LobbyComply Blog

The Alabama Legislature adjourned sine die on April 9, with a possibility to reconvene early for a special session to discuss hotly debated bills. One of these bills is House Bill 541, which would close Alabama primaries and require voters to register a party affiliation to vote. House Bill 214, passed and signed by the governor, prohibits foreign nationals from contributing or donating to any political campaigns, parties, or political action committees within Alabama. 

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The Georgia Legislature adjourned after passing the state budget, which allowed lawmakers to narrowly avoid having to convene again for a special session later in the year. House Bill 369, originally introduced to regulate food trucks, passed as a bill making district attorney elections non-partisan in five specific counties. Any bill passed by both houses goes to the governor’s desk to be signed, vetoed, or become law after 40 days.

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The Mississippi Legislature adjourned after passing the state budget but may reconvene on April 15 unless it is declared unnecessary by the leaders of the House and Senate. Many procurement and political contribution bills died in committee this session. These include a bill that would raise competitive bidding thresholds to $15,000, a change in primary election dates, and prohibition on contributions from foreign nationals. Bills that have passed include raises to teachers’ salaries, changing the structure of public employee’s retirement systems, and natural disaster relief.

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National/Federal

Wealthy Donors Are Hiding Political Money in Secretive Nonprofits

Journal-News – Theodore Schleifer and Steven Rich (New York Times) | Published: 4/3/2026

Increasingly, individuals do not cut big checks to campaigns, donations in which their names would have to be disclosed to the FEC or state regulators. They come more and more from an alphabet soup of patriotic-sounding philanthropic organizations that send hundreds of millions of dollars to PACs but do not have to disclose where the money came from. So-called dark money is not new. But a review of new election filings and internal fundraising documents shows an increase in the use of these shadowy philanthropic groups to raise money on behalf of candidates in federal elections.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Top S.F. Official Who Led Dream Keeper Equity Program Charged with Felonies: ‘Abuse of power’

Yahoo News – St. John Barned-Smith and Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 3/30/2026

Once San Francisco’s most powerful civil rights watchdog, Sheryl Davis continued her fall when she surrendered to authorities to face accusations she misappropriated funds and engaged in “pervasive” self-dealing while leading a landmark initiative meant to benefit the city’s Black community. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins filed a raft of felony financial misconduct charges against Davis, who oversaw the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, and James Spingola, the former chief executive officer of Collective Impact, a nonprofit Davis funded.

Hawaii – Convicted Hawai’i Lawmaker’s Emails Were Deleted When He Left Office

Honolulu Civil Beat – Madeleine Valera | Published: 4/8/2026

Soon after state Rep. Ty Cullen left office, resigning in disgrace due to a bribery scandal, the Hawaii House of Representatives wiped his email account clean, deleting years of messages. What kinds of emails he exchanged with the man convicted of bribing him, Milton Choy, the public may never know. Also unknown is what kinds of conversations, if any, Cullen shared with lobbyist Tobi Solidum, who is believed to be connected to an investigation into $35,000 in a paper bag given to another “influential” lawmaker in 2022.

Kentucky – Lobbying Interests Fund Small Political Nonprofit – and a Republican State Senator

Yahoo News – Tom Loftus (Kentucky Lantern) | Published: 4/3/2026

Since January 2023 a political organization named Kentucky Strong Inc. has paid its executive director, state Sen. Julie Raque Adams, $80,500. In fact, 12 payments to Adams totaling $80,500 were the only expenses reported by the organization in the three-year period ending January 2026. Over roughly the same period, Kentucky Strong was funded exclusively by interests that actively lobby the Kentucky General Assembly.

New York – Blakeman Campaign Denied Matching Funds by Dems on Campaign Board

Yahoo News – Timothy Fanning (Albany Times Union) | Published: 3/31/2026

An arm of the state Board of Elections denied campaign matching funds to Republican Bruce Blakeman and five other New York gubernatorial candidates based on a rule change the agency’s staffers failed to tell anyone about. The Public Campaign Finance Board, where Democrats hold the majority, ruled along partisan lines that Blakeman was ineligible because he did not file the correct paperwork to qualify for a program that allows a candidate to obtain matching taxpayer money if they raise enough money from state residents.

North Carolina – Who Paid to Help Oust NC’s Phil Berger? Voters May Never Now. Here’s Why.

