Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill concerning certification of the level of foreign national ownership for corporations participating in state elections.

Senate Bill 6152 requires a certification from each corporation making a contribution to the candidate, political committee, or incidental committee stating the corporation’s ownership comprises less than 50% foreign nationals.

The bill becomes effective June 11, 2020.

The Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) advises required companies to file Business Entity Disclosures (FORM BE) as soon as possible if they are currently operational or otherwise able to file by the deadline, March 30.

ELEC will provide a grace period for any business entities during their period of closure if a business is affected by the current public health emergency.

To receive the grace period business entities may send a request by email to efiling@elec.nj.gov is required.

The request must indicate the business entity and the duration of the closure if known.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed the coronavirus response bill on March 27 eliminating in-person voting for almost everyone who has not previously voted in the presidential and state primary elections.

All voting will now be replaced with extended mail-in voting.

House Bill 197 voids Directive 2020-06, issued by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, moving the Ohio presidential and state primary election to June 2.

The bill requires the Office of Secretary of State to send a postcard to every registered voter, notifying them of the procedures to obtain an application for an absentee ballot and the procedures and deadline to return it.

Registered voters who have not already cast a ballot in the March 17 primary election, or in any special election held on the day of the primary election, may vote using an absentee ballot.

In person voting is only available for certain disabled voters and voters who are unable to receive mail.

All applications must be received by April 28 or postmarked on or before April 27 and received by mail not later than May 8.

For the purpose of the campaign contribution limits, the date of the 2020 primary election is March 17.

However, the statements of contributions and expenditures required to be filed after the primary election must be filed not later than 4:00 p.m. on June 5.

The bill is effective immediately.

Lawmakers have extended the postponement of the legislative session to contain the spread of COVID-19.

General Assembly sessions and committee hearings for the week of March 30 to April 3 have been canceled.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Connecticut General Assembly leaders announced legislative business will be postponed for another two weeks until April 13.

The legislative session was originally postponed until March 30, but since the last announcement one legislator has tested positive for COVID-19.

Lawmakers will reassess the situation the week of April 6 with the possibility of canceling the rest of the session.

This does not immediately affect lobbyist reporting.

On March 25, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 422 to move the state general and presidential primary election from April 28 to June 2.

Lawmakers passed the postponement due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

Additionally, Gov. Tom Wolf has indicated his support for rescheduling the election and is expected to sign the bill into law.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) is allowing a 60-day extension for those required to file a 2019 annual Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700).

This two-month extension means forms normally due on April 1, 2020, will be accepted by the FPPC as timely until June 1.

The extension will apply to all officials required to file in April.

The FPPC intends to formally ratify this extension at its April 2 special meeting.

Due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the Office of State Ethics announced a 30-day grace period for first quarter client lobbyist reports due on April 10.

Any client lobbyist unable to meet the April 10 deadline will have until May 10 to file their lobbyist activity reports.

During the public health emergency, the ethics office is available remotely and response times may be delayed.

Questions may be sent to lobbyist.ose@ct.gov.

Individuals and businesses in California are coming to the aide of those in need through donations of money and supplies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

In many instances, elected officials are instrumental in raising donations for these purposes, whether for charitable or government organizations.

In doing so, an elected official should be aware of and may be required to file a behested payment report.

The current statewide shelter-in-place order, closure of government offices, and various other circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic may make it difficult to file these reports on time.

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) encourages elected officials to make best efforts to timely file behested payment reports.

If circumstances caused by the pandemic inhibit an official’s ability to file reports, the official should communicate these issues to their agency and document all attempts to file and the issues faced.

If an official makes best efforts to comply with the Political Reform Act’s behested payment reporting rules but is unable to do so due to the pandemic, the FPPC will consider this a strong mitigating factor in determining whether an enforcement action against the official is appropriate.

On Tuesday March 24, Gov. John Carney announced a sixth modification to his state of emergency declaration due to COVID-19.

The order postpones Delaware’s presidential preference primary from April 28 to June 2, and any elections for school board members scheduled for May 12 to June 16.

Additionally, local elections to be conducted before May 15 are to be rescheduled by the municipality.

Under the order, the terms of existing officeholders continue until the results for any rescheduled elections are certified.

Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to sign a coronavirus response bill passed by legislators.

The bill includes a provision to extend absentee balloting till April 28 for the presidential and state primary elections.

The state’s Health Department postponed in-person voting originally scheduled for March 17 in response to COVID-19 concerns.

House Bill 197 cancels the rescheduled date of June 2 and instructs Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office to send a postcard to every registered voter in the state to notify them of methods to obtain an application for an absentee voter’s ballot.

The bill does not require an absentee ballot request actually be mailed to every voter.

An extremely limited group of voters will be able to vote in-person on April 28.

This includes disabled voters and those without a home address, but for most people, the option is not available.

The Wisconsin Ethics Commission will work from home beginning March 25, 2020 through April 24, 2020, to comply with Emergency Order #12 issued by the Department of Health Services on March 24.

As of today, the Commission is still receiving mail daily and will continue to accept filings by mail.

Documents may be hand delivered by appointment only.

For an appointment, please email ethics@wisconsin.gov.

Despite restricted public access to the office, the Wisconsin Ethics Commission continues to operate normally.

Committees can register and required campaign finance reports can be filed online at https://cfis.wi.gov.

Lobbyists and principals can process licensing and registration, pay fees, and file reports online at https://lobbying.wi.gov.

For questions concerning campaign finance, please email CampaignFinance@wisconsin.gov and for questions concerning lobbying, please email ETHLobbying@wisconsin.gov or lobbying@wi.gov.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order extending vote-by-mail for three upcoming elections.

The order comes as part of government efforts to protect public health and combat the spread of coronavirus.

Under the executive order, county election officials are to distribute vote-by-mail to all voters eligible to participate in the special elections.

The elections include the special election for the 28th Senate District, a runoff election for the 25th Congressional District, and a special recall election held in the city of Westminster.

In addition to calling for changes to the way the upcoming special elections are conducted, the governor’s order also extends the deadlines for the ballot counting, tabulation and other responsibilities related to California’s presidential primary election for 21 days.

This will allow for the implementation of appropriate social distancing measures.

On Monday, Alaska became one of the most recent states to alter presidential primary plans due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Alaska Democratic Party canceled in-person voting in the state scheduled for April 4.

Additionally the party expanded the ability to vote by mail by extending the deadline to mail in ballots from March 24 to April 10.

The Alaska Republican Party also announced its Republican state convention, scheduled for April 2-4 will convene electronically.