. Martin Sweeney resigned from the House on Monday, October 1, with more than two months remaining on his term.

In his resignation letter, Sweeney referred to the next chapter of his professional career but did not state his plans.

Sweeney’s daughter Bride Rose is running to fill the seat. Rose will face Libertarian Ryan McClain in the November election.

Sweeney came to the House after serving as Cleveland City Council president.

Sen. Rob Shadoin, a republican representing the state’s Ruxton area, announced he will resign his seat in the legislature and take a position with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Shadoin is currently serving the third year of his second term and is known as a moderate republican lawmaker and consistent ally of Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Once a resignation date has been announced, the state will likely call a special election to fill his seat.

The Wisconsin Legislature plans to call an extraordinary session to allow the Senate to consider a bill authorizing $100 million in tax incentives to prevent paper giant Kimberly-Clark from shutting down.

If passed, Assembly Bill 963 would authorize Kimberly-Clark to claim as income and franchise tax credits a percentage of the business’s eligible payroll for full-time employees.

Gov. Scott Walker said he is fighting to keep hundreds of jobs in Wisconsin. The extraordinary session will be held on Monday, November 12.

On November 15, the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) will consider proposed regulations to make biennial cost of living adjustments to campaign contribution and gift limits that will apply from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2020.

The proposed regulations would change the gift limit from $470 to $500 and make increases to campaign contribution limits for candidates. Adjusted contribution limits for gubernatorial candidates would increase from $29,200 to $31,000 per person.

The FPPC is accepting written comments on the proposals until November 13, 2018.

South Dakotans will have multiple ethics-related ballot measures to vote on this November.

Constitutional Amendment W, also known as the South Dakota Voter Protection and Anti-Corruption Amendment, would create an independent ethics commission, decrease limits on campaign donations, bar gifts from lobbyists to many public officials, and prevent the Legislature from altering or rejecting laws approved by ballot question without returning to the ballot.

More than 51 percent of voters supported a similar initiative in November 2016, but lawmakers repealed it in early 2017, citing constitutional concerns.

Also on the November ballot, Initiated Measure 24, would prohibit contributions to ballot question committees by non-residents, out-of-state political committees, and entities who have not filed with the secretary of state for the four years prior to making a contribution.

On September 30, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill requiring lobbyists to complete training on sexual harassment in connection with lobbying activities.

Assembly Bill 2055 adds a component to training already required for lobbyists registered with the state and conducted by the ethics committees in both houses of the California Legislature.

The lobbyist training course now must include “information on each house of the Legislature’s policies against harassment, including sexual harassment, in connection with lobbying activities.”

On September 26, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill concerning political advertising in social media. Assembly Bill 2188, the “Social Media DISCLOSE Act”, requires disclosure for advertisements made “via a form of electronic media that allows users to engage in discourse and post content, or any other type of social media”, and is paid for by a political party or a candidate-controlled committee.

The disclosure obligations fall on both the registered political parties and committees and on the “online platforms.” The online platform must maintain and make available for online public inspection a digital copy of a political advertisement, the number of impressions generated from the ad, information regarding the total amount spent on the advertisements, and other relevant information.

The bill defines an online platform as a “public-facing Internet Web site, web application, or digital application, including a social network, ad network, or search engine, that sells advertisements directly to advertisers. A public-facing Internet Web site, web application, or digital application is not an online platform for purposes of this [Act] to the extent that it displays advertisements that are sold directly to advertisers through another online platform.” The online platforms will be required to include with each political advertisement a disclosure of who funded the ad or a hyperlink to a website containing the required disclosures.

The bill takes effect on January 1, 2020.

A special election for the Bergen County sheriff will be held on November 6, aligning with the general election.

The former sheriff, Michael Saudino, resigned after controversial comments he said in January were made public.

The county will send out an addendum to the already sent absentee ballots.