Yahoo News – Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 4/3/2026

Much remains unknown about who funded the race that ended Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger’s more than two decades in the North Carolina Legislature, with voters electing challenger and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page to represent the district by fewer than two dozen votes. A large part of the opacity comes from political advertising by individuals, groups, and nonprofits, many of which are not required to disclose donors. Some of those ads, called electioneering communications, mention a candidate but stop short of explicitly urging voters to support or oppose them, a practice often referred to as issue advocacy.

Ohio – US Supreme Court Overturns PG Sittenfeld Corruption Conviction

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/6/2026

The U.S. Supreme Court granted federal prosecutors’ request to overturn ex-Cincinnati City Councilperson PG Sittenfeld’s corruption conviction, opening the door for a lower court to dismiss his case given that President Trump pardoned him last year. The ruling marks what could be the first time in Supreme Court history that the nation’s high court accepted an appeal from a defendant who had already received a presidential pardon for a criminal conviction.

Rhode Island – Jim Thorsen Wins Fight to Clear His Name of Ethical Misconduct Charges on 2023 Philly Trip

Yahoo News – Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 4/8/2026

Former Rhode Island Director of Administration Jim Thorsen was cleared of all wrongdoing following an ethics trial tied to an infamous business trip to Philadelphia. The state Ethics Commission decided Thorsen’s failure to immediately pay the $133-a-plate meal at Irwin’s in Philadelphia in March 2023 did not constitute knowing, willful, and deliberate flouting of the state ethics code.

Tennessee – Foreign Adversary Lobbyist Bill Sidelined for Session

Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 4/8/2026

Legislation brought by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s administration requiring lobbyists to register when representing foreign adversaries has been derailed for the year. Sen. Adam Lowe, who carried the Senate version of the bill, said the state is trying to identify the influence of foreign money on Tennessee policy but that the methods for identifying that impact are changing.

Washington – Ferguson’s Failure to Fill Seats on WA Campaign Watchdog Panel Incites Recall Bid

Yahoo News – Jerry Cornfield (Washington State Standard) | Published: 4/7/2026

A recall effort is underway against Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson for failing to fill vacancies on the commission that enforces state campaign finance laws. The petition to remove Ferguson from office accuses him of misfeasance and violating his oath of office by not filling two seats on the Public Disclosure Commission within a timeline prescribed in state law. One has been open for nearly all of Ferguson’s term, which began in January last year.

Utah Senate Bill 145, signed by Gov. Spencer Cox on March 17, 2026, amends several provisions of the state’s lobbying laws. The changes are effective May 6, 2026, and address procurement lobbying, contingency fee restrictions, university event expenditures, and de minimis gift thresholds.

What Does Utah SB 145 Change?

SB 145 touches four distinct areas of Utah lobbying compliance. Here is a breakdown of each amendment.

Procurement Lobbying Deregulated for Local and Education Entities

SB 145 removes procurement activities from the relevant lobbying definitions that apply to local government lobbying and board of education lobbying. Under the revised definitions, local and education lobbying generally covers legislative and administrative actions, but does not include  adjudicative proceedings and purchasing and contracting decisions.

This change deregulates local and education procurement lobbying, reducing compliance obligations for those communicating with a public official for the purpose of influencing a purchasing and contracting decision  at the local government and board of education level.

Contingency Lobbying Restrictions Extended

Prior Utah law prohibited hiring a lobbyist for compensation contingent, in whole or in part, upon a specific legislative or executive outcome. SB 145 expands these restrictions to also cover local and educational actions.

Under the updated law, incentivized lobbying is prohibited when a lobbyist’s compensation is tied to:

• A government action occurring, or
• The amount appropriated for a government program

Organizations engaging lobbyists in Utah should review existing compensation structures to confirm they remain compliant under the broadened scope. Learn more on our Lobbying Compliance Consulting page

Broader Event Exemptions for University-Sponsored Events

Expenditure reporting will no longer be required for admission, attendance, and travel to or from the following types of events, provided they are hosted by public or nonprofit higher education institutions:

• Recreational events
• Sporting events
• Artistic performances
• Art exhibitions
• Other artistic events

To qualify for the exemption, the event must occur at the institution, and the purpose of the public official’s attendance must be to build a relationship with the institution.

