The Hawaii Senate will convene for a third special session on October 28 to consider and confirm District and Circuit Court positions.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a videoconference hearing on October 27 to submit testimony. Decision-making will occur after the convening of the special session and after the measures for Circuit Court positions are formally referred to the Judiciary Committee.

The special session will only address six pending judicial appointments, including nominees for District Court of the Third Circuit, Circuit Court of the First Circuit, Circuit Court of the Second Circuit and of the Third Circuit.

Final Senate votes on the appointments are expected at 11 a.m. October 29.

A lobbyist and employer activity report must be filed if expenditures or contributions are made relating to legislative action considered during the special session. Any such report would be due within 30 days of adjournment sine die of the special session covering the period from May 1 through the adjournment sine die date.

The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned its special session on October 20.

During the three-day session, lawmakers approved bills regarding development and other preparations of the Ford Memphis Regional Megasite project, including the allocation of $884 million from the state’s fiscal surplus.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he intends to call a special session of the Florida Legislature in November.

Though the specific dates have not been set, the session will take up issues regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

West Virginia lawmakers completed their third special session after approving redistricting plans.

In addition to approving new House and Senate districts, the Legislature passed a bill to require employers to allow religious and health exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine requirements.

The Legislature also approved the creation of the Broadband Development Fund.

A special legislative session has been announced by the Wyoming Legislature after a majority of state House and Senate members voted in favor of convening.

The session will begin October 26 and is tentatively scheduled to adjourn on October 28.

The purpose of the special session is to address COVID-19 mandates and “vaccine passports.”

Senate Speaker Randy McNally and House Speaker Cameron Sexton announced the Tennessee Legislature will convene a special session on October 27.

The special session will focus solely on COVID-19 issues including mask and vaccine mandates.

This will be the third special session of 2021.

Gov. Kay Ivey announced a second special session of the Alabama Legislature to convene on October 28.

The purpose of the special session is to undertake the decennial redistricting process.

Gov. Jim Justice has called the West Virginia Legislature back for the third special session of the year to convene on October 11.

In the proclamation, Gov. Justice requested the Legislature take up decennial redistricting, the appropriation of federal funding, and a handful of other issues.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation to convene a second special legislative session on October 28 to consider a second set of maps as part of the redistricting process.

The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA) will release a second set of maps by October 21.

Lawmakers are permitted to reject the first two maps without amendment. This does not affect Alerts reporting.

The Marion Superior Court ruled that the Indiana General Assembly has the authority to convene emergency legislative sessions without the governor’s consent under House Enrolled Act 1123.

Gov. Eric Holcomb filed the lawsuit, claiming the new law was unconstitutional because it impermissibly infringes upon his constitutional authority.

Marion Superior Judge Patrick Dietrick ruled that the General Assembly now has complete authority to set the rules governing the timing of its sessions.

It may extend its session, as it did this year to complete the redistricting process, or enact measures such as HEA 1123, giving it the ability to commence a session limited to a specified agenda.

Gov. Holcomb is expected to appeal the decision.

Ohio’s Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Larry A. Jones Sr. died unexpectedly on October 7, the third sitting judge in Cuyahoga County to die in nine days.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Nancy McDonnell died September 28 and Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Joseph Russo died October 2.

Judge Jones was first elected to the court in 2008, and won re-election to this third term on November 3, 2020.

Under the Ohio Constitution, Gov. DeWine will appoint a temporary replacement until a successor is elected at the general election on November 8, 2022, to fill Judge Jones’ unexpired term which ends February 9, 2027.

The Iowa Legislature adjourned sine die October 5 after a one-day session in which lawmakers voted to reject the redistricting plan and passed a resolution outlining their concerns with the plan to be sent to the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA), which is tasked with drawing the maps.

The LSA has 35 days to submit a new plan addressing lawmakers’ concerns.

After the plan is submitted, Gov. Kim Reynolds is expected to call for another special session so lawmakers can consider it.

This does not affect lobbying reporting.

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office issued guidance related to the registration of part-time in-house lobbyists.

The office clarified that in-house employees of non-lobbying organizations must register as a lobbyist so long as they engage in some lobbying activities on behalf of their employer.

These employees will also need to report the portion of their wages attributed to the time they and any support staff spend on lobbying activities.

Additionally, the employee is required to disclose any expenditures made by their employer in connection with the employee’s lobbying activities.

Employees meeting these criteria will need to file Addendum A, the state’s lobbying fees and expenses form, prior to engaging in lobbying activities.

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission has announced hearings for proposed Oregon Administrative Rule changes to take place on October 18.

The changes seek to clarify various definitions, edit internal references, and update rule language to conform to electronic filing requirements.

Changes will update the process of registration in light of electronic filing; clarify lobbyist registration is not complete until electronically confirmed by the client; and reflect the statutory requirements for lobbyist termination and re-registration.