The Oakland Public Ethics Commission and OpenOakland, a civic technology group, have jointly released a new version of their web tool, Open Disclosure, to track political contributions in Oakland elections.

The corresponding app, to be released on September 25, will show the source and spending of campaign funds for both Oakland city candidates and ballot measure committees.

In addition to displaying sources of contributions, the new release will also include data on spending by independent expenditures.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission adopted ethics rules for the second time this year. In February, the commission submitted its 2018 Promulgated Ethics Rules to the governor and both houses of the Legislature.

Proposed changes included a revolving door provision prohibiting elected state officers and chief administrative officers from lobbying for two years following their terms of office or service, new rules regarding the due dates of electronic filings, and revised reporting periods for candidate election reports and independent expenditure reports.

The Legislature rejected those rules during the 2018 session. Despite the rejection earlier this year, the commission adopted the rules again on September 14, 2018.

If the Legislature chooses not to reject the proposed rule changes again, all amendments will be effective upon adjournment sine die of the 2019 regular legislative session.

The South Dakota Legislature held a one-day special session on September 12 addressing online sales tax measures.

The initial law to collect sales tax from online retailers was passed in 2016, but it was challenged and taken all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

This special session was to set an effective date for the law to go into effect.

The Missouri Legislature adjourned on September 14 after finalizing two bills that were vetoed by Gov. Mike Parson in July.

The first bill expands the definition of treatment courts as a substitute for imprisonment, and the second creates an online-based STEM program for public schools.

The Legislature will convene for the 2019 session on January 9.

A redistricting proposal and ethics reform ballot initiative titled Clean Missouri expected to be on November’s ballot is now at risk of being withdrawn.

Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ordered Sec. of State Jay Ashcroft to rescind the certification of the proposal because it violates the Missouri Constitution because a proposal can only cover one subject and can only amend one article of the Constitution, and the current ballot initiative breaks both of these rules.

Clean Missouri included a redistricting proposal and also proposed lowering campaign donation limits, abolishing a majority of gifts to lobbyists, and setting a two-year revolving door provision for legislators and their staffers before becoming lobbyists.

On September 12, California Gov. Jerry Brown was presented with 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.

If signed by the governor, the bill takes effect on January 1, 2020.

The Maine Legislature adjourned without day on September 13, 2018.

The special session, called to finish business from the regular session regarding Medicaid expansion and minimum wage increases, began on June 19.

During the final day, Gov. Paul LePage threatened to call the Legislature into another special session if they did not pass a bill aimed at protecting elderly Mainers from foreclosure.

In turn, legislators passed a version of the bill on Thursday evening.

The Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee (JLEC) issued an opinion this week prohibiting legislators and legislative employees from accepting travel expenses from a lobbyist in the form of transportation in a ride-sharing vehicle, unless such travel expenses are incurred for participation in a panel, seminar, or speaking engagement; or were incurred at a meeting or convention of a national organization of which any state agency or state institution of higher education is a dues paying member.

The opinion also states legislators and legislative employees may ride with a lobbyist in a ride-sharing vehicle for personal travel, if the legislator or employee reimburses the lobbyist for the legislator or employee’s portion of the total fare within seven days of accepting the ride or directly pays the ride-sharing service for the legislator or employee’s portion of the fare.

This advisory opinion stemmed from an ongoing federal investigation into former Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger and his ties to payday lending lobbyists.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled unanimously to uphold the state’s prohibition on corporate contributions this week.

Rick Green, the republican nominee for the state’s 3rd Congressional District seat, owns 1A Auto Inc., one of the companies asserting the ban discriminated against businesses’ right to free speech.

In upholding the ban, the Court stated allowing corporate contributions would create “a serious threat of quid pro quo corruption.”

The Massachusetts contribution ban applies to corporations and business entities but does not extend to unions or nonprofits.

Attorneys for Green and 1A have stated their intention to petition the US Supreme Court to hear the case.

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office cleared and certified Initiative 173 for the November 6 general election ballot.

The ballot measure proposes amending the state constitution regarding campaign contribution limits.

If passed, candidates in a race may accept contributions from individuals that are five times the rate authorized in the state constitution if at least one candidate loans or contributes $1 million to his or her own campaign, to a committee to support or oppose any candidate in the same election, or to any committee to influence the candidate’s own election.

The New York City Council passed legislation establishing a Charter Revision Commission (Commission) to draft a new or revised City Charter in April 2018.

On September 4, the Commission approved three ballot questions to be approved by voters in November.

One ballot measure would reduce contribution limits for all candidates and amend public matching funds for candidates participating in the public financing program.

The other ballot measures involve civic engagement and community boards.

Gov. Phil Bryant announced a special election for November 6, to fill a seat in House District 85.

The special election will fill the seat vacated by Rep. America Middleton.

The winner will complete the last year of Middleton’s term.

Gov. Doug Ducey has named Sen. Jon Kyl to fill the late Sen. John McCain’s seat in the Senate.

Sen. Kyl represented Arizona in the Senate for close to 20 years before reaching retirement in 2013. Kyl has committed to serving until the end of 2018, and possibly until a 2020 special election to fill the seat more permanently.

Gov. Ducey’s office reportedly considered several replacements since Sen. McCain’s diagnosis 13 months ago, including his wife Cindy McCain.

Gov. Ducey is the first governor in Arizona’s 106-year history to fill a U.S. Senate seat by appointment.

Gov. Michael Parson has called a special session to begin on September 10, 2018.

The special session will focus on an education initiative and expanding treatment courts in Missouri.

The special session will run concurrently with the veto session, set to begin on September 12.