Campaign Finance

California: “Oaklanders Voted to Take Money Out of Politics. City Council Just Undid That” by Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) for MSN

Michigan: “‘No One Will Know’: Records reveal secret money flowing through Lansing” by Craig Mauger (Detroit News) for ArcaMax

Elections

New Jersey: “Mikie Sherrill to Face Trump-Backed Jack Ciattarelli for N.J. Governor” by Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

Arkansas: “Arkansas Attorney General Challenges DEI Law by Refusing Ethics Commission Appointment” by Andrew Mobley (KATV) for MSN

California: “Former O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do Headed to Prison for COVID Relief Bribery Scheme” by Christopher Goffard (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

National: “ABC News Suspends Journalist Terry Moran After Post Criticizing Stephen Miller” by Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) for MSN

Michigan: “Ex-Speaker Lee Chatfield, Wife to Stand Trial Over Alleged Misuse of Political Money” by Arpan Lobo (Detroit Free Press) for MSN

Rhode Island: “Ethics Panel Says R.I. Senate President Valarie Lawson Can Lead Chamber Despite Union Day Job” by Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) for Yahoo News

Question: Our company would like to engage in goodwill lobbying. Do we have to register for this activity?

Answer: Goodwill lobbying is a type of lobbying that focuses on communications with legislators and public officials to build positive relationships but not directly advocating for specific legislation or policy changes. Many states require registration for these types of lobbying communications.
In New York, registration is required for goodwill lobbying upon meeting the compensation and expense threshold of expending, incurring, or receiving combined compensation and expenses for the purposes of lobbying in excess of $5,000 in the aggregate during any calendar year. Direct lobbying includes when a person has direct or preliminary contact with a public official to enable or facilitate an attempt to influence. Preliminary contact includes when the lobbyist knows or has reason to know the client will attempt to influence a public official in scheduling a meeting or telephone call with a public official and a client, introducing a client to a public official, or any other contact with a public official on behalf of a client. A person who schedules a meeting or places a call in a purely administrative capacity is not required to be identified as an individual lobbyist; such activity is attributable to the person who directed the call to be made or the meeting to be set up. Anyone, including consultants, who contacts a public official, including preliminary communications to facilitate or enable the eventual substantive advocacy, is engaging in lobbying.
In Pennsylvania, registration is required for goodwill lobbying. Lobbying includes providing any gift, hospitality, transportation, or lodging to a state official or employee for the purpose of advancing the interest of the lobbyist or principal.
In Ohio, registration is not required for engaging in goodwill lobbying provided the individual is not promoting, opposing, advocating, or otherwise influencing legislative, executive agency, or retirement system action. Lobbying registration requirements cannot, however, be avoided simply by never referring by name to a specific legislative bill or executive agency or retirement system decision. If the goodwill activity also includes discussion regarding the generalities within any official action, lobbying registration would be required.
These are just a few examples of goodwill lobbying registrations. We advise you to follow best practices to verify the rules in your jurisdiction.

The information from this response can easily be found on our website in the Lobbying Compliance section of the United States Compliance Laws publication. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions.

Campaign Finance

National: “Judge Tosses Democratic Party Challenge to Trump Order’s Impact on FEC” by Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney (Politico) for MSN

New York: “Cuomo Super PAC Got $2.7 Million From Donors with Business Before the City” by Greg Smith (The City) for MSN

Ohio: “Ohio Senate GOP Budget Bill Would Loosen State’s Ban on Political Spending by Corporations, Unions” by Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Trump Charts New Territory in Bypassing Newsom to Deploy National Guard” by Justin Jouvenal and Alex Horton (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Gabbard Placed Top Adviser Inside the ODNI’s Watchdog Office, Officials Say” by Meryl Kornfield and Ellen Nakashima (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Appeals Court Hands AP an Incremental Loss in Its Attempt to Regain Its access to Trump Events” by David Bauder (Associated Press) for MSN

Louisiana: “As Charges Linger Over Landry, Louisiana Legislature Passes Dramatic Changes to Ethics Law” by Julie O’Donoghue for Louisiana Illuminator

North Dakota: “ND Ethics Commission Has No Authority to Punish Officials Violating Ethics Laws, State Leaders Argue” by Mary Steurer and Jacob Orledge (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

The Connecticut General Assembly adjourned on June 4. During the session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1405, which makes various changes to campaign finance laws. Changes include extending the existing political communication disclaimer requirements to include text messages and modifies when qualifying contributions are adjusted for inflation. If approved by the governor, most provisions of the bill will be effective July 1, with some being effective from passage. This does affect lobbying reporting. The final monthly employer activity report required any month the General Assembly is in regular session is due July 10.

