The special session of the Missouri Legislature scheduled to begin on September 6, has been postponed until September 14.

Lawmakers need more time to deliver on Gov. Mike Parson’s plan for income tax cuts and tax incentives for the agriculture industry.

Lawmakers ended a three-day special session by passing a $213 million package for flood recovery and a plan to help schools in eastern Kentucky.

Signed into law by Gov. Beshear on Friday, the law establishes the East Kentucky State Aid Funding for Emergencies (EKSAFE), to assist counties named in the federal declaration.

Legislators emphasized this is the first step and they expect additional legislation next year when lawmakers meet in regular session.

The General Assembly is scheduled to convene for the 2023 regular session on Jan 3.

Gov. Andy Beshear called a special session of the Kentucky General Assembly to begin today, August 24 at noon to establish funding and administration of the Eastern Kentucky State Aid Funding for Emergencies (EKSAFE) and amend the statute relating to the West Kentucky State Aid Funding for Emergencies (WKSAFE) and provide relief to Eastern Kentucky school districts impacted by the flooding emergency.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little announced a special session starting September 1, focusing on education funding and cutting taxes.

During the special session, legislators will debate a bill that features the largest tax cut and investment in education funding in the state’s history.

This special session comes on the heels of Idaho’s historic surplus, one that has the possibility of creating $2 billion.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

A lobbyist activity report for the month of September will be due October 15.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson called a special session of the Legislature beginning September 6 to pass income tax credits and agricultural tax credits.

Parson hopes the special session will end quickly and a bill containing his proposal could clear the Senate and be sent to the House by the veto session, scheduled for September 14.

Arkansas lawmakers adjourned from their special session on August 11.

Legislation passed includes an expedited process for corporate and individual tax cuts.

The Legislature also approved an appropriation of $50 million for a school safety grant.

This does affect lobbying reporting.

The August special session triggered a lobbyist activity report due September 10.

Gov. Eric Holcomb called a special election to be held for Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District on November 8 to fill the vacancy created by the death of U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski following a tragic car accident on August 3.

Due to the timing of the vacancy, the state committee of each political party will select a candidate to be placed on the ballot by August 26.

The Massachusetts Legislature adjourned its formal session August 1 after a historic 23-hour session.

Before adjourning, lawmakers passed laws legalizing sports betting, expanding mental health care, and overhauling regulations related to recreational marijuana.

The Legislature will continue to meet in informal sessions where non-controversial issues may be considered and approved by a voice vote.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

A former Illinois attorney who lives in Texas and two PACs have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Chicago challenging the recently passed restrictions on political contributions on judicial candidates.

The lawsuit argues that the prohibitions on a candidate political committee established to support or oppose a candidate seeking nomination to the Supreme Court, Appellate Court, or Circuit Court from accepting contributions from any entity that does not disclose the identity of those who make contributions to the entity, and from accepting contributions from any out-of-state person violate free-speech rights established in the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Citizens United decision, which opened the door to unlimited political contributions.

Filed by the conservative Liberty Justice Center on behalf of John Matthew Chancey, Fair Courts America and Restoration PAC three months before an election for two state Supreme Court races, the lawsuit asks the federal court to grant a preliminary injunction blocking the restrictions and to overturn them as unconstitutional.

An Arizona campaign finance bill passed that amends reporting requirements for political action committees and political parties.

Senate Bill 1355 provides for a calendar quarter without an election, a political action committee and political party must file a quarterly report no later than the third Monday in the month after the calendar quarter.

Previously the report was due the 15th day after the calendar quarter.

The bill takes effect September 24.

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) of California voted to allow contributions to political candidates in cryptocurrency.

Until now, contributions made in cryptocurrency were banned under all circumstances.

Under the new regulation, the contribution must immediately be converted into dollars upon making the contribution and the cryptocurrency must be processed through an exchange registered with the U.S. Department of Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

An exchange is the marketplace where cryptocurrency is converted to different types of tender, including USD and the exchange can charge transaction fees.

The limits on cryptocurrency are the same as any non-cash contribution.

When reporting cryptocurrency contributions, the amount of the contribution is the fair market value of the cryptocurrency at the time the exchange obtains possession of the contribution and any amounts charged or withheld by the exchange must be reported by the committee as expenditures at the time the fees are deducted or charged.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has called for a special session in August to discuss possible tax cuts.

The previously estimated Arkansas budget surplus for the 2022 fiscal year of $1.4 billion grew to a record $1.6 billion.

The special session will be held the week of August 8.

This affects lobbyist reporting.

Lobbyists who are registered to lobby the General Assembly are required to file a monthly report for any month the General Assembly is in session.

The report will be due August 10, which is 10 days after the month of the session.

King County, WA has approved an amendment to the King County Charter to be sent to the voters during the November 8 election.

The amendment moves elections for county executive, county assessor, county director of elections, and county councilmembers from odd-number years to even-numbered years starting in 2026.

There will be an election held in 2023 for the county assessor, county director, and even-numbered district councilmembers.

The county executive and odd-numbered district councilmembers will be elected in 2025 before moving to even-numbered year elections in 2026.

The Tallahassee Commission on Ethics introduced an ordinance to change lobbying rules including a repeal of quarterly compensation reporting and a requirement for lobbyists to begin registering individually rather than by firm.

The commission also adopted a 10-year ban on lobbying for certain felons and a fee resolution raising the current registration fee from $25 to $500.

Ordinance 22-O-20 is scheduled for a second reading and public hearing on September 7.

If passed, the new rules will become effective January 1, 2023.