Indianapolis Councilor Jeff Miller has plead guilty to four felony counts of battery on a person less than 14 years old.

The plea deal triggers Miller’s resignation from the City-County Council.

A special election is not required as the Republican Party will call a caucus and choose Miller’s replacement.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has stated he will call a special election to fill U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter’s term.

Slaughter served as a U.S. Rep. for New York’s 25^th District for over three decades and passed away on March 16, 2018.

The special election will coincide with the general election on November 6, 2018.

Gov. Phil Bryant announced a special session to convene on August 23.

The session will address infrastructure funding for state roads and bridges.

Lawmakers have proposed funding infrastructure projects by diverting internet sales taxes, sports betting revenue, and creating a state lottery.

The House of Delegates voted to impeach all remaining four justices on the state Supreme Court of Appeals. Chief Justice Margaret Workman and Justices Allen Loughry, Robin Davis, and Elizabeth Walker will face an impeachment trial in the Senate.

The justices face articles of impeachment for corruption, maladministration, incompetency, neglect of duty, and other high offenses. The fifth justice, Menis Ketchum, resigned in July and avoided becoming a subject of the articles of impeachment.

If the remaining justices are found to have committed the impeachable offenses and removed from office, Gov. Justice will appoint interim justices and call for a special election in May 2020.

Atlanta City Council members introduced legislation requiring individuals and principals seeking to influence legislative or administrative actions of the city to register as a lobbyist.

The ordinance would require registration for any effort to influence an approval or veto of legislation; an agency’s proposal, consideration, or promulgation of a regulation; or the solicitation, award, or administration of a contract.

If approved, the effective date is January, 1, 2019.

Dallas City Councilman Dwaine Caraway pled guilty to federal corruption charges last Thursday and has resigned from City Council.

Caraway admitted to accepting $450,000 in bribes and kickbacks from two figures in a scandal last year that brought down a school bus agency named Dallas County Schools.

City Attorney Larry Casto told City Council a special election must be added to the November 6 election to fill the vacancy.

The Fair Political Practices Commission is considering changes to state campaign finance regulations.

The commission was asked to consider the permissible use of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, for campaign contributions and expenditures. Though similar to cash, such currency is not issued by a governmental entity.

Issues expected to be discussed at a public hearing include banning the use of cryptocurrency for campaign purposes, limiting cryptocurrency contributions to the amount of contributions received in cash, requiring cryptocurrency contributions to be converted to cash, permitting committees to establish separate cryptocurrency accounts, or permitting cryptocurrency contributions as in-kind contributions without regard to cash limits.

A public hearing will be held September 20, 2018; written comments should be received by September 18.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard has called a special session for September 12.

The session will address legislation allowing the state to enforce remote sellers to collect and remit sales tax.

In addition to calling the session, Daugaard will be appointing three people to fill vacancies in the Legislature to ensure the districts are fully represented during the special session.

A lawsuit has been filed to remove a referendum from the Missouri ballot. On August 2, Sec. of State Jay Ashcroft certified an ethics initiative for the November general election ballot.

The proposal would limit legislative gifts from lobbyists, reduce campaign contribution limits for legislative candidates, create a two-year waiting period for public officials seeking to become lobbyists, and establish new procedures for redistricting.

The lawsuit claims the proposed referendum violates a provision of the Missouri Constitution limiting ballot measures to a single subject.

Combining multiple subjects in a single ballot measure can force voters to vote for a matter they do not support just to enact a proposal they do support.

Due to the passage of Legislative Document 1842, lobbyists will be required to complete an in-person harassment training.

The training must be taken at the beginning of every regular session.

Additionally, lobbyists must include the date the training was completed on their lobbyist registration form.

The bill will become effective at the adjournment of the special session.

Secretary of State Warner announced the official registration dates for a special election to fill the seat vacated by former state Supreme Court Justice Menis Ketchum.

The special election will occur concurrently with the general election on November 6.

Ketchum recently agreed to plead guilty to a felony criminal count of wire fraud for using a vehicle and fuel card owned by the state for personal travel.

Ketchum resigned effective July 27 with two years left on his term.

Pictured: Former Supreme Court Justice Menis Ketchum

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan plans to collect signatures in a citywide petition to move Akron’s primary elections from September to May.

City Council previously proposed putting the issue on the November ballot, but the legislation stalled. Local primary elections in Ohio are held in May unless a charter provides otherwise.

Summit County is one of only three Ohio counties holding municipal primary elections in September. Moving the Akron primary to May would save the city money while increasing voter turnout.

Five other Summit County cities are also considering the election date change.

Gov. Phil Bryant announced a special election on November 6, to fill a seat in House District 31.

The special election will fill the seat vacated by Rep. Sara Thomas last month.

Thomas has served in the role for 21 years and cited the desire to spend more time with family as her reason for resigning.

Del. Greg Habeeb announced his resignation from the House of Delegates 8th District. Habeeb has served in the House since winning the seat in a special election in January 2011.

Habeeb cited the desire to spend more time with family and increased responsibilities at his law firm as reasons for stepping down.

Speaker of the House Kirk Cox will review dates and announce a special election to fill the seat in the near future.

Del. Habeeb’s final day as a member of the House of Delegates will be August 31.