Previously, such attendance offers were only permitted for public colleges and universities as governmental sponsors. The revision extends the exemption to nonprofit higher education institutions as well.

De Minimis Gift Thresholds Increased

SB 145 raises the threshold for de minimis expenditures that lobbyists may make for public officials without triggering reporting requirements:

Item Category	Previous Threshold	New Threshold
Nonfood items	$10	$25
Publications & commemorative items	$30	$50

The adjustment reflects higher costs for such items and responds to the prior thresholds being found overly restrictive in practice.

When Do the Changes Take Effect?

All amendments under Utah SB 145 take effect May 6, 2026.

Lobbyists and their organizations should audit current practices, particularly around contingency compensation structures, to ensure compliance before that date. Lobbyists interested in making larger value expenditures should review the updates to ensure continued compliance.

For jurisdiction-specific guidance, State and Federal Communications maintains regularly updated online compliance guidebooks covering Utah and other states.

Utah Senate Bill 145 FAQs 

The Hawaii Legislature has fundamentally changed the landscape for government contractors by enacting House Bill 412. Effective January 1, 2027, this law expands the definition of “lobbying” to include certain procurement activities. If your organization pursues state contracts, these changes may require you to register as a lobbyist even if you have never considered your activities to be traditional lobbying.

Understanding the New Definition of Lobbying

Previously, Hawaii law defined lobbying primarily as communicating with officials to influence legislative or executive action or ballot issues. Under the new provisions of HB 412, lobbying now includes:

• Financial Disclosure Personnel: Communications with any person required to file financial disclosure statements with the state regarding the following procurement matters.
  • Contract Solicitation and Awards: Any communication regarding the solicitation or award of a contract by proposal before an administrative agency.
  • Vendor Relationships: Discussions concerning potential future vendor relationships with an administrative agency.

It is important to note that the law specifically excludes communications that are initiated by a legislator or a state employee.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The state has introduced significant penalties to ensure adherence to these transparency requirements. Any contract or action entered into by the state that is found to be in violation of lobbying laws may be voidable within 60 days after a violation is determined. The Attorney General, in coordination with the affected purchasing agency, holds the authority to enforce these penalties.

Determining If You Must Register

Not every vendor interaction will trigger a registration requirement. Registration is typically based on specific thresholds, including:

• The amount of compensation received for lobbying activities.
• The total time spent lobbying during a specific reporting period or calendar year.
• The total expenditures made toward lobbying efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do these procurement lobbying changes actually take effect? While the bill was enacted on May 16, 2025, the expanded definition, specifically targeting procurement and vendor relationships, does not take effect until January 1, 2027. This provides organizations a window to assess their current business development strategies and internal compliance protocols.

Does this mean every sales meeting with a state agency is now “lobbying”? Not necessarily. The law focuses on communications concerning the “solicitation or award of a contract by proposal” or “potential future vendor relationships”. Standard administrative inquiries or communications initiated by the state employee are generally excluded. However, because the line between “sales” and “influence” is now thinner, a formal assessment of your activities is highly recommended.

How can I stay updated on these and other state compliance changes? Rules regarding procurement and lobbying are subject to frequent shifts. For in-house teams who need a reliable reference, our Guidebooks provide up-to-date regional data and statutory summaries. If your organization requires a more tailored approach to navigate these new Hawaii requirements, our Consulting team offers hands-on assistance to ensure your procurement efforts remain compliant and your contracts secure.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced a vacancy in nomination for House District 44 following the death of Rep. Stan Berry on March 23.  A special primary election will be held on June 2 for purposes of the November 3 general election. Election dates to fill the unexpired term of office have not yet been set.

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As we celebrate 25 years of News You Can Use, we are continuing to enhance how we deliver the compliance insights you rely on every day.

News You Can Use will continue to arrive each Friday, now presented in a refreshed format designed to make key developments easier to scan and apply to your compliance program. LobbyComply News Roundup will shift to News You Can Use Special Alerts, issued when any important developments are announced. All other publications will continue as you expect:

1. Compliance NOW and Summary of Changes are delivered monthly.
2. Inside Elections is delivered twice a month.
3. LobbyComply blog is home to all jurisdictional updates and news items.

Our commitment remains unchanged—providing timely, practical intelligence covering lobbying, campaign finance, ethics, and procurement lobbying compliance across federal, state, local, and international jurisdictions.

