July 8, 2025 •
Quebec: August 11 Provincial By-election in Arthabaska

On August 11, a by-election will be held in the electoral division of Arthabaska, in the Centre-du-Québec region, for a seat in the province’s National Assembly of Quebec. MNA Éric Lefebvre had resigned on March 18 to run with the […]
On August 11, a by-election will be held in the electoral division of Arthabaska, in the Centre-du-Québec region, for a seat in the province’s National Assembly of Quebec. MNA Éric Lefebvre had resigned on March 18 to run with the Conservative Party of Canada for the federal riding of Richmond-Arthabaska (Quebec) for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons.
Under a decree issued by the Government of Québec on July 8, the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Jean-François Blanchet, will oversee the organization of the election. Advance polling for voting will begin on August 3.
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July 8, 2025 •
Ask the Expert: Gift Law

Here is your chance to “Ask the Experts” at State and Federal Communications, Inc. Send your questions to experts@stateandfed.com. (Of course, we have always been available to answer questions from clients that are specific to your needs, and we encourage you […]
Here is your chance to “Ask the Experts” at State and Federal Communications, Inc. Send your questions to experts@stateandfed.com. (Of course, we have always been available to answer questions from clients that are specific to your needs, and we encourage you to continue to call or email us with questions about your particular company or organization. As always, we will confidentially and directly provide answers or information you need.) Our replies are not legal advice, but rather our analysis of laws, rules, and regulations.
Q. Our company is a federal registrant, and we’ve been working with an executive branch employee who is currently on paid administrative leave after accepting a “deferred resignation” offer from the Trump administration. She is now focused on starting a new consulting business and has no involvement with her former office or any decision-making responsibilities. We would like to offer her a complimentary ticket valued at $500 to a conference covering topics relevant to her new work. Since she is no longer active in her government role, can we provide her the ticket without violating federal gift rules?
A. Not necessarily. While the individual is no longer actively engaged with her former office, employees under a “deferred resignation” arrangement are still considered federal employees and remain subject to federal ethics rules—including those governing gifts—as well as conflict of interest statutes, among others. Several agencies, guided by the Office of Government Ethics, have addressed similar situations and emphasized the continued application of these rules during such leave. Therefore, offering a complimentary ticket would only be permissible if it clearly falls under a specific exception to the gift rules.
For further guidance on gift restrictions for both executive and legislative branch employees, please refer to our online resource: the Federal Lobbying Compliance Law section.
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July 8, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Maryland: “Lobbyists Increase Donations to Maryland Politicians by 75% Since Last Election” by Sam Janesch (Baltimore Sun) for MSN National: “ActBlue Brings in Nearly $400 Million More for Democrats Amid Trump’s Pressure on the Fundraising Platform” by Fredreka […]
Campaign Finance
Maryland: “Lobbyists Increase Donations to Maryland Politicians by 75% Since Last Election” by Sam Janesch (Baltimore Sun) for MSN
National: “ActBlue Brings in Nearly $400 Million More for Democrats Amid Trump’s Pressure on the Fundraising Platform” by Fredreka Schouten (CNN) for MSN
New York: “NY Public Campaign Program Fuels Spending for Political Consultants” by Emilie Munson for Albany Times Union
Ethics
National: “The Supreme Court and Congress Cede Powers to Trump and the Presidency” by Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Trump Administration’s Push to Deport Student Activists Goes on Trial” by Joanna Slater and Justine McDaniel (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Trump Administration Asserted Sweeping Power in Seeking to Bypass TikTok Ban” by Charlie Savage (New York Times) for MSN
Idaho: “Idaho Lawmaker Worked to Legalize This Drug. He Was Among the First to Sell It” by Sarah Cutler (Idaho Statesman) for MSN
Louisiana: “Longest Serving Louisiana Ethics Board Member Says Lawmakers Want the Board Dismantled” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News
July 7, 2025 •
Alaska Governor Calls Special Session

Gov. Mike Dunleavy called for special session to address education reform and the creation of a cabinet-level state Department of Agriculture. Both topics were left unfinished at the end of the regular session earlier this year. The special session will […]
Gov. Mike Dunleavy called for special session to address education reform and the creation of a cabinet-level state Department of Agriculture. Both topics were left unfinished at the end of the regular session earlier this year. The special session will begin August 2 and is scheduled to last for 30 days. This affects lobbyist reporting. A monthly legislative lobbyist activity report will now be due September 30.
