Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea has announced special election dates for Rhode Island House District 56.

The seat became vacant when Rep. Shelby Maldonado, a Providence Democrat, resigned to be Hispanic Outreach Director for the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

Assuming more than one candidate from either major party qualifies for the ballot, the special primary election will be held on Tuesday, February 4.

The general election will be held on Tuesday, March 3.

Two conservative groups are asking a federal judge to strike down Rhode Island campaign finance laws that make them report political advertising and identify donors.

Rhode Island’s Gaspee Project and the Illinois Opportunity Project filed a lawsuit against the Rhode Island Board of Elections in U.S. District Court arguing that paid political messaging not coordinated with a specific campaign is protected free speech that should not be subject to state financial disclosure laws.

The suit claims the disclosure laws regarding campaign contributions are unconstitutional and that revealing the identity of donors can expose them to retribution, making them less likely to donate.

The Rhode Island law requires any group that makes more than $1,000 in independent expenditures not coordinated with a campaign to report them to the Board of Elections, list what candidate or referendum is involved, list all individual donors who gave more than $1,000 that election cycle, and list the top five donors.

Supporters of the disclosure law believe it will survive the challenge because federal courts around the U.S. have upheld similar disclosure provisions.

A special election for the Providence City Council Ward 10 seat has been set for November 5, with a primary on October 8.

Luis Aponte resigned from the Ward 10 seat after pleading no contest to embezzling money from his campaign.

The Board of Elections announced potential candidates must declare their candidacy on August 29 and 30.

Incumbent Gov. Gina Raimondo has easily won reelection, despite a crowded field vying for her office.

Gov. Raimondo faced Republican Allan Fung, three independents, and one minor candidate who was arrested in October for possession of 48 pounds of marijuana.

Despite the crowd, Raimondo still garnered almost 53 percent of the vote, with Fung a distant second at 37 percent.

Raimondo made job creation a priority in her first term. Unemployment has dropped from the highest in the nation to being in step with the national average in her first four years.

Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea has scheduled a special election for April 3, following the resignation of former state Sen. Jamie Doyle.

Doyle, who represented Senate District 8, unexpectedly stepped down from office citing personal reasons stemming from his struggle with alcohol.

A primary election will be held on February 27 if more than one candidate from either party qualifies to run for the empty seat.

Rhode Island lawmakers returned this week to work through legislation abandoned by the General Assembly’s abrupt recess in June amid a budget dispute.

The General Assembly is considering a handful of bills including legislation requiring paid time off for workers who call in sick. There is no recess date planned.

The Legislature is scheduled for final adjournment on January 2, 2018.

A bill introduced in the Rhode Island House earlier this month would prohibit lobbyists from making any political contribution to any member of the General Assembly in any year during the period from January 1 through July 1, unless the Legislature has adjourned its business for the year prior to July 1 of the session year.

House Bill 5036, introduced by Representatives John Lombardi and Raymond A. Hull, amends Rhode Island Revised Statute §22-10, a part of the lobbying law repealed and replaced on January 1, 2017, with the Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act. The Act repealed the lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 of the state’s statutes and enacted a new consolidated code section covering both the legislative and executive branches of government.

The bill is currently in the House Judiciary committee and would take effect upon its passage.

On January 1, the Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act took effect. The Act repeals the lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 in the state’s statutes and enacts a new consolidated code section covering both the legislative and executive branches of government.

Among the changes in the new law are the simplification of lobbyists’ reporting requirements, an increase in penalties for failing to comply with lobbying requirements, and the allowance for more investigative and administrative authority for enforcing the lobbying laws, including administrative subpoena power.

On November 8, Rhode Island voters approved a constitutional amendment giving the Ethics Commission the ability to investigate and prosecute state lawmakers for ethics violations. Question 2, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission Amendment is aimed at deterring unethical behavior in the Legislature and will go into effect January 3, 2017. The amendment requires lawmakers to disclose potential conflicts and tightens rules regarding formal ethics complaints.

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission previously oversaw issues of misconduct in the General Assembly, but lost the authority in a 2009 court ruling.

The constitutional amendment passed 77.7 percent to 22.3 percent with 98 percent of precincts reporting.

On November 9, a public hearing will be held regarding proposed regulations for the new Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act. The hearing will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the State House, Room 313.

Additionally, a public comment period is open until November 27.

Senate Bill 2361 and House Bill 7388, both officially signed into law on June 13, repeal the current lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 in the state’s statutes and enact the new act. Among the changes are the simplification of lobbyists’ reporting requirements, an increase in penalties for failing to comply with lobbying requirements, and the allowance for more investigative and administrative authority for enforcing the lobbying laws, including administrative subpoena power.

The Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act takes effect on January 1, 2017. If passed, the new regulations will take effect on January 2, 2017.

Photo of the Rode Island State Capitol by Garrett A. Wollman on Wikimedia Commons.

On July 19, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted unanimously to bar people from filing ethics complaints 90 days before a general election. The commission still reserved the right to lodge its own internal complaints during the 90-day period.

With this rule, the commission believes it will prevent frivolous complaints, designed to influence elections, from being filed.

In 2016, the moratorium will begin August 10 and last until November 8, the date of this year’s general election.

Today, the 2016 Rhode Island Lobby Reform Act was celebrated at a ceremonial signing during a State House Library ceremony.

“This legislation provides the public with the means to easily discern who is lobbying for what, as well as, giving the Secretary of the State the means to root out those who are undermining the democratic process through unethical lobbying behavior,” said Sen. Lynch Prata, one of the bill’s sponsors, according to a State House press release.

Senate Bill 2361 and House Bill 7388, both officially signed into law on June 13, repeal the current lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 in the state’s statutes and enact the Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act. Among the changes in the bills are the simplification of lobbyists’ reporting requirements, an increase in penalties for failing to comply with lobbying requirements, and the allowance for more investigative and administrative authority for enforcing the lobbying laws, including administrative subpoena power.

The effective date for the two bills is January 1, 2017.

The General Assembly concluded its session and recessed on June 18. Any bills submitted to Gov. Gina Raimondo must be signed or vetoed by June 28. There is no pocket veto.

Photo of the Rode Island State Capitol by Garrett A. Wollman on Wikimedia Commons.

On June 13, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Marie Raimondo signed two bills into law changing the state’s lobbying laws. Senate Bill 2361 and House Bill 7388 both repeal the current lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 in the state’s statutes and enact the Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act.

Among the changes in the bills are the simplification of lobbyists’ reporting requirements, an increase in penalties for failing to comply with lobbying requirements, and the allowance for more investigative and administrative authority for enforcing the lobbying laws, including administrative subpoena power.

The effective date for the two bills is January 1, 2017.