This evolution allows us to focus on delivering the most relevant and impactful information while ensuring you receive critical updates when they matter most. We are excited about what is ahead and appreciate your continued partnership.

And the best news is Jim Sedor, who has been with News You Can Use from the start, is managing this shift at State and Federal Communications.

Stick with us because we will always keep you up to date.

Thank you,

EB

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The 2026 legislative session adjourned sine die on April 2, after lawmakers passed ethics in procurement and campaign finance bills. Effective immediately, House Bill 889 establishes a vendor debarment process for certain infractions, preventing a bidder from bidding on state projects or services for up to three years. The bill includes a revolving door provision restricting former officials and individuals from working with vendors for one year after leaving public office. Vendors, employees of vendors, or any person working on their behalf must report financial expenditures over $50 related to procurement. House Bill 930 requires all political candidates and political committees to open a separate checking account for the purpose of collecting contributions and paying expenses. Campaign funds must not be commingled with any other account. House Bill 930 was delivered to the governor on April 2, and if signed, will be effective immediately.

National/Federal

After a Year of Trump’s Washington, Private Sector Prepares for Some Democratic Power

MSN – Alex Gangitano and Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) | Published: 3/26/2026

The private sector and their army of lobbyists are preparing for Democrats to seize some control away from President Trump next year. Democrats plan to launch into aggressive oversight mode, investigating a slew of Trump’s actions and how the corporate world treated him, from donations to his ballroom project and his inauguration to drug pricing dealmaking.

House Democrat Violated Ethics Rules, Panel Finds, Putting Her Seat in Jeopardy

MSN – Kadia Goba and Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) | Published: 3/27/2026

Beleaguered Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick violated House ethics rules, a House ethics committee panel said, citing the findings of a years-long investigation into whether she used covid pandemic money to bolster a run for Congress. The vote follows a rare public hearing Thursday, in which members of the ethics committee queried Cherfilus-McCormick’s lawyer about allegations related to her family’s South Florida health care business. The committee’s investigation outlined 27 potential ethics violations.

Trump Attends Supreme Court Arguments Over His Executive Order, a Presidential First

NPR – Rachel Treisman | Published: 4/1/2026

President Trump became the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court when he showed up to watch proceedings in a case challenging one of his executive orders. Barbara v. Trump revolves around an executive order that Trump signed on the first day of his second term, seeking to deny automatic citizenship to babies born in the U.S. to parents who were in the country either illegally or temporarily. It has not gone into effect because multiple lower courts immediately ruled it unconstitutional.

From the States and Municipalities

California – San Jose Mayor Rips Sacramento as Lobbying Audits Nearly Disappear

Hoodline San Jose – Eric Tanaka | Published: 3/30/2026

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan urged state leaders to move auditing California’s influence industry to the top of their to-do list after a media investigation revealed regulators have conducted almost none of the lobbying audits that state law requires. The probe by Bloomberg Government found only five audits of lobbyists or their employers were completed between 2019 and 2025, a tally the outlet said amounts to less than one percent of the checks the Political Reform Act requires.

California – Donations to Gubernatorial Candidate Could Violate California Campaign Rules

MSN – Sophia Bollag (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 3/31/2026

Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco received maximum donations from two closely linked companies that have been run by the same siblings, which could violate California’s campaign finance law. Bianco, who is seeking to replace Gavin Newsom as governor, received $78,400 donations from M&D Development and Downs Energy, the maximum amount allowed for an individual donor. Contributions from companies that are controlled by the same person or people should be aggregated, or treated as contributions from the same donor, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Colorado – Federal Judge Upholds Constitutionality of Colorado Campaign Contribution Limits

Colorado Politics – Michael Karlik | Published: 3/27/2026

A federal judge upheld Colorado’s individual campaign contribution limits as constitutional, finding three Republican plaintiffs failed to prove the framework violates their First Amendment rights. U.S. District Court Senior Judge John Kane wrote Colorado voters legitimately enacted the limits to guard against “quid pro quo” corruption, and they do not prevent political challengers from mounting successful campaigns.

Connecticut – Connecticut Election Officials Say Some Lobbyists Can Donate Despite Foreign Contribution Ban

MSN – Paul Hughes (CT Insider) | Published: 4/1/2026

The State Elections Enforcement Commission ruled in-house lobbyists working for foreign-owned businesses can make personal contributions of their own volition to political campaigns in Connecticut. The commission said a 2024 state law that prohibits foreign nationals from donating or making expenditures generally does not apply to these paid lobbyists.

Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmakers Could Have More Foreign Trips Covered by Outside Groups

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 3/26/2026

Louisiana lawmakers would be able to accept a wider range of international travel paid for by outside groups without having to disclose those trips publicly under new legislation. House Bill 260 would allow nonprofits, political organizations, foreign governments, and others to pay for more international trips for state lawmakers.

New York – 4 Charged in Corruption Investigation Linked to NYC Homeless Shelter Operator

MSN – Jake Offenhartz and Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 3/31/2026

Four people connected to a company hired by New York City to operate homeless shelters were arrested as part of a federal public corruption investigation that is also examining a city council member and a top aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Two leaders of BHRAGS Home Care are accused of stealing more than $1.3 million from the organization, and two subcontractors who the indictment says paid bribes and kickbacks to the men in exchange for contracts. Investigators are also probing whether Councilperson Farah Louis and her sister Debbie Louis, an aide to Hochul, accepted bribes related to the appropriation of city funds to the nonprofit.

Ohio – Jury Deadlocked in FirstEnergy Bribery Trial as Yost Vows to Retry Case

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 3/31/2026

The high-profile bribery trial of two former FirstEnergy executives ended with a hung jury. On the ninth day of deliberations, jurors said they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the trial of former FirstEnergy Chief Executive Officer Chuck Jones and ex-top lobbyist Michael Dowling on charges that accused them of bribing a state regulator who helped draft scandal-marred House Bill 6 in Ohio. Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross stopped short of declaring a mistrial, saying she would make a ruling at a later date.

The Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission decided lobbyists who represent domestic subsidies of foreign principals can make contributions despite the ban on contributions from foreign nationals in Connecticut elections. These lobbyists can make personal contributions if they are using their own funds and their lobbying and political activities are not directed or controlled by a foreign parent company.

Beginning on April 1 and lasting until September 30, 2026, unregistered lobbyists will not face fines for certain violations of British Columbia’s Lobbyists Transparency Act. One of the main goals of the  “temporary fine freeze” is to encourage currently unregistered lobbyists and organizations to register with the province’s Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists. In order to avail oneself of this freeze, a person or organization must not have previously received a fine from the registrar’s office, not have been registered since May 4, 2020, and must be forthcoming with the registrar’s staff about all required information to be submitted into the registry. This freeze does not apply to violations related to the prohibition on lobbying by former public office holders or for previous lobbying performed in connection with a contract for providing paid advice to the government of British Columbia or another provincial entity. The fine freeze is not available to registered lobbyists, to unregistered lobbyists that the registrar believes may have committed flagrant violations of the law, or to unregistered lobbyists attempting to use the temporary fine freeze to delay or obscure transparency.

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger called for a special election in state House District 177 due to the resignation of Rep. Dexter Sharper. The special election is set for May 12, with a runoff election scheduled for June 9 if necessary.

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National/Federal

Super PAC Spending Passes $200M, with Some Groups Hiding Their Cause

MSN – Clara Ence Morse and Dan Merica (Washington Post) | Published: 3/21/2026

The political arm of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee funneled over $5 million to other groups as part of its work to defeat Illinois Democrats critical of Israel in recent U.S. House primaries. The secretive giving is the latest example of how outside groups are obscuring their spending in competitive campaigns. Special interest groups have sometimes tried to veil their spending by using affiliated organizations that appear unrelated to the parent organization’s stated policy goals.

Rubio Testifies Against Friend Accused of Secretly Working for Maduro

MSN – Teo Arnus (Washington Post) | Published: 3/24/2026

Marco Rubio and David Rivera charted a rise in Miami’s famously scrappy politics together. They befriended each other as campaign volunteers in the 1990s and climbed the ranks of local politics side-by-side. As young state legislators they bought a house together near Tallahassee, where they orchestrated Rubio’s rise to Florida House speaker and then launched winning bids to Congress. But the two long-time friends faced each other recently in a different setting: a federal courtroom. Rubio, now the secretary of state, testified as a witness against Rivera, who is accused of serving as an unregistered foreign agent for Venezuela’s socialist government.

