Wichita City Council introduced an ethics proposal to establish gift restrictions for elected and appointed city officials.

Proposal 2021-01-26 would cap the value of gifts Wichita’s mayor and City Council members may receive from people doing or planning to do business with the city at $150 a year and require disclosure of gifts worth $50 or more.

The proposal would also establish a whistleblower hotline with protections for those who want to report a violation, and an ethics advisory board to be appointed by the mayor and council to handle complaints against the mayor, council members or any members of city boards or commissions.

Penalties for violations of the proposed code of ethics would result in a fine between $100 and $1,000 for each violation.

Council members will hold a workshop on the ordinance April 27 and vote on the proposal in May.

Rep. Steve Stivers announced he is resigning from Congress on May 16 to become the president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

Stivers has been representing Ohio’s 15th Congressional District since 2011 and had been viewed as a potential candidate to run for the seat held by retiring Republican Sen. Rob Portman.

A decision on when to hold the special election for Congressional District 15 will be made by Gov. DeWine and has not been announced.

Voters in Ohio’s 11th Congressional District will choose the successor to former Rep. Marcia Fudge in a special primary on August 3 and the special election on November 2.

The Missouri House voted unanimously today to reject the resignation of Rep. Rick Roeber.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers argued the House Ethics Committee should complete its investigation into allegations Roeber sexually and physically abused his children.

Three adult children of Roeber publicly alleged that in 1990 he molested his adopted daughter when she was 9 years old.

Despite the allegations, which became public more than a month before Election Day, Roeber defeated his Democratic opponent by 300 votes.

The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation in January.

It was close to completing its work when Roeber announced his resignation on Tuesday, stating he had to step down because he was moving out of the district.

The committee plans to issue its report next week.

The Chesapeake City Council, on a vote of 5-4, rejected an ordinance moving mayoral, City Council, and School Board elections from even-numbered years to odd-numbered years.

The ordinance was introduced in response to the passage of Virginia’s Senate Bill 1157 that requires local elections to be conducted in November rather than May.

Proponents of the ordinance cited concerns about local issues being overshadowed by national issues, while opponents point to higher voter turnouts in even-numbered year elections and Virginia’s long history of connections between voter suppression and odd-numbered year elections for reasons to reject the proposed shift.

The Colorado Secretary of State will host a rulemaking hearing April 19 on proposed amendments to Colorado Secretary of State Rules Concerning Lobbyist Regulation (8 C.C.R. Section 1505-8).

The proposals amend the definition of redistricting commission lobbyist as a person who is contracted or compensated to communicate directly or indirectly, including through providing public comment.

The proposal further provides such communication would be with a member of a redistricting commission as a whole, with an individual member of a redistricting commission, or with redistricting commission staff, to advocate for the adoption or rejection of any map, amendment to a map, or to otherwise aid or influence such redistricting commission, commissioner, or staff.

The hearing will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will conclude at the end of public comment.

Gov. Brad Little signed a bill amending reporting requirements for independent expenditures.

House Bill 104 requires reporting of the identity of the candidate or measure and whether the expenditure was made in support of or in opposition to the candidate or measure.

The bill becomes effective July 1.

Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill revising campaign finance reporting deadlines for municipal candidates and political committees.

House Bill 71 amends the reporting dates for a political committee participating in odd-year municipal elections to the 30^th of June, July, August, September, October, and November of the election year.

The bill became effective when signed on April 8.

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 12.

Key enacted legislation included the $1 billion pandemic relief enacted with Gov. Larry Hogan’s approval and sweeping police reform measures enacted despite Hogan’s veto.

Additionally, a hotly debated immigrants’ rights bill aimed at making Maryland a sanctuary state was also passed, but it is expected to be vetoed by Hogan.

On April 9, the Philadelphia Board of Ethics announced the 2021 lobbying training schedule.

The virtual lobbyist training covers the basic requirements of the city’s lobbying law for lobbyists, lobbying firms, and principals.

The training will also cover the process of registering and filing expense reports with the Board of Ethics through the Philadelphia Lobbying Information System (PLIS).

Currently, it is not mandatory to attend one of the 2021 lobbying trainings.

Registration for the lobbying training may be accomplished at http://bit.ly/BOELobbyTraining.

All trainings will be held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. via Zoom on April 20, July 9, and October 14.

More dates may be added at a later time and dates are subject to change.

Questions regarding the schedule or training may be directed to the Board of Ethics at Lobbying@phila.gov or BOE.Training@phila.gov.

The West Virginia Legislature adjourned sine die on April 10 after passing the $4.5 billion state budget.

Other major bills passed include establishing an intermediate court of appeals, COVID-19 liability protections, and the very controversial prohibition of transgender student-athletes from playing in single-sex sports.

Governor Jim Justice will have up to 15 days to sign or veto the session’s passed legislation.

A bill to shine light on dark money groups is the latest attempt to ensure better transparency in Ohio’s political spending.

House Bill 13 would end an exception for nonprofit 501(c)(4) groups who are currently not required by Ohio law to disclose who funds them.

While these nonprofits are to promote general social welfare and cannot spend a majority of resources on political activity, there is opportunity for flouting the rules, allowing dark money groups to influence elections without being publicly exposed.

House Bill 13 would require disclosure of donations to the nonprofit meant to influence elections, but would allow groups to separate their accounts to limit such disclosures.

The Virginia General Assembly held the annual veto session on April 7.

While Gov. Northam issued no vetoes to passed legislation, the reconvened session focused on the several dozen amendments recommended by Northam.

Approved amendments included a contentious acceleration of the marijuana legalization plan and several changes to the budget bill.

The Wyoming Legislature adjourned sine die on April 7 after passing an increase to lobbying fees.

House Bill 148 raises the annual registration fee from $25 to $75.

Fees for individuals receiving $500 or less in compensation increases from $5 to $10.

The bill becomes effective July 1.

The Maine Legislature adjourned sine die Tuesday, March 30.

During the session, the Ethics Commission proposed Legislative Document 670 to increase the annual registration fees for lobbyists from $200 to $250 and lobbyist associates from $100 to $125.

The bill would have raised lobbyist registration fees for the first time in over 20 years but did not pass in the first regular session.

The Legislature also scheduled a special session to convene on April 28 regarding a proposed supplemental budget.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

A registered lobbyist is required to file monthly reports beginning the month they register through the lobbying year.

However, after the legislative session is concluded, if the lobbyist anticipates no further lobbying for a client, the lobbyist may file a request for a non-session waiver with their final monthly report for the session.