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July 7, 2025 •
Putting Global Forgiveness Day on the Radar

Looking for something cool to do this month? How about participating in Global Forgiveness Day on July 7th? I can’t believe that I am just finding out now about this observance!Global Forgiveness Day (formerly National Forgiveness Day) has an interesting […]
Looking for something cool to do this month? How about participating in Global Forgiveness Day on July 7th? I can’t believe that I am just finding out now about this observance!
Global Forgiveness Day (formerly National Forgiveness Day) has an interesting timeline that led up to its founding. Noting that the concept of forgiveness had been (and still is) prevalent in many religions around the globe, its idea and principles began to peak the interest of scientists around 1962, who began to study forgiveness and its impact on human well-being. “What they found was that forgiveness was a process. Multiple researchers developed models of forgiveness … that would allow people to improve their ability to forgive. Later studies even attempted to understand the relationship between forgiveness and justice …” GLOBAL FORGIVENESS DAY – July 7, 2025 – National Today
An example of forgiveness came in 1962 when a Japanese fighter pilot asked for and was granted forgiveness by the townspeople of Brookings, Oregon, for bombing the west coast of the United States over Oregon during World War II. Fast forward to the 20th century, and the late Pope John Paul II publicly forgave the man who tried to assassinate him. “The Christian Embassy of Christ’s Ambassadors (CECA) founded National Forgiveness Day in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada … As this day gained prominence throughout the world, it was renamed Global Forgiveness Day.” GLOBAL FORGIVENESS DAY – July 7, 2025 – National Today
On July 7th, take some time to think about someone who may have wronged you in the past and make a conscious effort to forgive them! Don’t forget to also include yourself and offer yourself some forgiveness as well! For more information on Global Forgiveness Day, visit the website featured in this blog.
Gamble
July 4, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 4, 2025

National/Federal The First Rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down MSN – Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 6/29/2025 Across the Trump administration, a culture of secrecy is overtaking personnel and budget decisions, casual social interactions, and everything in […]
National/Federal
The First Rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down
MSN – Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 6/29/2025
Across the Trump administration, a culture of secrecy is overtaking personnel and budget decisions, casual social interactions, and everything in between, according to interviews with more than 40 employees across two dozen agencies. No one wants to put anything in writing anymore, federal workers said, and communication among colleagues has increasingly shifted to the encrypted messaging app Signal. This shift is affecting every aspect of external and internal communications. The overall effect has been to impede honest discussion, slow work, stir confusion, and depress morale.
GOP Sen. Thom Tillis Won’t Seek Reelection After Opposing Trump Tax Bill
MSN – Theodoric Meyer, Liz Goodwin, Mariana Alfaro, and Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) | Published: 6/29/2025
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said he will not seek reelection next year, less than 24 hours after President Trump threatened him with a primary challenge for opposing the massive tax and immigration bill. Tillis’s decision not to run for a third term scrambles the Senate race in North Carolina. It injects fresh uncertainty into the GOP’s push to pass the proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Trump’s top legislative priority, by their July 4 deadline. It underscores the perils for Republicans of defying Trump when his grip on the party is stronger than ever.
US Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Campaign Spending Curbs in JD Vance Case
MSN – John Kruzel (Reuters) | Published: 6/30/2025
The Supreme Court announced it will consider a challenge to the limits on how much national political parties can spend in coordination with federal candidates. The justices took up an appeal by two Republican committees and Vice President JD Vance, who was running for the U.S. Senate in Ohio when the litigation began, of a lower court’s ruling that upheld restrictions on the amount of money parties can spend on campaigns with input from candidates they support. The justices are due to hear the case in their next term.
Appeals Court Seems Likely to Back Trump’s Deportations Under Wartime Law
MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/30/2025
A federal appellate panel appeared poised to back President Trump’s use of a centuries-old wartime law to fast-track deportations of Venezuelan migrants in a case widely expected to put that debate back before the Supreme Court. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit grilled an attorney for targeted detainees during oral arguments, asking what authority judges had to “second-guess” the president’s decisions in defending the country amid armed conflicts.