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The state’s first special legislative session since 2021 began Monday, June 9. Legislative leaders have worked around the clock since the regular session ended on May 19 trying to resolve sticking points in the most closely divided Legislature in state history. The focus is on bills regarding spending plans for state programs and services. Roughly 30,000 state workers were set to get a layoff notice Monday morning as part of protocol, since failure to pass a budget by July 1 means a partial government shutdown. However, the governor’s office said that could be delayed until Tuesday morning, which is when the special session is set to end. If lawmakers complete all their work by that time, the state can avoid sending those messages to employees.

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On June 6, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission announced their updated 2025 Ethics Rules had become available.

Some of the changes in the updates include increasing the meal expenditure limit for lobbyists or legislative liaisons from $500 to $750; eliminating the requirement of attendance at events by lobbyists, liaisons, or lobbyist principals when associated with a permissible gift; and increasing the permissible anonymous political contribution from $50 to $200. Additionally, the rules clarify that political contributions are prohibited by or from foreign nationals in connection with any state or local campaign. This prohibition includes advances of personal funds; contributions or donations made to political party committees and organizations; state or local party committees for the purchase or construction of an office building fund; and contributions or disbursements to make electioneering communications.

The rules also include a modified blackout period for campaign finance complaints and an incorporation of Senate Bill 890, which moves all political subdivision campaign finance reporting and compliance requirements to the Ethics Commission beginning on November 1, 2025.

The 2025 Annotated Ethics Rules and the 2025 Ethics Laws document, which is a compilation by the commission of the state’s constitutional provisions, statutes, and ethics Rules, are usually updated annually in July. This year, both documents were updated and became effective on June 1. The rules have the full weight of law in Oklahoma as they are adopted and published in accordance with state law.

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The 104th General Assembly adjourned May 31, with the veto session and possible special session yet to be scheduled. Lawmakers approved more than 430 bills, including the state budget, but failed to approve a comprehensive transportation bill jeopardizing Illinois transit systems with expected cuts, layoffs, and service disruptions. Transit officials and union groups were pushing for lawmakers to approve more funding to avoid such a financial cliff.

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National/Federal

George Santos’ Campaign Treasurer Gets Probation

Courthouse News Service – Nina Pullano | Published: 5/28/2025

The treasurer for former U.S. Rep. George Santos’s congressional campaign was sentenced to three years of probation after admitting to filing false campaign finance reports. Judge Joanna Seybert handed down the sentence to Nancy Marks about a month after she gave Santos more than seven years in prison under his own guilty plea. Seybert also ordered Marks to pay more than $178,000 in restitution.

Complaints Languished as Johnson’s Delays Hobbled House Watchdog

DNyuz – Michael Gold (New York Times) | Published: 5/30/2025

In the first three months of this year, the independent watchdog that investigates members of the U.S. House received more than 4,000 messages from the public, some accusing lawmakers of serious misconduct. Not one was examined, because Speaker Mike Johnson had yet to constitute the office charged with doing so. Under House rules, the Office of Congressional Conduct cannot start inquiries, hire staff members, or take formal action on public complaints without a board named by the speaker.

Ernst Posts Snarky Reply After Telling Town Hall ‘We All Are Going to Die’

MSN – Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 6/1/2025

Sen. Joni Ernst dismissed voters’ concerns in recent days that people could die if Republicans cut Medicaid as they have promised to do in President Trump’s immigration and tax package. Speaking at a town hall, Ernst was explaining how the bill would affect Medicaid eligibility when one audience member yelled out that individuals who lost coverage because of the cuts could die. “Well, we all are going to die,” Ernst replied as the crowd groaned. While outrage at Ernst’s comment was immediate, the senator doubled down with a sarcastic response on Instagram.

