Gov. Greg Abbott called a special election this week to replace U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold. Farenthold resigned his seat in congress this month after an ethics investigation stemming from a 2014 sexual harassment allegation.

The special election will take place on June 30, 2018, and a runoff election is anticipated to be held this fall.

Gov. Abbott sent Farenthold a letter this week requesting he pay for the cost of the special election since he has not reimbursed the $84,000 of taxpayer money he used to settle the sexual harassment claim.

The letter asked for a response to the request by May 2.

Gov. Kate Brown called a special session for May 21, 2018.

The session is expected to be limited to legislation reducing small business taxes.

The governor announced she wants to complete the special session in a single day.

On April 24, the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics adopted Part 943, commonly referred to as the Comprehensive Lobbying Regulations. The rules were originally introduced in October 2016 and have gone through several revisions.

The adopted regulations compile existing guidelines and advisory opinions regarding rules and requirements related to lobbying. For example, the adopted revised rules include an online ethics training requirement for lobbyists and provide further clarification regarding reportable expenses attributable to social media activities and grassroots lobbying.

The adopted rules will become effective January 1, 2019, and are available at the JCOPE website.

City Councilman Zeke Cohen introduced an ordinance amending the Baltimore City Ethics Code.

Ordinance No. 18-0230 requires lobbyists to file reports quarterly instead of annually. Additionally, the ordinance obligates lobbyists to affirmatively identify themselves as a lobbyist and the person on whose behalf they are lobbying to a public servant.

If passed, the ordinance will become effective 30 days after it is enacted.

Gov. Eric Holcomb called a special session for May 14, 2018.

On the top of Holcomb’s list is a school safety spending bill and a bill needed to harmonize state tax code with federal tax code.

The special session is expected to last one day.

The Utah Legislature adjourned a veto session sine die on Wednesday after overriding a pair of vetoes from Gov. Gary Herbert.

The Legislature resurrected and passed Senate Bill 171, allowing legislators to defend laws they pass in court instead of relying on the Attorney General’s office, and House Bill 198, requiring the Attorney General to give written legal opinions to the Legislature when requested.

A spokesperson for the Governor said he hopes for an opportunity to test the constitutionality of the new laws in court.

The Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die April 18.

Lawmakers took no action on Legislative Bill 1099 to adopt the Legislative Ethics Act after Sen. Bill Kintner’s resignation last session for retweeting offensive comments and using a state-issued computer to engage in cybersex.

The bill would have created an ethics board to receive and investigate complaints against any member or employee of the Legislature.

The Kentucky Legislature adjourned sine die April 14.

Lawmakers passed House Bill 97 establishing a new filing deadline for elections of city officers.

Before it was amended, the bill would have moved the date for filing a supplemental annual report from December 1 to December 31.

The Florida Constitution Revision Commission voted to place a six-year revolving door restriction directly on the November general election ballot.

Proposal 6007 would also ban state and local officials from lobbying the Legislature, executive branch, and the federal government while in office.  If approved by 60 percent of voters, the lobbying ban will take effect December 31, 2022.

The proposal would also prohibit public officials from abusing their position to obtain a disproportionate benefit.

The Commission on Ethics will be responsible for defining the term disproportionate benefit, prescribing the requisite intent for finding a violation, and enforcing the prohibition against the abuse of a public position.

The new ethics rule will take effect December 31, 2020, if passed by 60 percent of voters.

Gov. Jeff Colyer has signed Senate Bill 394 expanding the definition of lobbying to include executive and judicial branch procurement lobbying.

Effective July 1, lobbying will include the promoting or opposing in any manner an action or nonaction by any executive or judicial agency on any administrative matter.

The transparency bill requires lobbyist registration for attempting to influence members of the executive or judicial branch regarding any covered action, including contracts and agreements.

The bill also increases the value of a meal an executive branch member may receive from $25 to $40.

The New York City Council passed several bills designed to provide greater protections against workplace sexual harassment.

One measure requires annual training for all private employers with 15 or more employees.

Additionally, the City Council passed legislation establishing a Charter Revision Commission to draft a new or revised City Charter. The last Charter Revision Commission submitted changes to voters in November 1988.

The voter-approved amendments strengthened campaign finance and conflict of interest laws.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has 30 days to sign, veto the bills, or take no action.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order Tuesday requiring the Davidson County Election Commission to expedite a special election for Nashville mayor.

The office was left vacant following Mayor Megan Barry’s resignation on March 6. Barry pled guilty to felony theft of property exceeding $10,000 for misappropriating city funds over the course of two years; she used the money to bankroll an affair with the head of her security detail.

A special election will be held May 24 with a potential runoff election scheduled for June 28.

A special election for Metro Council District 1 will also be held May 24. The seat was left vacant after former councilman Nick Leonardo was appointed General Sessions judge in January.

The Colorado Secretary of State will host a rulemaking hearing on April 16 regarding proposed changes to lobbyist regulations. A copy of the revised draft is available online at the Secretary of State’s website.

Proposed changes include, but are not limited to, amending and adding lobbying definitions, clarification of professional lobbyist and lobbyist firm registration and disclosure requirements, and recodification to ensure uniform and proper administration and implementation of state law.

Written comments regarding the proposed draft may be submitted any time before and during the hearing.

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold resigned his seat in congress last week following a string of ethics investigations stemming from a 2014 sexual harassment allegation.

Farenthold, under fire for using $84,000 of taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment claim, announced his retirement in December, but said he planned to serve out the remainder of his term ending in January of 2019.

Gov. Greg Abbott is tasked with calling a special election to fill the seat for the remainder of the year. Gov. Abbott can schedule the special election on the state’s next uniform election date on November 6, or can order an emergency election on any other Tuesday or Saturday.