Caleb Jones (R) will leave the state House District 50 seat vacant when he joins Governor-elect Eric Greitens (R) as the new Deputy Chief of Staff starting January 9.

Ashland Republican Party State Committeewoman Sara Walsh (R) announced her candidacy for the position this week. Until the special election to replace Jones, an office in the capitol dedicated to constituent services for members of his district will remain active.

Sen. Mike Delph introduced a bill prohibiting Indiana legislators from accepting gifts from lobbyists. The gift ban would include any property with value, including sporting event tickets and anything classified as entertainment.

Along with the gift ban, the bill would require lobbyists to keep a log of all communication between a lobbyist and legislator, or employees of the general assembly, about a legislative matter. The log would be public record and filed weekly. If passed, the bill would be effective January 1, 2018.

On Friday, North Carolina filed an emergency motion with the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a stay on the federal appeals court ruling that North Carolina must hold special elections in November 2017 for General Assembly seats in unconstitutionally gerrymandered districts.

The legislature would need to redraw districts by mid-March to comply with the ruling. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts set the deadline for a response in the case for January 9, 2017.

The District 20 seat will soon be vacant when Congressman-elect James Raskin (D) transfers to Washington, D.C. and Delegate Will Smith (D) fills Raskin’s position in the Maryland Senate.

Two public forums will be held by the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee in January to recommend one of the six candidates pursuing the spot. Gov. Larry Hogan has 30 days to make the appointment based on the recommendations of the party committee.

A new lobbying law took effect on January 1, 2017, requiring lobbyists to register with the city clerk, to inform the city of their clients, and to wear lobbyist badges when in City Hall.

The ordinance also includes civil and criminal penalties for registration violations. The Registration and Regulation of Lobbyists ordinance adopted by the Reno City Council on October 12, 2016, is the first law requiring lobbyist registration in the City of Reno.

On January 1, the Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act took effect. The Act repeals the lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 in the state’s statutes and enacts a new consolidated code section covering both the legislative and executive branches of government.

Among the changes in the new law are the simplification of lobbyists’ reporting requirements, an increase in penalties for failing to comply with lobbying requirements, and the allowance for more investigative and administrative authority for enforcing the lobbying laws, including administrative subpoena power.

Today, Governor-elect Roy Cooper filed a legal challenge against Senate Bill 4. Wake County Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens agreed to block the law from taking effect while the lawsuit is pending.

Senate Bill 4 would have taken effect January 1, 2017, to merge the State Board of Elections with the State Ethics Commission and create a new eight-member board split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. The bill was passed by a Republican dominated legislature in an attempt to limit the power of the executive branch before newly elected Democrats take power.

This month, the Texas Ethics Commission adopted a new rule adjusting the compensation and reimbursement threshold for lobbyists.

The new rule eliminates an exception not requiring a person to register as a lobbyist if he or she lobbied no more than five percent of his or her compensated time during a calendar quarter. Under the new rule exception, a person is not required to register as a lobbyist if the person spends not more than 40 hours during a calendar quarter engaging in lobbying activity for which the person is compensated or reimbursed.Time spent on preparatory activity is included in determining whether the 40-hour threshold has been met.

This rule goes into effect January 1, 2017.

Constitutional Amendment 2, a reform measure approved in November, is facing a second legal challenge in federal court from plaintiffs who claim the amendment unconstitutionally restricts free speech and association.

The suit was filed by Farmers State Bank and Herzog Services, with additional plaintiffs including the American Democracy Alliance, Missourians for Worker Freedom, Freedom PAC, the Free and Fair Election Fund, and John Elliott, a citizen. Plaintiffs contend the amendment’s contribution restrictions impermissibly prohibit corporate (including nonprofit) contributions in ballot measure and judicial retention campaigns.

A separate suit was filed by the Association of Missouri Electrical Cooperatives earlier in December.

The Bureau of Elections adjusted lobbying reporting thresholds, fees and penalties for the new year. These annual adjustments reflect changes in the Detroit consumer price index and are effective January 1, 2017.

Updates include a $50 increase in the expenditure threshold. Any lobbyist or lobbyist agent is required to register if expenditures exceed $2400 during a 12-month period. Transactions of $1200 or more between a lobbyist/lobbyist agent and a public official must be reported. The 2016 threshold was $1175.

Additionally, the permitted value of food and beverages purchased for public officials in any one month increased from $58 to $59.

Michael Botsaris is the new executive director of the Anne Arundel County Ethics Commission. Botsaris replaces Betsy Dawson, who passed away in August.

County Executive Steve Schuh stated he appointed Botsaris to establish a Republican majority on the commission and match the will of voters who elected mostly Republicans to local public offices.

On December 21, Rep. Kendell Kroeker, a Republican from Evansville, announced his resignation from the Wyoming House of Representatives. Kroeker cited unexpected circumstances related to his business, Casper Mountain Motorsports, as the reason for his resignation.

The House District 35 vacancy will be filled by the local Republican Party.

Photo of Kendell Kroeker from the State of Wyoming Legislature.

On December 21, a lawsuit was filed to extend the appointment of the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices until June 2019. The lawsuit, brought by the secretary of state and state Senator Christine Kaufmann, among others, want Commissioner Jonathan Motl to serve a full six-year term.

His appointment, scheduled to end on January 1, 2017, is six years after the departure date of the last commissioner to be confirmed by the state Senate, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. The lawsuit asserts Motl, who was confirmed by the senate in 2013, should be allowed to complete a full six-year term of service.

Denver City Council is one step closer to adopting amendments to the city ethics code. Proposed ethics reform would amend lobbyist and gift disclosure rules and increase transparency.

Council recently discussed a new dollar limit on event tickets from any donor with a city interest, and proposed making all public official gift disclosures and lobbying reports available online. Such proposals are set for a final vote on January 3.

In a separate proposal, Councilman Kevin Flynn is also seeking to amend ethics laws and set a $300 annual limit on tickets or event admissions from donors with city interests. His proposal could be considered by council late next month.