June 9, 2025 •
Oklahoma Ethics Commission Updates Ethics Rules

On June 6, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission announced their updated 2025 Ethics Rules had become available. Some of the changes in the updates include increasing the meal expenditure limit for lobbyists or legislative liaisons from $500 to $750; eliminating the […]
On June 6, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission announced their updated 2025 Ethics Rules had become available.
Some of the changes in the updates include increasing the meal expenditure limit for lobbyists or legislative liaisons from $500 to $750; eliminating the requirement of attendance at events by lobbyists, liaisons, or lobbyist principals when associated with a permissible gift; and increasing the permissible anonymous political contribution from $50 to $200. Additionally, the rules clarify that political contributions are prohibited by or from foreign nationals in connection with any state or local campaign. This prohibition includes advances of personal funds; contributions or donations made to political party committees and organizations; state or local party committees for the purchase or construction of an office building fund; and contributions or disbursements to make electioneering communications.
The rules also include a modified blackout period for campaign finance complaints and an incorporation of Senate Bill 890, which moves all political subdivision campaign finance reporting and compliance requirements to the Ethics Commission beginning on November 1, 2025.
The 2025 Annotated Ethics Rules and the 2025 Ethics Laws document, which is a compilation by the commission of the state’s constitutional provisions, statutes, and ethics Rules, are usually updated annually in July. This year, both documents were updated and became effective on June 1. The rules have the full weight of law in Oklahoma as they are adopted and published in accordance with state law.
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June 6, 2025 •
Illinois Legislature Adjourns

The 104th General Assembly adjourned May 31, with the veto session and possible special session yet to be scheduled. Lawmakers approved more than 430 bills, including the state budget, but failed to approve a comprehensive transportation bill jeopardizing Illinois transit […]
The 104th General Assembly adjourned May 31, with the veto session and possible special session yet to be scheduled. Lawmakers approved more than 430 bills, including the state budget, but failed to approve a comprehensive transportation bill jeopardizing Illinois transit systems with expected cuts, layoffs, and service disruptions. Transit officials and union groups were pushing for lawmakers to approve more funding to avoid such a financial cliff.
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June 5, 2025 •
Georgia to Hold Special Election

Gov. Brian Kemp has called for a special election in Senate District 21 to replace former Sen. Brandon Beach. He resigned from his seat after he was appointed U.S. treasurer by President Trump. The election is set for August 26 […]
Gov. Brian Kemp has called for a special election in Senate District 21 to replace former Sen. Brandon Beach. He resigned from his seat after he was appointed U.S. treasurer by President Trump. The election is set for August 26 with the possibility of a runoff.
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June 4, 2025 •
Texas Legislature Adjourns Sine Die

The 89th Texas Legislature adjourned sine die on June 2. Lawmakers passed various bills related to lobbyists. House Bill 119 requires registration for lobbying on the behalf of a foreign adversary and prohibits compensation for lobbying activities on the behalf […]
The 89th Texas Legislature adjourned sine die on June 2. Lawmakers passed various bills related to lobbyists. House Bill 119 requires registration for lobbying on the behalf of a foreign adversary and prohibits compensation for lobbying activities on the behalf of a foreign adversary. Another passed bill, Senate Bill 2781, establishes a penalty for political contributions or political expenditures made or authorized in violation of the prohibition on lobbyist contributions. If approved by Gov. Abbott both bills will be effective September 1.
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June 4, 2025 •
Virginia to Hold Congressional Special Election

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has called for a special election in U.S. House District 11 to replace Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, who passed away on May 21. The election will be held on September 9. Do you know if your activities are defined as lobbying? We […]
Gov. Glenn Youngkin has called for a special election in U.S. House District 11 to replace Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, who passed away on May 21. The election will be held on September 9.
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June 3, 2025 •
Nevada Legislature Adjourns Sine Die

The 83rd Nevada Legislature adjourned sine die on June 3. During the session, a couple of bills passed relating to the state’s campaign finance law. Assembly Bill 73 requires certain communications with synthetic media to contain a specified disclosure. Assembly Bill […]
The 83rd Nevada Legislature adjourned sine die on June 3. During the session, a couple of bills passed relating to the state’s campaign finance law. Assembly Bill 73 requires certain communications with synthetic media to contain a specified disclosure. Assembly Bill 79 revises various aspects of the campaign finance law and establishes a contribution limit of $5,000 for a special election other than a recall election. This contribution limit is applicable regardless of the number of candidates for the office, or whether the special election is held on the same day as a primary election or general election. Both bills have been sent to the governor, and if signed become effective January 1, 2026. This does affect lobbying reporting. The termination and final report is due July 3.
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The Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted to initiate the formal rulemaking process to amend the state Code of Ethics Gift Rule. Proposed amendments include restricting registered lobbyists from giving gifts to state officials and employees and increasing maximum allowable gift […]
The Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted to initiate the formal rulemaking process to amend the state Code of Ethics Gift Rule. Proposed amendments include restricting registered lobbyists from giving gifts to state officials and employees and increasing maximum allowable gift values. The commission will now prepare amended regulations and file a notice of proposed rulemaking for public comment with the Office of Secretary of State. The public comment period will last for a minimum of 30 days before a vote to adopt the finalized amendments will take place.
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June 2, 2025 •
Oklahoma Legislature Adjourns Sine Die