DOGE Has the Keys to Sensitive Data That Could Help Elon Musk
MSN – Desmond Butler, Jonathan O’Connell, Hannah Natanson, and Aaron Gregg (Washington Post) | Published: 6/30/2025
For months, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency plumbed the federal government’s information systems, scouring arcane internal records that the billionaire said were guiding his hunt for waste. Now that Musk has stepped away from his government role, some of that data could be valuable in another way – by giving the world’s richest man a competitive advantage over his rivals in the private sector.
Judge Finds Trump Executive Order Punishing Susman Godfrey Unconstitutional
MSN – Melissa Quinn (CBS News) | Published: 6/27/2025
A federal judge struck down President Trump’s executive order that sought to punish the law firm Susman Godfrey, ruling it is unconstitutional and blocking the administration from enforcing it. The decision from U.S. District Court Judge Loren AliKhan caps an unbroken streak of victories for the four major law firms that were targeted by Trump as part of his efforts to go after his perceived enemies and chose to challenge his directives in court, rather than commit millions of dollars in free legal services, as nine other firms have done.
MSN – Eric Bradner, Sarah Ferris, Lauren Fox, and Annie Grayer (CNN) | Published: 7/1/2025
The fate of President Trump’s domestic agenda was in U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s hands, and she used that leverage to force a series of changes that will deliver more federal dollars to Alaska. The Senate passed the bill after a marathon of negotiations and amendments during which Murkowski, as she put it later, “struggled mightily” with the impacts of cutting Medicaid and food stamp benefits in Alaska before voting for the legislation.
How Trump’s Media War Brought Paramount to Its Knees
MSN – Sarah Ellison and Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 7/2/2025
CBS’s parent company agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit over the network’s editing of a campaign interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The deal makes Paramount, which is attempting to complete an $8 billion sale to Skydance Media, the latest company to pay millions of dollars to Donald Trump-aligned entities to avoid punitive government action. The money, minus plaintiffs’ fees and costs, will go to Trump’s presidential library.
MSN – Ross O’Keefe (Washington Examiner) | Published: 7/2/2025
The Department of Justice is considering whether it can charge local or state election officials who do not adhere to Trump administration standards on voting security. The administration is reportedly driving the effort forward based on its skepticism about the security of the nation’s elections. President Trump previously said the 2020 election was “rigged” and called for an investigation into widespread voter fraud.
Trump Says He Will Move Aggressively to Undo Nationwide Blocks on His Agenda
MSN – Justin Jouvenal, Cat Zakrzewski, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/28/2025
An emboldened Trump administration plans to aggressively challenge blocks on the president’s top priorities, from immigration to education, following a major Supreme Court ruling that limits the power of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions. Scholars and plaintiffs in the lawsuits over Trump’s executive orders agreed the ruling could profoundly reshape legal battles over executive power even as other legal experts said the effects would be more muted. Some predicted it would embolden Trump to push his expansive view of presidential power.
Bondi Made Changes to DOJ Policy. Her Former Client Pfizer Might Have Benefited
MSN – Ben Wieder (Miami Herald) | Published: 7/3/2025
For the past several years, Pfizer has been under investigation by the Department of Justice for potential foreign corruption violations related to its activities in China and Mexico, according to the company’s financial filings. But that appears to have changed after the Trump administration tapped Pam Bondi, previously an outside legal counsel for Pfizer, to be attorney general.
Dead Members of Congress Can’t Stop Posting
MSN – Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing (Politico) | Published: 6/28/2025
After Zohran Mamdani’s apparent victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary on, former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee liked an Instagram post congratulating him on his win. But Jackson Lee died last July. From new profile pictures to a posthumous endorsement, accounts for dead lawmakers have seemingly resurrected on social media in an unsettling trend of beyond-the-grave engagement. How to handle the social media presence of politicians when they die is a fairly new phenomenon.
Trump Tried to Fire Them. But These Democratic Appointees Are Still on the Job.
MSN – Hassan Ali Kanu (Politico) | Published: 6/30/2025
President Trump fired a host of Democratic appointees at independent boards and commissions across the government. But some of them are still working. More than a dozen leaders of independent federal agencies received emails from the White House purporting to fire or demote them, even though their roles are governed by laws that bar termination without cause. Those officials’ resistance could end up shaping how courts view pending questions about the hiring-and-firing powers of the presidency, and whether Congress can create federal agencies with some degree of independence from the chief executive.
