Gov. Asa Hutchinson was the subject of a probable cause hearing scheduled by the Ethics Commission on July 22, 2016.

Attorney Matt Campbell filed a complaint on March 31, claiming Hutchinson violated campaign practices law by campaigning for other candidates during “usual office hours.” If prosecuted, Hutchinson could face up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and removal from office.

St. Petersburg Councilwoman Darden Rice will introduce a proposed ordinance to abolish super PACs and ensure foreign money stays out of city elections.

The ordinance would establish limits for independent expenditure committees and would require corporations contributing money to local elections to certify they are not influenced by foreign entities.

Rice hopes the ordinance will act as a model for similar laws around the country, potentially leading to a legal challenge. This could give the U.S. Supreme Court an opportunity to reconsider Citizens United.

A legislative committee has voted against a proposed bill to finance Suffolk County candidates’ campaigns with future casino revenues and to increase term limits from two to four years. Specifics of the bill include a 4-to-1 match for donations up to $150 for all candidates who agree to a $1,000 cap on contributions.

As a result of the vote, the bill will not appear on the November ballot, but an initiative to allow a video slot machine casino in the Village of Islandia will.

The campaign finance bill’s sponsor, Legislator Rob Calarco, has indicated he would reintroduce his legislation if voters approve the casino initiative.

On July 21, California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) approved a regulation to further clarify the definition of “lobbyist.”

The regulation creates a rebuttable presumption that all compensation from a person for services that include direct communication with a qualifying official for the purpose of influencing legislative or administrative action received within a calendar month is for the purpose of direct compensation.

The regulation will become effective 30 days after the FPPC files it with the Office of the Secretary of State.

The Hawaii State Legislature adjourned its special session sine die on Wednesday, July 20.

Prior to adjournment, lawmakers voted to override Gov. David Ige’s veto of a bill to authorize severance benefits or early retirement incentives for employees who would be directly affected by the impending privatization of three state-run Maui County hospitals.

On July 20, a federal court ruled the city of Austin’s campaign contribution blackout period unconstitutional. The blackout period allowed officeholders, candidates, and their respective committees to only accept campaign contributions during the last 180 days before an election or recall election. In Zimmerman v. City of Austin, Texas, the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division, concluded the law was unconstitutional under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

In addition, the court found an Austin City Charter provision designating a 90-day requirement for campaign account terminations to be unconstitutional.

District Court Judge Lee Yeakel did uphold the city’s contribution limits for mayoral and city council candidates, finding the limit a constitutional regulation of protected First Amendment activity. The ruling also found City Councilman Don Zimmerman, who originally brought the lawsuit last summer, did not have standing to challenge the aggregate limits of the total contributions a candidate can accept from sources other than natural persons eligible to vote in a postal zip code completely or partially within the Austin city limits.

Photo of Austin, Texas by Eric A. Ellison on Wikimedia Commons.

Sen. Todd Kaminsky and Representative Charles Lavine have introduced a new bill which would amend the penal law relating to unlawful giving. Senate Bill 8169 would close a loophole allowing public officials to receive or give gifts or benefits in excess of $3,000 simply because of their official position.

The bill does not affect campaign contributions, which are already monitored by the Board of Elections.

The legislation is a response to the recent Supreme Court decision in McDonnell v. The United States, which permits officials to receive lavish gifts so long as the gifts are not exchanged for promises to perform governmental acts.

State Sen. John Arthur Smith, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Treasurer Tim Eichenberg, have requested Gov. Susana Martinez to call a special session of the Legislature. The oil and gas slowdown has significantly affected the state’s budget, bringing the state’s overall revenue down $446 million for the 2016 fiscal year, which ended on June 30. As a result, the state government now finds itself at least $150 million short of funding to remain solvent throughout the calendar year.

Eichenberg indicates a failure to call a special session could result in the treasurer’s office failing to honor payments necessary to critical government functions such as schools, police, and prisons.

Photo of the New Mexico State Capitol by Urban on Wikimedia Commons.

Former House Speaker Ken Martinez has resigned from the Legislature, effective Wednesday, July 20. Because Martinez was not seeking re-election this year, Harry Garcia, a businessman from Grants, has already been elected to Martinez’s seat serving House District 69, beginning in January.

Gov. Susana Martinez may choose an interim successor to serve until Garcia’s term begins once she receives recommendations from the six counties the seat represents, which include Bernalillo, Cibola, McKinley, San Juan, Socorro, and Valencia.

On July 19, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted unanimously to bar people from filing ethics complaints 90 days before a general election. The commission still reserved the right to lodge its own internal complaints during the 90-day period.

With this rule, the commission believes it will prevent frivolous complaints, designed to influence elections, from being filed.

In 2016, the moratorium will begin August 10 and last until November 8, the date of this year’s general election.

The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Kansas secretary of state, Kris Kobach, over a temporary regulation tossing votes from individuals who registered at a state motor vehicle office.

The ACLU claims the regulation violates both Kansas law and the state constitution. The rule allows those who did not show proof of citizenship to cast ballots in federal, but not state, elections.

Federal law allows people to register to vote at local motor vehicle offices. The rule was approved by the State Rules and Regulations Board after providing less than a day’s notice for the meeting. Members of the secretary of state’s office stated they believe they were following state law requiring new voters to show proof of citizenship.

On July 18, the Alaska Legislature adjourned its fifth special session.

The Legislature failed to pass any deficit reduction measures the special session was called to address.

Following the unsuccessful eight day session, it is expected that further work towards budget reforms will wait until after the November election.

Photo of the Alaska State Capitol by Jay Galvin on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, and House Speaker Kurt Daudt have tentatively agreed to call a special legislative session during the third week of August.

The governor and lawmakers have met several times since the Legislature adjourned in late May to work through details of approving a tax bill and bonding bill.

While the three men were able to reach an agreement regarding the tax bill during a meeting last week, negotiations on the bonding bill must continue before the governor will announce a definitive date for the special session.

Photo of the Minnesota State Capitol by Jonathunder on Wikimedia Commons.

On July 13, the Utah Legislature adjourned its special session sine die.

Lawmakers voted for the state to allocate up to $10 million in funds for a new stadium in the Fairpark area of Salt Lake City.

An additional bill passed during the one-day special session regulates the use of personal drones over wildfires.

Photo of the Utah State Capitol by Scott Catron on Wikimedia Commons.