Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger is resigning from office, effective May 1, amid a looming FBI investigation.

Investigators are looking into his lavish lifestyle, including worldwide travel and his use of a donor’s luxury condominium.

Upon his resignation, Speaker Pro Tempore Kirk Schuring will assume Rosenberger’s responsibilities until the House elects a new speaker.

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned sine die at midnight on April 9, 2018. Lawmakers passed legislation involving sexual harassment.

House Bill 1342, bans lobbyists from sexually harassing a member, employee, intern, or page of the General Assembly, an employee of the Department of Legal Services, an official or employee of the Maryland Executive Branch, or an individual regulated lobbyist.

Additionally, a lobbyist may report a violation of antiharassment policy and procedures by a member of the General Assembly to the State Ethics Commission.

If Gov. Hogan signs the bill into law, it will be effective immediately, however, the section involving lobbyists will not be effective until July 1, 2019.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed House Bill 317 into law on April 6, 2018.

House Bill 317, exempts economic development professionals from registering as a lobbyist.

Under the bill, the economic development professional lobbyist registration exemption does not apply if a person seeks incentives or funds through legislative action outside of incentives already available.

The provision has a sunset of one year as the Legislature is expected to revise the Alabama Ethics Code during the next legislative session.

The Kansas Legislature adjourned its legislative session on Sunday, April 8, 2018.

During the late hours of the session, lawmakers approved an increase in spending for education in response to a court order.

The bill has been publicly supported by Gov. Jeff Colyer. The Legislature will reconvene on April 26.

Contribution limits have been lifted for individuals running in the 2019 Chicago mayoral race.

Per state law, the limits are lifted for all candidates in a local race once a candidate contributes $100,000 to his or her own campaign within a year of the election.

Mayor Rahm Emmanuel has a major fundraising advantage; he raised over $24 million in the 2015 race.

Businessman Willie Wilson says he made a $100,000 contribution on Wednesday in an effort to level the playing field for other candidates.

Kansas lawmakers passed a bill expanding the definition of lobbying to increase transparency in government contracts.

Senate Bill 394 requires lobbyist registration for attempting to influence members of the executive or judicial branch regarding any covered action, including contracts and agreements.

The final version of the bill removed a provision that would have raised the gift-giving threshold for purposes of goodwill lobbying to $100 from $40 annually.

If Gov. Jeff Coyler approves, the bill will take effect July 1.

The Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance released a draft version of updates to the agency’s regulations taking affect at the end of the month.

The changes were subject to a public hearing last month and aim to make the regulations consistent with changes to campaign finance law and agency practices of the last few years.

Some changes include updated due dates for electronically filed reports, clarifications on when an organization must register as a political committee, and explanations of the circumstances in which an independent expenditure political action committee (PAC) becomes a traditional PAC.

The official effective date of the updated regulations has not yet been announced, and a final copy of the changes will not be publicly available until later this month.

Special primary elections were held in California on April 4 to fill the vacant seats of Assembly Districts 39, 45, and 54.

Under California law, candidates receiving more than half the vote win outright. Otherwise the top-two finishers in each race advance to a June 5 runoff.

If unofficial returns remain unchanged, there will be a June 5 runoff in the Assembly Districts 39 and 45 races.

In the Assembly District 54 race, unofficial returns have Sydney Kamlager receiving nearly 69 percent of the vote, more than enough to win outright without a runoff election.

The Mississippi Legislature adjourned sine die on March 28.

The 132^nd regular session adjourned with several unresolved issues, including a bill involving funding for roads and bridges.

Gov. Phil Bryant is expected to call a special session before July 1.

The Georgia General Assembly adjourned its 2018 legislative session.

Lawmakers worked through midnight, a few minutes beyond the March 29 adjournment deadline.

In the session, lawmakers passed a $26 billion budget, expanded public transportation, expanded the state’s medical cannabis oil program, and passed a hands-free driving law preventing drivers from holding their cellphones while behind the wheel.

Gov. Nathan Deal could sign, veto, or allow the bills to become law without his signature.

Gov. Jim Justice proposed calling a special legislative session to address the creation of a Department of Arts and Culture and History.

No date has been set, but the governor stated the special session would be sometime in May.

He made the announcement during a signing ceremony for legislation dissolving the Department of Education and the Arts.

Sen. Nathaniel Oaks resigned from the Maryland Senate before pleading guilty to corruption charges on March 29, 2018.

Gov. Larry Hogan will appoint a person to fill the vacancy from a name submitted by the Democrats.

Hogan’s spokesman stated the governor does not plan to name a successor before the General Assembly adjourns.

The Alabama Legislature adjourned sine die on March 29, 2018.

The Legislature passed House Bill 317, exempting economic development professionals from registering as a lobbyist, on the final day of the regular session.

Under House Bill 317, the economic development professional lobbyist registration exemption does not apply if a person seeks incentives or funds through legislative action outside of incentives already available.

Gov. Kay Ivey released a favorable statement regarding the passage of House Bill 317. Ivey has 10 days from adjournment to sign the bill.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker issued an executive order calling special elections for two legislative seats.

He initially refused to call the elections, defying a court order issued last week. He lost on appeal Wednesday and was forced to call the elections by noon today.

Special primary elections will be held on May 15 with special general elections on June 12.

Republican lawmakers sought to change election laws after the court order was issued so Walker could avoid calling the elections; they have since abandoned their efforts.