From the States and Municipalities
California – Irvine City Council Re-Adopts Lobbying Rules to Settle Lawsuit
Voice of OC – Angela Hicks | Published: 6/30/2025
Irvine city leaders are settling a lawsuit with a group of residents who alleged the city council violated the state’s open meeting law when it passed new lobbying regulations last year. In a series of meetings, the council discussed and approved new regulations that require lobbyists to register with the city earlier and disclose their activities more often. Orange County Advocates for Transparency alleged the city violated the Brown Act by improperly agendizing the item and failing to fully alert the public.
California – Ex-Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet Gets Probation, No Jail Time for Taking Bribes
Yahoo News – Christopher Damien (Palm Springs Desert Sun) | Published: 7/2/2025
Former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet was sentenced to two years’ probation, avoiding jail time despite admitting he took bribes from developers for years. Pougnet pleaded guilty to a scheme in which he conspired with real estate developer Richard Meaney to be paid money in exchange for facilitating the developer’s projects in the city council.
Connecticut – CT Veterans Affairs Director Ousted Over Questionable Ethics Violation
Inside Investigator – Mark Fitch | Published: 7/2/2025
The former director of safety and security for the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs says he was forced to retire from his position under threat of termination and the loss of his medical benefits after the department claimed he violated state ethics laws by asking maintenance personnel to do small contracting jobs at his home, contrary to a determination of the Office of State Ethics (OSE). Stephen Scatena said officials threatened if he did not voluntarily sign a stipulated agreement by April 9, 2025, roughly two months before the OSE issued their finding.
Connecticut – Ted Kennedy Jr., Former CT State Senator, Cleared After 11-Year Election Investigation
Stamford Advocate – Ken Dixon | Published: 7/2/2025
Connecticut election regulators closed the books on one of its longest-lingering investigations, finally dismissing a 2014 case involving former state Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. and nearly $300,000 in campaign support he received from the Democratic State Central Committee. The State Elections Enforcement Commission agreed there was not enough evidence to link the party’s contribution to a direct exchange with Kennedy family members and friends who raised more than $308,000 from 188 people for the state party.
District of Columbia – As Indicted Ex-D.C. Lawmaker Seeks Election, Opponents Urge Voters to Move On
MSN – Meagan Flynn and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 6/27/2025
At a rare appearance at a Ward 8 candidates forum, ex-District of Columbia Council member Trayon White Sr. answered one last question. Why, a voter wanted to know, had White never explained himself to residents after his bribery indictment? It was the unignorable question at the center of the July 15 special election, in which White, who stands accused of pocketing tens of thousands of dollars in bribes, is asking voters to reelect him even with the risk he could be disqualified from office if convicted.
Florida – DeSantis Vetoes Bill Aimed at Limiting Corruption in Office
Yahoo News – Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 7/1/2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would, in part, have prohibited state officials from using their position to solicit campaign contributions. The legislation was in part a reaction to NBC News reports since 2023 that officials in his administration were asking lobbyists for political donations, raising ethical concerns.
Hawaii – State Watchdogs Are Keeping the Pressure on for Government Reform
Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 6/29/2025
Fired up by the fate of a major “pay-to-play” bill that died in April at the Legislature, the heads of the Campaign Spending Commission and Hawaii State Ethics Commission are stepping up their efforts to lobby for reform in the 2026 session that beings in January. The cooperation between Kristin Izumi-Nitao, executive director of campaign spending, and Robert Harris, executive director of ethics, entered a new phase when Izumi-Nitao appeared by invitation at the ethics commission’s public meeting. The purpose was to hear insights and explore collaboration between the agencies.
Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Pending’ Springfield Lobbyist Team Draws Ethics Questions
Yahoo News – Alice Yin, Jeremy Gorner, and A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/30/2025
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s inner circle worked with outside lobbyists who were not registered to lobby on behalf of the city in the Illinois General Assembly. Email records and sources indicate three lobbyists coordinated with top Johnson officials during the most recent session. But they did not update their state registration to show the city among their lobbying clients before the Legislature adjourned June 1. If state officials were to find the three did not properly disclose their representation, they could be in violation of the law.
