Lawmakers adjourned sine die April 22, a day earlier than expected. Several political spending bills did not make it out of committee, including a foreign principal bill requiring additional reporting from lobbyists and a campaign finance bill empowering the Registry of Elections to promulgate a list of examples constituting in-kind contributions requiring disclosure. Passed bills included the budget bill and a bill increasing funds for child advocacy centers.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce is hosting staff from the Office of the Legislative Inspector General for a training session open to government affairs professionals on JLEC filing and lobbying requirements. The in-person session is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday, April 25, at the Ohio Chamber Office in Columbus, Ohio. Although registration is not required, notify Tony Long if planning to attend at tlong@ohiochamber.com.

The Miami City Commission announced the date for a special election following the death of Commissioner Manolo Reyes. The date of the District 4 election has been set for June 3. The winner of the election will serve the rest of Reyes’ term ending in 2027.

FLORIDA: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the date for the special election to replace Sen. Geraldine Thompson who died seven months ago. The primary will be on June 24, and the general election will be held on September 2.  One of the candidates vying for the position is State Rep. LaVon Bracy-Davis, who announced her resignation from the House, effective September 1.

Lawmakers passed a bill prohibiting a political action committee from accepting a contribution or expenditure from a foreign national, as defined by federal law. House Bill 1467 also amends reporting requirements by requiring affirmations of compliance. The bill also prohibits a foreign national from soliciting or directing a contribution or expenditure by another person to influence an election on a public question. The bill becomes effective July 1.

Gov. Larry Rhoden has called a special session for July 22 to consider recommendations and proposed legislation of the advisory council, Project Prison Reset, created by Executive Order 2025-01. The advisory council was created to assess and determine the need for a new prison facility and engage and analyze consultant recommendations on size, design, and location of a new prison facility and is required to make recommendations and propose legislation by July 15.

The West Virginia Legislature adjourned sine die April 12. An elections bill has passed both houses and is awaiting governor approval. Senate Bill 50 changes the date of all municipal elections to coincide with statewide elections. This bill will require municipalities to adopt new rules to make sure they coincide with the state’s planned election dates.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a proclamation declaring a special election to be held for Assembly District 63. The seat became vacant after Assembly member Bill Essayli announced he was resigning to take an appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. The special primary election will be held on June 24, followed by the special general election on August 26.

The Legislature adjourned sine die on April 11. Lawmakers passed various bills related to campaign finance, including House Bill 2054, which increases the state’s contribution limits. House Bill 2106 prohibits contributions or expenditures from foreign nationals regarding campaigns to amend the Kansas Constitution. The bill also mandates constitutional amendment campaigns disclose contributions over $50 and certify they and their donors have not accepted significant foreign funds. House Bill 2206 renames the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission to the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission and creates a new definition for cooperation or consent, in relation to express advocacy expenditures. The legislation also raises the limit from $10 to $50 in the amount of a political contribution an individual may accept without knowing the identity of the donor. House Bill 2054 is effective April 10, with House Bills 2106 and 2206 becoming effective  July 1.

On April 11, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed a lobbying disclosure bill aimed at increasing disclosure.

House Bill 143 required lobbyists provide more details about the specific legislation lobbied, whether legislation was supported or opposed and if their positions changed, and the names of a lobbyist’s employer that lobbied on the legislation, either directly or through the registered lobbyist. The bill also required that if a lobbyist or lobbyist’s employer commenced lobbying on legislation after the adjournment of a legislative session, a lobbying activity report would have been required to have been filed prior to the end of the time period in which the governor could have acted on legislation.

In her House Executive Message No. 21 vetoing the bill, the governor wrote, “ While I support the intent of this legislation, [House Bill] 143 needs work. For example, it imposes an onerous requirement that lobbyists or their employers file these reports within forty-eight hours of commencing the lobbying activity – including any time their ‘position on legislation has changed’- irrespective of weekends and holidays.”

The bill would have also required lobbying reports be preserved for a period of 10 years.

OHIO: The Office of Secretary of State published increased contribution limits. The contribution limits for what PACs, PCEs and individuals may contribute to statewide candidates, candidates for General Assembly, county parties, PACs, and PCEs increased from $15,499.69 to $16,615.67 per election; from $46,499.08 to $49,847.01 per calendar year to state parties; and from $23,249.54 to $24,923.51 per calendar year to legislative campaign funds. The amount of gifts corporations and labor unions may provide per year to a state political party, county political party, or legislative campaign fund for specified purposes increased from $12,751.16 to $13,669.24.

The Maryland Legislature adjourned sine die at midnight on April 7. Several bills affecting government affairs were passed through both houses and are waiting on the governor’s desk to be signed. These bills include Senate Bill 945 and House Bill 945. Together, they will change the gubernatorial primary election date to the fourth Tuesday in June. Senate Bill 262 alters the dates for special elections, requiring them to be set within 90 days of being called. Senate Bill 633 allows registered lobbyists to complete ethics training online. These bills will be effective October 1, if signed by the governor.

State Representative Jason Lowe resigned on April 7 to become an Oklahoma County commissioner. Gov. Stitt called a special election to replace Lowe with a potential primary election on June 10. A primary runoff is scheduled for August 12 and the general election on September 9. If a runoff is not necessary, the general election will be on August 12.

The State Court of Appeals ruled the Ethics Commission has authority over organizations engaging in ad campaigns intended to influence state lawmakers. The ruling stems from a complaint filed with the commission against Albuquerque-based New Mexico Families Forward (NMFF), which registered with the Office of Secretary of State as a lobbying advertising campaign but did not disclose the identity of its donors or the amounts contributed. NMFF argued the commission’s jurisdiction to enforce the Lobbyist Reporting Act extended only to complaints against individuals who are lobbyists and lobbyist employers. NMFF took the commission to court in October 2022, and the Second Judicial District Court ordered the commission to halt all proceedings against NMFF and to dismiss the complaint. The commission appealed and the Court of Appeals reversed, ordering the case back to the commission.