Trump’s Law Firm Sanctions, Harshly Rejected in Court, Still Have Impact

MSN – Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 6/1/2025

President Trump’s attempts to punish law firms that employed his perceived foes or handled cases he disliked have been rejected by courts, with three federal judges lambasting them as retaliatory and unconstitutional. But the president’s court losses, with a fourth case pending, are only part of the story. Other firms have struck deals with the administration, hoping to avoid similar punishments. Lawyers say both the sanctions and the negotiated deals have had a chilling effect, with some firms declining to work on issues counter to the administration’s goals.

Trump Administration to Prioritize ‘Patriotic Americans’ for Federal Jobs

MSN – Robin Bravender (Politico) | Published: 5/30/2025

As President Trump moves to slash the size of the federal workforce, his administration unveiled a plan to ensure any new hires are “patriotic Americans” who vow to advance the president’s policy priorities. The White House and the agency that serves as the government’s human resources arm released directives for departments to use when recruiting employees in a memo that represents a dramatic shift in federal hiring procedures.

Discrimination Cases Unravel as Trump Scraps Core Civil Rights Tenet

MSN – Julian Mark and Laura Meckler (Washington Post) | Published: 6/1/2025

For decades, the federal government has used data analysis to ferret out race and sex discrimination, winning court cases and reaching settlements in housing, education, policing, and across American life. Now the Trump administration is working to unwind those same cases. The Justice Department is reviewing its entire docket and has already dismissed or terminated “many” cases that were “legally unsupportable” and a product of “weaponization” under the Biden administration, said Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Trump Pardons Drive a Big, Burgeoning Business for Lobbyists

MSN – Matt Dixon (NBC News) | Published: 6/2/2025

Seeking a pardon from President Trump has become big business for lobbying and consulting firms close to the administration, with wealthy hopefuls willing to spend millions of dollars for help getting their case in front of the right people. Cozying up to a president’s allies or hiring lobbyists to gain access to clemency is not new. But along with a price spike, what is different now is that Trump is issuing pardons on a rolling basis rather than most coming at the end of the administration.

Tester, Weintraub Join Democratic Organization to Counter Corruption

MSN – Filip Timotija (The Hill) | Published: 6/2/2025

Former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and onetime FEC Chairperson Ellen Weintraub are officially joining the nonprofit group End Citizens United to help fight corruption and get big money out of politics. Both Tester and Weintraub will work at End Citizens United, a group that advocates for campaign finance reform, as senior fellows. The pair will be doing press interviews, writing op-eds, helping advise on legislation, and participating in town halls and other public events across the country.

Sharp Spike in Threats to Judges Prompts Calls for More Security

MSN – Derek Hawkins (Washington Post) | Published: 5/29/2025

A spike in threats against federal judges since President Trump took office is prompting calls for new funding and security measures, with current and former jurists, lawmakers, and law enforcement officials saying existing protections are not enough. Experts offer a range of proposals for bolstering safety around the judiciary, including increasing the number of marshals assigned to protect judges. A simpler solution, several former judges said, would be for Trump administration officials to cool their rhetoric, which they believe fuels threats from extremists.

From the States and Municipalities

Arkansas – Trump Pardons Former Arkansas Lawmaker Who Took Bribes from Springfield Nonprofit

Springfield News-Leader – Marta Mieze | Published: 6/2/2025

President Trump pardoned a former Arkansas lawmaker who admitted to taking bribes from a nonprofit organization as part of a large public corruption scheme. Jeremy Hutchinson pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit federal programs bribery and in 2023 was sentenced to 50 months in prison running consecutively to a 46-month sentence for bribery and tax fraud he pleaded guilty to in state district court.

California – ‘That Person Will Absolutely Become the Most Powerful Person’: LA looks for a new king

MSN – Emily Schultheis (Politico) | Published: 6/1/2025

Elected county executives are common around the country but remain a novel concept in California. Since the mid-19th century, local governments across the state’s 58 counties have been led by five-member boards of supervisors without an elected role above them. In 2024, voters in Los Angeles County decided to create a new office to oversee their government. Now the county must determine the scope of a position that will, by representing the nearly 10 million people, become perhaps the most powerful in American local government and immediately reshape California politics.