The Well-Timed Trades Made Moments Before Trump’s Policy Surprises

MSN – Alexander Osipovich and Jack Pitcher (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 3/25/2026

President Trump has moved markets with sudden shifts in policy, from tariff U-turns to military strikes. On several occasions, unusual trades hit the tape ahead of his announcements. Most recently, there was a mysterious flurry of trading activity in oil and S&P 500 futures about 15 minutes before Trump de-escalated tensions with Iran with a post on Truth Social, which sent oil prices tumbling and stocks rallying.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Doug Ford’s Records-Secrecy Plan Would Hide Top Lawmakers’ Meetings with Lobbyists

Toronto Today – Charlie Pinkerton (The Trillium) | Published: 3/25/2026

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s plan to eliminate the public’s ability to access certain records of the province’s top lawmakers would eliminate the main way to know which lobbyists they met with, and when. The Ford government is planning to introduce legislation to amend the law shaping Ontario’s freedom of information system to end the public’s ability to request the records of the premier, cabinet ministers, parliamentary assistants, and their offices.

California – Pebble Beach Golf, Maui Resorts, European Tours: How special interests woo California lawmakers

MSN – Yue Stella Yu and Jeremia Kimelman (CalMatters) | Published: 3/20/2026

State lawmakers in California took dozens of free trips last year, most sponsored and attended by special interest groups with business before the Legislature. Nearly 120 organizations – including nonprofits, corporations, foreign governments, state agencies, tribes, and campaigns – spent at least $1.2 million on travel for legislators in 2025. The bulk of the tab, $1.1 million, was picked up by nonprofits that are largely allowed to keep their donors secret, leaving the true source of the funding murky.

Florida – Democrat Scores Upset Win in Trump’s Backyard for Florida State House Seat

MSN – Dan Merica (Washington Post) | Published: 3/24/2026

Democrat Emily Gregory won the special election to represent a state House district in Florida that includes President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, a stunning upset that signals Democratic momentum ahead of the 2026 midterms. Gregory, a first-time candidate and fitness business owner, defeated Jon Maples, a Republican endorsed by Trump and aligned with his policies. Mike Caruso, the Republican who vacated the seat to become Palm Beach County clerk and comptroller, won the district by 19 percentage points in 2024.

Mississippi – Supreme Court Appears Ready to Limit Mail-In Balloting Ahead of Midterms

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 3/23/2026

The Supreme Court appeared likely to embrace a conservative challenge to tallying mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, a move that could upend election procedures in states across the country as voters prepare to cast ballots in the midterm elections. A majority of justices seemed ready to side with arguments by Republicans and Libertarians who told the court that federal election law preempts Mississippi from counting ballots that arrive up to five days after polls close as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.

New York – Hundreds of Nonprofits Made Illegal Campaign Contributions in New York

Yahoo News – Emilie Munson (Albany Times Union) | Published: 3/22/2026

In the past decade, hundreds of New York nonprofits, which often are formed to provide integral services to underserved communities, have donated to political campaigns despite federal and state laws that prohibit it, an Albany Times Union investigation found. Roughly two-thirds of those institutions have filed detailed tax documents with the Internal Revenue Service in which they claimed under penalty of perjury they were not involved in politics, an assertion that routinely appears to be left unverified by the government.

Ohio – FirstEnergy Bribery Trial Deliberations Are in Day Six. Experts Say That’s Normal

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 3/26/2026

The jury entered its sixth day of deliberations in the high-profile bribery trial of two former FirstEnergy executives, a timeline that experts say is not unusual for complex cases. The trial began with jury selection on January 27. Testimony lasted six weeks. The jury so far has asked the judge three questions. Former FirstEnergy Chief Executive Chuck Jones and ex-top lobbyist Michael Dowling are accused of bribing state regulator Sam Randazzo with $4.3 million.

Vermont – Bench Press: Judges seeking reappointment turn to lobbyists

Seven Days Vermont – Hannah Bassett | Published: 3/24/2026

Lobbyists are nearly omnipresent at the Vermont Legislature, where they press lawmakers on everything from housing policy to health care. Even judges seeking to keep their seats rely on lobbying, but typically less for persuasion than for explanation, according to people familiar with the process. That distinction is in focus as six Superior Court judges face a retention vote before the full Legislature that will decide whether they can keep their seats on the bench.