The threshold amount a lobbyist can earn to trigger lobbyist registration in Montana will increase.

The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices received approval for this increase to take place.

The threshold amount for 2021 is $2,650, effective January 1, 2021.

New Mexico lobbyists and lobbyist employers may begin registering and paying their registration fees in the new Campaign Finance Information System available at: https://login.cfis.sos.state.nm.us/#/index.

Both lobbyists and lobbyist employers will be required to register and create an employer/employee relationship to comply with the new system.

To help with the new system, the Secretary of State’s Office will hold live, online webinar classes with a thorough overview and demonstrations.

Morning and afternoon sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. beginning Monday, December 14 through Wednesday, December 16.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the special election dates for the Senate District 14 seat previously held by Sen. Cam Ward.

The special primary election will be held on March 30, 2021, with a runoff on April 27, if necessary.

In addition, the general election will be held on July 13.

Ward left the office to accept an appointment as director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.

Cincinnati City Councilman Alexander “P.G.” Sittenfeld is the second councilman suspended in a process initiated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost after being arrested on federal bribery charges.

Sittenfeld voluntarily agreed to the temporary suspension without objection.

Additionally, Hamilton County Probate Court Judge Ralph “Ted” Winkler will appoint his temporary replacement next week.

Sittenfeld’s third term on council began in 2018 and ends at the end of 2021. 

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission will hold a regular meeting and public hearing on December 11 to consider lobbying and campaign finance rule changes.

Amendment 2021-01 would modify ethics rules applicable to candidate committees formed for elections held prior to January 1, 2015 by providing a mandatory dissolution date, modifying uses of surplus funds and treatment of debt of those committees, and providing a repeal of ethics rules applicable to candidate committees formed for elections held prior to January 1, 2015.

Amendment 2021-02 would include “informational materials” as gifts by lobbyists, legislative liaisons, and lobbyist principals. If approved, both the campaign finance and lobbying amendments would become effective May 28, 2021.

The Arizona Legislature will close for a week “out of an abundance of caution” after Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump’s personal attorney, possibly exposed several Republican lawmakers to COVID-19.

Giuliani had tested positive for the virus less than a week after the former New York City mayor visited Arizona as part of a multistate tour aimed at contesting 2020 election results.

Giuliani had spent more than 10 hours discussing election concerns with Arizona Republicans, including two members of Congress and at least 13 current and future state lawmakers.

The Alaskan Independence Party and two Anchorage residents are suing the state of Alaska to overturn Ballot Measure 2.

This ballot measure is a sweeping election reform initiative installing ranked-choice voting in Alaska’s general elections.

Additionally, the lawsuit claims the measure would violate the rights to free political association, free speech, petition, due process and other rights guaranteed by the Alaska and U.S. constitutions.

Filed against the state of Alaska and the Alaska Division of Elections, the lawsuit requests the measure be nullified and not be used in future elections.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 404 into law, extending expiration dates for licenses issued by state agencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lobbyist registrations set to expire at the end of 2020 will remain active until July 1, 2021.

Any lobbyist who does not plan to continue lobbying activity in 2021 must log in and terminate engagement in OLAC.

The new renewal registration window will open in late spring 2021.

All registered lobbyists will receive follow-up information regarding specific dates from JLEC.

This extension is limited to lobbying engagements registered prior to November 22, 2020.

New lobbyists submit registrations in the usual manner, within 10 days of engagement.

This extension does not affect the deadline for activity and expenditure reports required to be filed electronically in OLAC by Monday, February 1, 2021.

Memphis City Council voted against adopting an ordinance requiring those lobbying the council to register with the city and name their clients.

The ordinance would have required lobbyists to register annually and pay a registration fee of $50.

The ordinance would have also subjected lobbyists to similar reporting requirements of those lobbying the Tennessee General Assembly and the Metro Nashville Council.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced the special election for Virginia’s 90th House of Delegates District will be held on January 5, 2021.

The seat was previously held by Democratic Del. Joseph Lindsey, who resigned last month after being appointed to fill a vacancy on the Norfolk General District Court.

He had served as a delegate for the district since 2014.

Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Pastor was suspended in a process initiated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

Pastor’s suspension comes after he was arrested on federal bribery charges.

This is the first time the city of Cincinnati has used the process through the probate court.

Additionally, Pastor accepted the temporary suspension without objection.

As part of the process, Hamilton County Probate Court Judge Ralph “Ted” Winkler named Cincinnati attorney Steve Goodin as Pastor’s temporary replacement.

Interim Council Member Goodin’s term began immediately after the suspension.

Goodin will continue the term until Pastor’s court case is completed or he is removed from office.

Pastor’s four-year term began in 2018 and ends at the end of 2021.

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) adopted cost of living adjustment regulations amending contribution limits and gift limit amounts.

The newly adjusted contribution limit in effect for candidates for the Senate or Assembly and candidates for elected seats to the Board of Administration of the Public Employees Retirement System for an election occurring during the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022 is now $4,900 per person.

The newly adjusted annual gift limit amount in effect for the period January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, is $520.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) published the second draft of proposed revisions to state lobbying regulations.

JCOPE adopted the revisions on an emergency basis and submitted Notices of Emergency Adoption for each.

The revisions will be effective January 1, 2021; cover lobbying activity in the 2021-22 biennial lobbying period; and be applicable to registrations, bi-monthly reports due March 15, 2021, and client semi-annual reports due July 15, 2021.

Key revisions include changes to the definition of designated lobbyist, direct lobbying activities by volunteers, grassroots lobbying, coalitions, and prohibitions relating to the receipt of stock options as compensation.

Revisions to the source of funding regulations address segregated funds for out-of-state activities and reporting of anonymous contributions.

JCOPE is requesting comments on the revised regulations as soon as possible.

The 45-day comment period runs until December 28, 2020.

Campbell County commissioners appointed Chris Knapp to fill a vacant House seat after Gillette Republican Rep. Roy Edwards died from COVID-19 on November 2.

The commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to appoint Knapp to the House District 53 seat at a special meeting.

Knapp was one of three finalists interviewed during the meeting.