California – Meals, Hotels, Office Supplies: City leaders want to be able to raise more money for ‘officeholder’ expenses

MSN – Eli Wolfe and Natalie Orenstein (Oaklandside) | Published: 6/2/2025

Local elected officials in California often use money from officeholder accounts to pay for the expenses of holding office, including meals, travel, hotels, and mailers about city events. Officeholder accounts cannot expenditures for a future election or wages for staff. Oakland has put some restrictions on these kinds of committees. Right now, elected officials like council members are not allowed to raise more than $25,000 (or $30,000 for the at-large seat) for their officeholder accounts. But a group of council members believes the limit should be higher.

California – Lurie Campaigned as an Ethics Crusader. Now He’s Gutting SF’s Top Watchdog

San Francisco Standard – Fitzgerald Rodriguez and Gabe Greschler | Published: 6/3/2025

On the campaign trail, Daniel Lurie vowed to vanquish City Hall corruption, promising to fully fund the San Francisco Ethics Commission. Now, as mayor, Lurie just blew a gaping hole in the department’s budget, sparking an outcry from its leader. The cuts may include axing the roles of four staffers in the 28-person department who identify loopholes in ethics rules and train city officials on the law. They are crucial to curbing corruption before it takes hold, said Patrick Ford, executive director of the Ethics Commission.

Connecticut – Lamont Aide Jonny Dach Misused State Vehicle, Investigation Finds

MSN – Mark Pazniokas (Connecticut Mirror) | Published: 6/2/2025

An investigation commissioned by Gov. Ned Lamont concluded that his former chief of staff and current senior advisor, Jonathan Dach, chronically violated state rules by using a state vehicle as his personal car for nearly two years and driving at speeds constituting reckless driving under Connecticut law. A referral to the Office of State Ethics for disciplinary action is mandatory.

Florida – Judge Orders J.C. Planas to Pay First-Ever Fine for Filing ‘Frivolous’ Miami-Dade Ethics Complaint

Florida Politics – Jesse Scheckner | Published: 5/29/2025

A Miami-Dade County court has ordered lawyer and former Rep. Juan-Carlos Planas to pay the legal expenses former Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Góngora incurred while defending a “frivolous” ethics complaint in 2023. Planas, who specializes in ethics and elections law and last year ran unsuccessfully for Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections, contends the ruling is out of order, literally and figuratively.

Illinois – Responding to Supreme Court, Lawmakers Look to Expand Lawsuit Protections for Press

WTTW – Bridgette Fox (Capitol News Illinois) | Published: 5/23/2025

Illinois lawmakers are seeking to extend lawsuit protections to regular news reports following a recent ruling by the state Supreme Court that allowed a defamation suit against the Chicago Sun-Times to progress. Senate Bill 1181 would explicitly name the press in an existing state law that aims to protect against “strategic lawsuits against public participation,” otherwise known as SLAPP lawsuits.

Louisiana – Mortgages, Mardi Gras and Country Clubs: Louisiana campaign funds could soon cover these expenses

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 5/29/2025

Louisiana politicians would be able to use money they raise to run for elected office on a much broader group of expenses, including their home mortgages, country club fees, and gym memberships under legislation Gov. Jeff Landry is pushing. House Bill 693 loosens dozens of restrictions placed on the people and political groups who raise and spend money on state and local elections.

Maryland – Maryland’s Primary Elections Are Unconstitutional, Lawsuit Alleges

MSN – Kate Mettler (Washington Post) | Published: 5/29/2025

Maryland residents who register as unaffiliated with a political party are not allowed to vote in primary elections. A lawsuit alleges the state’s partisan, or closed, primary process is unconstitutional and violates the rights of registered voters who are not affiliated with a political party. Maryland is one of 14 states that closes its primaries to unaffiliated registered voters. If a state judge was to find Maryland’s election process illegal, it could force lawmakers and party leaders to overhaul how they run primaries.

Massachusetts – Ex-Massachusetts State Police Union President, Lobbyist Get Some Convictions Reversed

MSN – Rick Sobey (Boston Herald) | Published: 6/2/2025

Dana Pullman, the former president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, and lobbyist Anne Lynch were sentenced in 2023 for racketeering, fraud, obstruction of justice, and tax crimes. The federal convictions for the former trooper and the ex-head of the political lobbying firm Lynch Associates arose out of alleged kickback schemes between the two. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit reversed some of the convictions.