Illinois – Cook County Tax Board Commissioner, Staff Face Multiple Fines from Ethics Board
Yahoo News – A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/27/2025
Cook County’s Board of Ethics fined Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele and her aides for a series of breaches, finding she provided confidential information to the press about the Chicago Bears’ Arlington Heights property and wrongly allowed a staffer to attend a conference on county time. Steele is one of three commissioners on the county’s Board of Review, which hears property tax appeals. She must pay the $3,000 fine in 30 days.
Iowa – Trump Drops Federal Lawsuit Against Iowa Pollster, Refiles in State Court
MSN – Brianna Tucker and Frances Vinall (Washington Post) | Published: 6/30/2025
Lawyers for President Trump filed a motion to drop his federal lawsuit against J. Ann Selzer – a longtime Iowa pollster, and the Des Moines Register – and refiled the suit in a state court in Iowa. Attorneys for Trump sued Selzer and the newspaper in December over a poll that showed him trailing Vice President Kamala Harris in the state just days before the 2024 presidential election. The suit alleged Selzer’s poll amounted to “election interference” and accused the newspaper of violating the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act.
Kansas – Judge Allows Kansas Law Barring Foreign Contributions to Constitutional Amendment Campaigns
Yahoo News – Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 7/1/2025
A federal judge sided with state officials and allowed a Kansas law to go into effect that bans “foreign nationals” from contributing financially to campaigns for or against state constitutional amendments. Kansans for Constitutional Freedom, which has accepted such funds directly and indirectly in the past, said the law was broad, vague, and infringed upon constitutionally protected political speech.
Louisiana – Supreme Court to Rehear Case Over Louisiana’s Second Majority-Black District
MSN – Justin Jouvenal and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 6/27/2025
The Supreme Court put off deciding whether to uphold a Louisiana map that added a second majority-Black congressional district in the state, saying it would rehear the case in its next term. The justices said they would consider whether race was the predominant factor in the drawing of the new Louisiana district.
Maine – Why Maine Lawmakers Pulled Back on Ranked Choice Voting Expansion
Portland Press Herald – Randy Billings | Published: 6/27/2025
Lawmakers recalled a bill from Gov. Janet Mills’ desk that would have allowed ranked choice voting to be used in the 2026 gubernatorial race after Mills signaled she would veto the bill. Advocates say they plan to ask the Maine Law Court to revisit its 2017 advisory opinion, which would not be possible if Gov. Janet Mills vetoed the bill as they expected.
Massachusetts – MCAS Ballot Question Supporters Pay $4K Penalty to Resolve Late Reporting Accusations
MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 7/1/2025
The group that backed a successful ballot question to end the use of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System as a high school graduation requirement paid a $4,000 penalty to resolve accusations that officials did not report $2.3 million in contributions in a timely manner ahead of the November 2024 election. The fight between the Massachusetts Teachers Association and business groups was the most expensive ballot question battle in the state in 2024, with tens of millions flowing between the two sides.
Michigan – New Ballot Committee Aims to Get More Corporate, Utility Money Out of Michigan Politics
Detroit Free Press – Arpan Lobo | Published: 6/30/2025
A new ballot committee hopes to ask Michigan voters next year whether the state should ban large corporations that hold government contracts and utility monopolies from making political donations through affiliated PACs. Backers of the committee say companies like DTE and Consumers have outsized political influence due to their contributions to candidates and campaigns. The companies defended their political spending practices, saying the money does not come from ratepayers and they have an obligation to advocate for their best interests.
New Mexico – Joseph Shepard Sued by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission
Yahoo News – Joshua Bowling (Searchlight New Mexico) | Published: 6/28/2025
In addition to staying at five-star resorts, buying luxury furniture, and traveling the world at taxpayers’ expense, former Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard also took money intended for building an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant walkway and ramp and used it to build a patio near his house where he could host a welcome event and dancing for his daughter’s wedding, a new lawsuit by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission alleges.
New York – Ex-Trump Lawyer Chesebro Disbarred Over Fake Elector Scheme
Reuters – Dave Thomas | Published: 6/26/2025
A New York appeals court disbarred Kenneth Chesebro, a former lawyer for Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign, following his 2023 guilty plea to a charge stemming from efforts to overturn Trump’s defeat in Georgia. Chesebro had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit filing of false documents in Fulton County after prosecutors accused him of crafting the legal strategy behind a scheme to use alternate electors to circumvent Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the state.
North Carolina – NC Republicans Unveil Sweeping Elections Bill. Could It ‘Purge’ Nonpartisan Staff?