The First Regular Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature adjourned sine die on May 30. During the session, a bill passed amending the provisions of the Local Government Campaign Finance and Financial Disclosure Act to place municipal political committee campaign […]
The First Regular Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature adjourned sine die on May 30. During the session, a bill passed amending the provisions of the Local Government Campaign Finance and Financial Disclosure Act to place municipal political committee campaign expenditures and contributions under the authority of the Ethics Commission. Another passed bill amends the law to allow county purchasing agents to select the next lowest and best bidder from the list of qualified bidders if the original bidder is unable to provide service. Bidders will be considered at or below the amount they originally bid. A separate bill passed amending the law to eliminate the requirement for a vendor to be authorized by a state contract in order to work with a board of county commissioners to establish an online bidding process.
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May 30, 2025 •
Maine Legislature Passes Bill Amending Contribution Limits

Flag of Maine
The Maine Legislature passed a bill increasing contribution limits for unenrolled candidates nominated by petition. Currently, both unenrolled candidates and party candidates nominated by election have the same contribution limits. Under Legislative Document 390, contribution limits for candidates who are […]
The Maine Legislature passed a bill increasing contribution limits for unenrolled candidates nominated by petition. Currently, both unenrolled candidates and party candidates nominated by election have the same contribution limits. Under Legislative Document 390, contribution limits for candidates who are unenrolled are doubled, while contribution limits for candidates nominated by primary elections remain the same. If approved by Gov. Mills, the bill will take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns.
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May 27, 2025 •
Missouri Special Session Scheduled to Begin June 2

Gov. Mike Kehoe called a special session of the Legislature beginning June 2 to consider St. Louis disaster relief; a proposal for the state to help fund new stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals to keep the teams in Missouri; […]
Gov. Mike Kehoe called a special session of the Legislature beginning June 2 to consider St. Louis disaster relief; a proposal for the state to help fund new stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals to keep the teams in Missouri; and other spending items for major capital improvement projects. Under the Missouri Constitution, lawmakers have 60 days to complete work on items in a special session.
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On July 1, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission is scheduled to officially launch a modernized, custom-built filing and disclosure system. The system, called Guardian 2.0, will serve as the online platform for all required disclosures by lobbyists and liaisons, candidate committees, […]
On July 1, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission is scheduled to officially launch a modernized, custom-built filing and disclosure system. The system, called Guardian 2.0, will serve as the online platform for all required disclosures by lobbyists and liaisons, candidate committees, political party committees, PACs, special function committees, and certain state officers and employees.
The commission announced all existing data and filings will be securely migrated to the new system. Current users will be prompted to create new login credentials upon their first login with the new system.
The commission also plans to introduce additional tools and user experience enhancements beginning in late 2025 and into early 2026.
On June 27, at 5:00 p.m. CDT, the current disclosure system will be shut down. After that time, no filings or updates can be made in the old/legacy system.
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May 23, 2025 •
Missouri Legislature Adjourns Sine Die

The first regular session of the 103rd General Assembly adjourned on May 15. Lawmakers passed a total of 67 bills this year, 16 of which were budget bills. Last year’s total was 46. Among the bills awaiting the governor’s signature […]
The first regular session of the 103rd General Assembly adjourned on May 15. Lawmakers passed a total of 67 bills this year, 16 of which were budget bills. Last year’s total was 46. Among the bills awaiting the governor’s signature is Senate Bill 152, banning foreign spending on ballot issue campaigns. The bill also prohibits committees from knowingly receiving, soliciting, or accepting contributions or expenditures from a prohibited source, defined as contributions from or expenditures by a foreign national made with the intent to use such funds to influence an election on a ballot measure. The bill also requires committees to file a certificate declaring no preliminary activity was funded, directly or indirectly, by a prohibited source.
May 23, 2025 •
Minnesota Legislature Adjourns Sine Die

The 94th session of the Minnesota Legislature adjourned sine die on May 19. Lawmakers adjourned on the constitutionally prescribed final day with the budget incomplete. With the next fiscal biennium beginning on July 1, the Legislature must approve all budget […]
The 94th session of the Minnesota Legislature adjourned sine die on May 19. Lawmakers adjourned on the constitutionally prescribed final day with the budget incomplete. With the next fiscal biennium beginning on July 1, the Legislature must approve all budget bills and have them signed by the governor before midnight on June 30 to keep state government open for business. Gov. Walz announced he will call a special session when lawmakers have reached a consensus, but warned pushing the session beyond June 1 would mean state employees have to begin preparing for a possible government shutdown. The House ended its session by choosing not to suspend rules to consider Senate File 856, which would create the Office of the Inspector General.
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Representatives from the Michigan Department of State (MDOS), Tyler Technologies, and the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) testified at a joint committee hearing regarding issues with the Michigan Transparency Network (MiTN) platform. MiTN is the state’s new […]
Representatives from the Michigan Department of State (MDOS), Tyler Technologies, and the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) testified at a joint committee hearing regarding issues with the Michigan Transparency Network (MiTN) platform. MiTN is the state’s new consolidated online reporting system for personal financial disclosure, campaign finance, lobbying, and legal defense fund information. The hearing was called after lawmakers had trouble filing their financial disclosure reports and approved a one-month extension for their deadline. MDOS and Tyler Technologies are now working to implement substantial improvements by the filing deadline for candidate committees on July 25. As part of the department’s continuing commitment to transparency, MDOS has launched a new webpage to track existing technical issues, recent fixes, and FAQs for each MiTN module at https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/disclosure/mitn-information.
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State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.