New York – NYC Campaign Finance Board Withholds $1.3M in Matching Funds from Cuomo, Awards Adrienne Adams $2M

Yahoo News – Josephine Stratman and Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 5/30/2025

New York City’s Campaign Finance Board dealt a blow to mayoral frontrunner Andrew Cuomo, withholding $675,419 in matching funds from him, but gave a lifeline to his opponent Adrienne Adams, clearing her for $2 million in critical public money as the Democratic mayoral primary election looms weeks away. The board withheld the money from Cuomo due to their suspicion his campaign improperly coordinated with Fix the City, a super PAC boosting his run. That comes on top of more than $620,000 it earlier denied Cuomo for the same reason.

North Carolina – NC Lawmakers Leave Controversial Kentucky Distillery Tour Off Disclosure Reports

MSN – Dan Kane (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 5/30/2025

Last year, two North Carolina nonprofits took lawmakers on expensive trips outside of the state. One took them on a distillery tour near Louisville, Kentucky, and the other to the Summer Olympics in Paris. But what the public can learn about who paid is incomplete, due to limitations in the state’s ethics and lobbying laws. The nonprofit behind the Paris trip disclosed the legislators and other officials who went and how much it cost. The nonprofit behind the distillery tour has not. A review of financial disclosures by officials known to have gone on the trips shows nearly the same pattern.

Oregon – Oregon Sen. Lisa Reynolds Mulls Conflict of Interest Declaration After Ethics Report

Yahoo News – Shaanth Nanguneri (Oregon Capital Chronicle) | Published: 5/30/2025

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission referred a state lawmaker to the Legislature for clarity over whether a bill she authored that could benefit her medical practice raises a substantial conflict-of-interest. The commission said Sen. Lisa Reynolds’ decisions regarding votes and bill introductions were within the purview of the Legislature and its legal counsel. Senate Bill 28 would mandate commercial insurers reimburse independent primary care clinics at rates equal to those of clinics owned by hospital systems.

Texas – U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear GOP Activist’s Lawsuit Challenging Texas Ethics Commission’s Lobbying Fine

MSN – Kate McGee (Texas Tribune) | Published: 6/2/2025

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider a lawsuit from conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan against the Texas Ethics Commission, serving another blow to his more than decade-long challenge against the state agency that enforces Texas’ campaign finance and lobbying laws. Sullivan, who used to lead a powerful advocacy group called Empower Texans, challenged an Ethics Commission decision to fine him $10,000 for failing to register as a lobbyist in 2010 and 2011.

Texas – Failure of Texas Proof-of-Citizenship Law Is Not the End

MSN – Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 6/3/2025

A bid in Texas to establish one of the most unwieldy voting laws in the nation flamed out, but a broader effort backed by President Trump to demand that voters throughout the country provide proof of citizenship is hardly dead. Not only could the Texas bill resurface, but three other states over the past nine months have adopted similar laws requiring voters to provide proof of citizenship, and a raft of others are considering them.

Texas – Las Vegas Sands Lobbyist’s Contact Appears in Filings for ‘Dark Money’ Group in Irving

MSN – Chase Rogers (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 5/29/2025

A phone number tied to a “dark money” group that spent more than $160,000 to influence a recent Irving City Council election also appears on lobbying disclosures filed in Dallas by a registered lobbyist for Las Vegas Sands Corp. The phone number, listed in both city and state filings, suggests a potential link between Las Vegas Sands and the Lone Star Conservative Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, which is not required to disclose its donors under state law.

Washington – Seattle Councilmember Cathy Moore Pulls Her Ethics Bill

Seattle Times – David Kroman | Published: 5/30/2025

The Seattle City Council is dropping an effort to change the city’s ethics code after intense public blowback and facing an uncertain political path. Councilmember Cathy Moore, who sponsored the bill to make it easier for members to vote on matters in which they may have financial interest, announced she was pulling her legislation. She stood by the contents of the bill but seemed to acknowledge it lacked enough support.

Washington – New Rules for WA Lawmakers with Conflicts of Interest

Seattle Times – Shauna Sowersby | Published: 6/2/2025

Washington lawmakers passed important changes to the Ethics in Public Service Act. The bill, signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, allows lawmakers to have up to a 10 percent stake in corporations or properties before they are considered “beneficial interests” and must be reported. It does not require lawmakers to recuse themselves on votes that might present a conflict-of-interest. Senate Bill 5143 also increases the maximum value of a gift that lawmakers can accept to $100.

