Rep. Mike Glanton resigned this past week after serving 14 years in the state House.

Glanton was a Democrat who represented House District 75, which consists of Clayton County.

Gov. Brian Kemp set the special election for March 21. A runoff will be scheduled if necessary.

The Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance has increased the lobbyist expenditure gift limit from $65 per event to $73.

The annual limit from lobbyist employers has also increased from $130 during a calendar year to $147.

The bureau is required by law to increase the limit every two years.

The law became effective January 16, 2023.

Republican state lawmakers announced a new ethics bill titled the Ohio Ethics and Financial Disclosure Reform Act.

The bill would require all lobbying income to be reported and sourced directly to the clients they represent.

The bill would also prohibit elected officials from getting paid to serve on corporate boards unless the seat was held prior to taking office and the official has ownership in the corporation.

Nominees hoping to serve on the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will have to disclose any income, previous business relationships, or ties to entities regulated by the PUC.

The bill does not have a number and has not been formally introduced.

Three special elections have been scheduled for February 28, to fill vacant seats in the state’s Assembly District 6, 100, and 148.

The Assembly District 6 seat was vacated by Rep. Edwin Vargas when he resigned to pursue an academic post.

The Assembly District 148 seat was vacated when Rep. Daniel Fox resigned to accept an anticipated judicial nomination.

The Assembly District 100 seat was vacated when Rep. Quentin Williams was killed in a car crash earlier this month.

The winner of each election on February 28 will serve the remainder of each term, all of which expire at the end of 2024.

A special election has been set for February 27, to fill the seat recently vacated by former Commissioner Ken Russell.

Commissioners had 10 days to appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of Russell’s term but could not find a consensus candidate.

District 2 comprises portions of Coconut Grove, Brickell, Edgewater, Morningside and downtown.

Gov. Tom Wolf ordered a special session of the General Assembly to begin Monday, January 9.

Both chambers have been called back to Harrisburg to consider a proposed amendment to Pennsylvania’s constitution seeking to aid survivors of child sexual abuse.

Lawmakers have until January 27 to act on the amendment in order for it to make it onto the May primary ballot.

New York has expanded the ethics training requirements as part of the new Ethics Reform Act of 2022.

Lobbyists, contractual clients, and beneficial clients will now be required to take the new Ethics for Lobbyists and Clients online course available January 18.

For purposes of training compliance by organizations, the chief administrative officer is responsible for taking the training on behalf of the organization.

Those registered before the course launch will have until March 18 to complete training.

In order to avoid duplicate training, co-lobbyists and sub-lobbyists listed on a 2023-2024 Statement of Registration will not be required to take the training until they submit their own registration.

Oregon’s Elections Director, Deborah Scroggins, announced her resignation to be effective January 20 after being hired just 18 months ago.

Scroggins noted in her resignation letter that mis- and disinformation made the work of administering elections extremely challenging.

Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is responsible for filling the position.

Molly Woon will be interim elections director until a permanent replacement can be found.

The contribution limit for candidates and political committees in North Carolina has increased as mandated by state law.

The previous limit was capped at $5,600.

The new limit is now $6,400 and took effect on January 1 of the new year.

The State Board of Elections published the new contribution limits summary sheet, which increases limits on January 1 of every odd-numbered year to reflect increases in inflation.

The amount corporations and labor organizations may contribute in each election cycle increased from $12,000 to $13,700 to any candidate committee; from $24,000 to $27,400 to any political party or legislative caucus committee; and from $24,000 to $27,400 to any PAC.

The amount an individual may contribute in each election cycle increased from $6,000 to $6,900 to any candidate committee; from $12,000 to $13,700 to any political party or legislative caucus committee; and from $12,000 to $13,700 to any PAC.

The amount PACs are limited to contributing to any candidate committee, political party committee, legislative caucus committee, or PAC each election cycle increased from $59,900 to $68,500.

Gov. Andy Beshear announced a special election on February 21, 2023, to fill the vacancy in Senate District 19 created by the resignation of Senator Morgan McGarvey.

Under state law, when a legislator vacancy occurs while lawmakers are not in session, the Governor may call the special election.

McGarvey is resigning from the position because he was elected U.S. representative for Kentucky’s 3rd congressional district.

The 101st Michigan Legislature adjourned sine die on December 28, 2022, after 88 legislative days in session.

During the session, lawmakers voted to pass House Joint Resolution R to amend section 10 of article IV of the Michigan Constitution to require certain disclosures and to modify limitations on terms of office of state legislators.

The resolution requires each member of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state, and the attorney general to electronically file an annual financial disclosure report by April 15, 2024, and annually thereafter, including gifts, travel payments and reimbursements, and payments to a charity in lieu of honoraria made by lobbyist or lobbyist agent.

The resolution also modifies term limits in section 54 of article IV of the Michigan Constitution to prohibit anyone from being elected as a state representative or senator for terms or partial terms that combined total more than 12 years. The resolution is to be submitted to voters at the next general election and will be effective upon voter approval.

Gov. Ron DeSantis scheduled a special primary and election to replace former state Rep. Joe Harding who resigned after he was indicted on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements.

Harding previously represented House District 24.

The special primary is scheduled for March 7 with the special election following on May 16.

The Office of Secretary of State is expected to announce reporting dates for any PACs making contributions or expenditures to influence the elections.

The New York General Assembly will convene for a one-day special session on December 22 to consider pay raises for lawmakers.