Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon signed two ethics bills on Friday, May 6.

One bill creates a revolving door provision for lawmakers and statewide elected officials seeking to become lobbyists. They must wait at least six months after their terms end before engaging in lobbying. The second bill requires candidates to dissolve their campaign committees and either refund or donate the remaining funds upon registering as lobbyists.

Both bills are effective August 28, 2016.

The General Assembly has completed its business for the year and adjourned the 2016 legislative session on Friday, May 6, 2016, a day ahead of schedule.

By joint resolution of the House and Senate, lawmakers will reconvene on June 9 if Gov. Shumlin vetoes any bill, otherwise the legislature will be adjourned sine die.

The session’s conclusion marks the end of an era as Gov. Shumlin, Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell, and House Speaker Shap Smith will not be returning next year.

On May 7, the Arizona Legislature adjourned its 52nd, Second regular session sine die at 5:45 a.m. The governor has 10 days once the Legislature has adjourned to sign a bill into law, veto a bill, or do nothing and allow it to become law without his or her signature. The governor does not have a pocket veto. The Legislature can override a governor’s veto with a vote of two-thirds of its members.

The Legislature finished the fiscal session on May 5, 2016, with the formal sine die adjournment scheduled for Monday, May 9, 2016.

Legislators will return on May 19 for a special legislative session to address Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s highway funding plan.

The 28th Hawaii State Legislature adjourned its regular session sine die on May 5, 2016.

Among other things, lawmakers approved funding for air-conditioning in public schools, appropriated money for statewide homeless programs, increased funds for preschool programs to provide families with opportunities for school readiness, and focused on growing jobs and the state economy.

Rep. Steve McLaughlin is seeking bipartisan support for a package of ethics reform bills. The bills seek reform on multiple fronts by lowering the permissible amount individuals, unions, corporations, lobby groups, or businesses can donate to a PAC; increasing disclosure requirements for pay-to-play lobbying; placing eight-year term limits on legislative leaders; and stripping pensions from those convicted of public corruption offenses.

The proposed bills come in response to former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s recent 12-year prison sentence for conviction on multiple corruption charges.

Photo of Rep. Steve McLaughlin courtesy of the New York State Assembly website.

The Legislature adjourned sine die late Wednesday, May 4, 2016.

Lawmakers started the impeachment process of Gov. Robert Bentley and passed an education budget. The general fund added $15 million to Medicaid, but left an $85 million deficit. Bentley is expected to call for a special session to address the deficit.

The Connecticut General Assembly adjourned its regular session yesterday, May 4, 2016, without reaching a deal on the state budget.

As time ran out on the session, constitutionally mandated to end at midnight, Democratic leaders postponed a vote on the budget and will return next week for a special session. The Senate announced the special session will begin on May 12.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission is currently accepting applications for Executive Director to replace former executive director and chief legal counsel, Leslie Kondo. The Legislature appointed Kondo as the new state auditor in April; his eight-year term began May 1.

Kondo spent the last five years cracking down on certain activities by lawmakers and issuing strict interpretations of the state ethics code. While no longer monitoring legislative ethics, Kondo believes his new position will allow him to continue to promote public confidence in state government.

Gov. Larry Hogan signed a pay-to-play bill, amending campaign finance reporting requirements for filers doing public business. House Bill 112 requires filers disclosing contributions to also include contributions of any subsidiary entity the filer owns or controls by 30 percent or more, regardless of whether the subsidiary is doing public business in Maryland.

A limited exception exists for publically-traded banking institutions not owned or controlled by anyone in excess of 10 percent if they are not contracted with Maryland in connection with public business.

The law takes effect October 1, 2016.

The San Francisco Ethics Commission has announced two interested persons meetings on May 11 and May 16 to discuss a proposed November 2016 ballot measure that would ask San Francisco voters to place new restrictions on lobbyist contributions, bundling of contributions by lobbyists, and gifts from lobbyists.

The feedback from these meetings will be used in the analysis and recommendations on the proposed ballot measure presented at the May 23, 2016 commission meeting.

Written comments and RSVPs can be sent via email to ethics.commission@sfgov.org.

Assembly Bill 1200 has been sent to California Gov. Jerry Brown. The bill revises the definition of lobbyist to include individuals attempting to influence state governmental procurement of $250,000 or more.

Legislators passed the bill despite criticism of the measure from the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

If Brown signs the bill, the new rules will go into effect January 1, 2017.

Vendors and lobbyists are now required to disclose campaign contributions and affirm the disclosed contributions were made without the expectation of a governmental benefit in return. The late-2015 amendment requires disclosure of contributions to county officials and county-level candidates if made on or after April 1, 2016.

While the amendment aims at promoting greater transparency of the procurement process, some have argued contributions to political parties and noncandidate committees allow contributors to remain out of public view.

The Kansas Legislature adjourned after passing a budget in the early hours of May 2, 2016. Lawmakers have been in session only 73 of the scheduled 90 days and will return to the state capitol on June 1 for a brief adjournment ceremony.

Leadership is hopeful business has been completed for the year; however, more work may be ahead as the state’s supreme court reviews changes to how more than $4 billion is distributed to school districts. Justices will hear arguments on May 10.

Photo of the Kansas State Capital dome by Aviper2k7 on Wikimedia Commons.