Gov. Brian Kemp has called for a special election in Senate District 21 to replace former Sen. Brandon Beach. He resigned from his seat after he was appointed U.S. treasurer by President Trump. The election is set for August 26 with the possibility of a runoff.

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The 89th Texas Legislature adjourned sine die on June 2. Lawmakers passed various bills related to lobbyists.  House Bill 119 requires registration for lobbying on the behalf of a foreign adversary and prohibits compensation for lobbying activities on the behalf of a foreign adversary. Another passed bill, Senate Bill 2781, establishes a penalty for political contributions or political expenditures made or authorized in violation of the prohibition on lobbyist contributions. If approved by Gov. Abbott both bills will be effective September 1.

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Gov. Glenn Youngkin has called for a special election in U.S. House District 11 to replace Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, who passed away on May 21. The election will be held on September 9.

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Campaign Finance

California: “Meals, Hotels, Office Supplies: City leaders want to be able to raise more money for ‘officeholder’ expenses” by Eli Wolfe and Natalie Orenstein (Oaklandside) for MSN

National: “Tester, Weintraub Join Democratic Organization to Counter Corruption” by Filip Timotija (The Hill) for MSN

Elections

Texas: “Failure of Texas Proof-of-Citizenship Law Is Not the End” by Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Lurie Campaigned as an Ethics Crusader. Now He’s Gutting SF’s Top Watchdog” by Fitzgerald Rodriguez and Gabe Greschler for San Francisco Standard

Connecticut: “Lamont Aide Jonny Dach Misused State Vehicle, Investigation Finds” by Mark Pazniokas (Connecticut Mirror) for MSN

National: “Discrimination Cases Unravel as Trump Scraps Core Civil Rights Tenet” by Julian Mark and Laura Meckler (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Responding to Supreme Court, Lawmakers Look to Expand Lawsuit Protections for Press” by Bridgette Fox (Capitol News Illinois) for WTTW

Massachusetts: “Ex-Massachusetts State Police Union President, Lobbyist Get Some Convictions Reversed” by Rick Sobey (Boston Herald) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Trump Pardons Drive a Big, Burgeoning Business for Lobbyists” by Matt Dixon (NBC News) for MSN

At State and Federal Communications, we equate Joseph May with Corporate Social Responsibility. Joe started on the staff in 2007 working in our social media department. He took—what I call a brief leave of absence to train as a hospital chaplain in 2017. He realized it was not the full-time position he needed and returned to State and Federal, in our new department of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). And nothing has been the same.

We have defined CSR as our company’s efforts to operate in an ethical and sustainable way, considering its impact on society, the environment, and the economy. It goes beyond simply making a profit – it is about doing business in a way that benefits people and the planet.

This month, you will receive our 2024 Annual Report on our corporate social responsibility programs. It will show how State and Federal Communications has been involved locally, in the states, and nationally to show how we are corporate citizens wherever we go.

The work we do with United Way Summit/Medina is second to none. UWSM can count on us to help with donations to students with school supplies. We make sure our Akron Canton Foodbank and Good Samaritans have the food and help needed to distribute food to those in need. There are so many ways we can all help.

What we have found about CSR is easy to list:

• CSR improves brand reputation and trust.
• CSR increases customer and employee loyalty.
• CSR reduces regulatory and legal risks.
• CSR opens new market opportunities.
• CSR enhances long-term profitability.

In short, CSR is about businesses being good corporate citizens—not just focusing on what they can gain, but also on how they can give back.

We hope you enjoy our 2024 Annual Report. Call us at 330-761-9960 if you do not receive it—either digitally or printed. We will share it with everyone.

Until next month, enjoy your month.

Thank you.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz
@elizabethbartz

The 83^rd Nevada Legislature adjourned sine die on June 3. During the session, a couple of bills passed relating to the state’s campaign finance law. Assembly Bill 73 requires certain communications with synthetic media to contain a specified disclosure. Assembly Bill 79 revises various aspects of the campaign finance law and establishes a contribution limit of $5,000 for a special election other than a recall election. This contribution limit is applicable regardless of the number of candidates for the office, or whether the special election is held on the same day as a primary election or general election. Both bills have been sent to the governor, and if signed become effective January 1, 2026. This does affect lobbying reporting. The termination and final report is due July 3.

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