Lawmakers are meeting this week for three legislative days to start discussions on bills they would like to pass during the shorter, 32-day session next year.

In addition to getting updates on this year’s wildfire season and how the state is reacting to Equifax’s consumer data breach, legislators will be discussing a proposal to institute a greenhouse gas “cap and invest” proposal, which would fine businesses that go over their limit on greenhouse gas emissions and would invest that revenue into green-energy infrastructure.

Legislators are also being tasked with approving executive appointments during this three-day period.

After review and finalization, a package of campaign finance code revisions is going to the City Council Governance Committee for approval.

Proposed revisions include language creating a blackout period for owners or top executives of primary bidders on city contracts making contributions to a council campaign within a certain time frame when the contract is out to bid.

Some members of the Ethics Board fear tighter campaign finance laws will decrease political activity and lead to political problems and controversy while others are happy to see steps taken towards transparency.

The committee will meet Sept. 20 to review the proposed changes completed by the City’s Ethics Review Board this week.

Gov. John Hickenlooper has called a special legislative session on Oct. 2 to fix a budgeting issue that resulted from consolidating two marijuana taxes.

A bill-drafting error inadvertently left out the Regional Transportation District, the Denver Zoo, and other Denver-based institutions from receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in marijuana tax revenue.

Republican leaders reacted angrily, claiming they had not been consulted about a game plan and questioning why this could not wait till the regular session convenes in January.

Per the state constitution, lawmakers are required to convene when called, but they are not required to take action.

The Minnesota Supreme Court overturned a district court ruling Gov. Mark Dayton’s line-item vetoes unconstitutional.

In May, Dayton line-item vetoed funding for the House and Senate. In response, the Legislature sued arguing Dayton violated the separation of powers clause of the state Constitution.

The Minnesota Supreme Court has ordered Dayton and the Legislature to mediate their funding disagreements.

On or before September 30, both Dayton and the Legislature must give the court a status report regarding mediation efforts.

A bill further restricting revolving door provisions was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown for consideration.

Assembly Bill 1620 would change the current law prohibiting legislators from lobbying from one year to up to three years, depending on when he or she steps down from office. The bill states a legislator could not lobby during the two-year session after he or she was elected, plus another full year after the session ends.

If signed by the governor, the bill is effective January 1, 2018.

Gov. Mary Fallin has called a special election to fill a vacant seat in Oklahoma Senate District 27.

Bryce Marlatt resigned his seat on Tuesday after being charged with a felony count of sexual battery for grabbing an Uber driver’s head and kissing her neck while she was driving him to a bar.

A special primary will be held December 12, with a special general to follow on February 13, 2018.

Gov. Bill Haslam recently issued a writ of election to fill a vacancy in Tennessee Senate District 17.

Mae Beavers recently resigned from the seat to dedicate her time to running for governor.

A special primary will be held November 7. The special general will be held on December 19.

Denver City Council unanimously approved a proposal to close a loophole allowing campaign spending to go unreported if not coordinated directly with a candidate’s campaign.

Individuals, companies, and other organizations making $1,000 in independent expenditures, including electioneering communications, will be required to disclose all expenses and donors exceeding $25 within two days after reaching the $1,000 expenditure threshold.

The approved legislation also amends various campaign finance definitions, changes reporting periods for political committees, and imposes fines for late reports.

All bill provisions are effective Friday, September 15, unless otherwise provided in the legislative text.

State Rep. Gina Mason passed away unexpectedly on September 5, 2017.

Mason, mother of Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason, was serving her first term as the representative for District 56.

Gov. Paul LePage may call a special election if the municipal officers of any municipality affected by the vacancy inform LePage there is a need to fill the vacancy before the next general election.

The next general election is scheduled for November 7, 2017.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray resigned after his cousin stepped forward as the fifth man to accuse Murray publicly of sexually abusing him as a minor.

After the accusations of sexual abuse earlier this year, Murray denied wrongdoing but announced he would not seek reelection.

City Councilman Bruce Harrell will become mayor and has five days to decide whether to fill out the remainder of Murray’s term.

Photo of Seattle City Hall By SounderBruce via Wikimedia Commons

The New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) issued a call to concerned individuals for comments regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemakings for Comprehensive Lobbying regulations and Source of Funding Disclosure Regulations.

The comprehensive regulations expand the definition of lobbying to include indirect lobbying, like setting up a meeting between a legislator and a lobbyist. According to JCOPE, the purpose of the proposed regulations is to fully incorporate existing guidelines and decades of advisory opinions.

The hearing will be held on Monday, October 30, 2017 in Hearing Room A of the Legislative Office Building. All public comments must be submitted by 5 p.m. on October 6, 2017, to Carol Quinn, Deputy Director of Lobbying Disclosure, at carol.quinn@jcope.ny.gov.

Additional details are available on the JCOPE website.

Gov. Rick Scott has announced a special election to fill an opening in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Alexandra Miller resigned her House District 72 seat to focus on her family and business.

A special primary will be held on December 5, 2017, with the special election to follow on February 13, 2018.

Miller, who was elected this past November, submitted her resignation on August 24.

On September 8, 2017, Sec. of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver adopted campaign finance rules after three months of public hearings and reviews.

Oliver introduced the rules to clarify New Mexico’s Campaign Reporting Act (CRA) and bring the CRA into constitutional compliance.

Under the new rules, independent expenditure groups will be required to disclose their significant donors if they expend on any single political advertisement more than $2,500 for a statewide race or more than $1,000 on any non-statewide race.

The rules will be effective October 10, 2017, and are available at the secretary of state’s website.

Several special elections have been called in Georgia to fill vacancies in the state legislature. The openings are in the following districts: House Districts 42, 89, and 119; and Senate Districts 6 and 39.

The general elections will take place on November 7, 2017. A special election, already set last month, for House District 117 will take place on the same day.

Reps. Stacey Evans (House District 42), Stacey Abrams (House District 89), and Sen. Hunter Hill (Senate District 6) resigned their seats to focus on their gubernatorial campaigns.

Rep. Chuck Williams resigned his House District 119 seat to become the director of the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Sen. Vincent Fort resigned from his Senate District 39 seat to run for mayor of Atlanta.

Special runoff elections, if necessary, will be held on December 5.