Following a nearly two-and-a-half-month interruption, the Iowa Legislature adjourned the 88^th General Assembly sine die on Sunday after a marathon overnight debate.

This debate ends a two-week session shortened by the coronavirus pandemic and recent protests.

In addition to the passing the budget, the session included action to protect businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits, address police misconduct, and change rules regarding election procedures.

The Alaska Supreme Court unanimously ruled an election reform initiative can appear on the November Ballot.

The court upheld a lower court decision confirming the legality of a proposed ballot measure.

This will be imposing ranked choice voting, nonpartisan primary elections, and tough new rules on campaign finance disclosure.

In August of 2019, Attorney General Kevin Clarkson released an opinion stating the election reform initiative was unconstitutional under the single subject rule.

On his advice, the Division of Elections attempted to block the Better Elections committee from gathering signatures to put the issue on the ballot.

However, Superior Court Judge Yvonne Lamoureux ruled Clarkson’s analysis was incorrect.

Additionally she ordered the state to issue signature booklets and continue the certification process as the state appealed to the Supreme Court.

If approved by voters, the ballot measure would require additional reporting requirements for large donations to political campaigns.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert is targeting a special session from June 18 to June 19 to adjust next fiscal year’s budget in response to COVID-19.

A plan is underway to allow lawmakers the option of attending virtually.

The day prior to the special session, legislators will get new revenue estimates during a meeting of the Executive Appropriations Committee.

It is not known how the budget numbers will look, but they will be drastically different from the more than $900 million in excess revenue lawmakers used to set this year’s fiscal budget.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

The Mississippi Legislature has adopted a resolution to once again extend the legislative session.

The resolution initially called for the session to be extended until December 31.

However, a Senate amendment was passed setting the date for adjournment sine die on October 10.

The resolution calls for the Legislature to now reconvene for six days in October.

The Legislature will consider matters regarding any additional funds appropriated by the U.S Congress to the state for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The session was previously extended from May 10 to July 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Tim Walz called a special session which will begin June 12.

The primary purpose of the session will be to extend the COVID-19 peacetime emergency by 30 days, making sure the state can quickly respond to the pandemic.

The House and Senate adjourned sine die on May 18, marking the end of the 2020 legislative session.

However, unfinished business and recent protests have added to the agenda.

Walz is obligated by law to call a special session for the Legislature to approve the emergency declaration.

Although, the length of the session will be determined by the Legislature.

The Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission passed an emergency regulation and provided guidance on a passed bill.

This bill passed amends registration requirements for executive agency lobbying.

Effective July 1, Senate Bill 157 requires the initial registration statement to include compensation paid to, or received by, each executive agency lobbyist, employer, and real party in interest as part of the engagement.

The emergency regulation provides the procedures for filing lobbyist forms and includes changes to the lobbyist forms.

In addition, electronic fillable forms and instructions will be posted on the commission’s website soon.

In the regular reminder notices, the new forms and revisions will also be addressed.

Each lobbyist, employer and real party in interest receives these notices.

All initial registration and updated registration statements must now be submitted using the 2020 revised forms.

Additionally, a credit card payment app will be available starting July 1.

The commission also extended the filing period deadline for the required updated registration filing forms and registration fee payment from July 31 to August 31 due to COVID-19.

The Hawaii Legislature will resume its session on June 22 to address budget issues, COVID-19, and police discipline measures.

The Legislature previously recessed on May 22 after passing legislation storing more than $1 billion in the general fund.

Now lawmakers will need to pass a balanced budget of approximately $413 million for the fiscal year.

In terms of law enforcement reform, lawmakers will consider a proposal to require police to intervene when they see their fellow officers involved in potentially unlawful situations.

The legislative session is expected to adjourn sine die on July 10.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

After 17 years of service representing District 15, Sen. Gary Jackson has announced his resignation effective June 30, citing growing health concerns.

Jackson was met with a standing ovation following his announcement on the Senate Floor.

Furthermore, a special election to fill Jackson’s seat for the remainder of his term ending in 2024 will be scheduled.

The Kansas Legislature adjourned its special session on June 5 after passing legislation to amend Gov. Laura Kelly’s emergency powers.

House Bill 2054 provides oversight on the governor’s ability to distribute federal aid and close businesses for longer than 15 days at a time. It also gives the Kansas Board of Education the power to close schools.

The bill further prevents the governor from using emergency powers to seize ammunition.

Additionally, the bill limits the sale of firearms during a declared state of emergency, including for COVID-19.

The measure has been sent to the governor’s desk for signature.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly has canceled legislative sessions for the week of June 8 to June 12.

In addition, the Joint Legislative COVID-19 Emergency Spending Task Force is expected to meet on Tuesday, June 9.

The meeting will be televised and live streamed online here.

Both chambers of the General Assembly are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 16.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Louisiana lawmakers called themselves into a 30-day special session that began on June 2, immediately following the adjournment of the regular session.

The special session agenda focuses on piecing together a more than $30 billion operating budget for the financial year that begins on July 1.

The session will also center on tax credit considerations, exemptions, and suspensions for businesses that were forced to reduce operations since March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and Speaker of the House David Ralston announced the Georgia General Assembly will resume its 2020 legislative session on June 15.

The General Assembly’s session has been on pause since March 13 due to COVID-19 concerns.

Upon reconvening, a key issue will be the state budget.

Gov. Brad Little appointed Aaron von Ehlinger to fill the Idaho House District 6 seat until November’s general election.

The appointment was made one day after von Ehlinger challenged incumbent Rep. Thyra Stevenson, and won the Republican primary for the seat.

However, Stevenson passed away on May 11 following a heart attack.

She remained on the Republican primary ballot because it was too late to change forms.

The 6th Legislative District Republican Central Committee nominated von Ehlinger and two others as potential picks following the passing of Stevenson.

Von Ehlinger will now be the incumbent in the November general election, where he is running unopposed.

After a prolonged standoff with the state’s Democratic governor, President Donald Trump says Republicans will seek another state instead of North Carolina to hold its August convention.

Gov. Roy Cooper rejected a proposal for a full convention and insisted on scaling back the event due to uncertainty as to what the status of the COVID-19 pandemic will be in August.

Several other locations are expected to or have already expressed interest in hosting the event, but the GOP is still weighing its options for the event.