Yahoo News – Kyle Ingram (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 6/26/2025
North Carolina House Republicans unveiled a broad elections bill that could convert about a third of the State Board of Elections’ nonpartisan civil service staff into political appointees, alongside a host of other changes to ballot counting, voter ID, and more. It comes a month after Republicans gained a majority on the elections board and ousted Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell, replacing her with a lawyer who has worked for the state’s top GOP legislators.
North Dakota – North Dakota Ethics Commission Makes First Finding of Violations by Public Official
Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 6/30/2025
The North Dakota Ethics Commission found Rep. Jason Dockter committed three ethics violations related to his ownership of a Bismarck building, but the agency did not hand down any penalties for the lawmaker. The Ethics Commission noted Dockter likely leveraged his position and his relationships with state employees to arrange a lease with the attorney general’s office.
Oregon – Lawmakers Nix Proposal to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years After Backlash
MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/27/2025
State lawmakers did not advance a bill this year that would have delayed the imposition of campaign contribution limits in Oregon for four years. The effort died after good government advocates said the proposed delay was an attempt by lawmakers to avoid restricting the massive flow of money into politics. Oregon is one of just five states without such limits. Secretary of State Tobias Read said he was “deeply disappointed” that lawmakers finished this year’s session without making any substantial refinements to last year’s law.
Oregon – Longtime Oregon Legislator Faces Ethics Investigation Over Pay Raise
Portland Oregonian – Les Zaitz (Salem Reporter) | Published: 6/28/2025
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission ordered an investigation into whether state Rep. Greg Smith illegally used his position as a public agency executive to raise his own pay. Investigators also were directed to examine whether Smith failed to disclose a conflict-of-interest in the process, a violation of state ethics laws.
South Dakota – Kristi Noem Secretly Took a Cut of Political Donations
MSN – Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPublica) | Published: 6/30/2025
While Kristi Noem was governor of South Dakota, she accepted a portion of the money she raised for a nonprofit that promotes her political career. In what experts described as a highly unusual arrangement, the nonprofit routed funds to a personal company of Noem’s that had been established in Delaware. Since the group is not required to disclose the names of its donors, the original source of the money remains unknown. She did not include the income on her financial disclosure form, which experts called a likely violation of federal ethics requirements.
Tennessee – Tennessee Campaign Finance Agency Seeks Probe of Secret PAC
Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 6/23/2025
The Registry of Election Finance requested an investigation into a former state staffer’s secret PAC to determine whether it involved criminal activity. The registry formally asked the Williamson County district attorney’s office to reactivate a 2020 request for a probe of Cade Cothren, a former aide to one-time House Speaker Glen Casada, and the Faith Family Freedom Fund PAC. Registry Chairperson Tom Lawless has said the investigation should commence now that a trial of Casada and Cothren is complete.
MSN – Lauren McGaughy (Texas Newsroom) | Published: 7/3/2025
Elon Musk’s team of Texas lobbyists during the 2025 legislative session did not rival those of huge energy and telecommunications companies, which typically employ dozens of people to represent them. But Musk and his companies still hired more lobbyists this year than any other since 2021. His lobbyists spent money on things like gifts and meals for elected officials and others during the session. In most cases, the state’s transparency laws do not require lobbyists to disclose which politicians they entertained or on behalf of which clients. Ethics experts said the responsibility to improve transparency lies with Texas lawmakers.
Vermont – Gov. Phil Scott Signs New Campaign Finance Rules, Other Election Changes into Law
VTDigger.com – Shaun Robinson | Published: 6/27/2025
Gov. Phil Scott signed a package of changes to Vermont’s election procedures into law, among them an expansion of who must file campaign finance disclosure forms and a restriction on candidates running in a general election who have lost a preceding primary election. A provision in the new law is meant to clarify that certain campaign finance rules apply to individuals who raise and spend money on behalf of a candidate, but who are not directly affiliated with that candidate.
Virginia – State’s First-Ever Audit of Campaign Finance Report Leaves Many Questions Unanswered
Cardinal News – David Poole | Published: 7/2/2025
Virginia’s inaugural audit of campaign finance reports raises almost as many questions about state oversight than it does in answering how accurately a group of seven randomly selected candidates listed their contributions and expenses. In a report to the General Assembly, the Department of Elections suggested changes to the audit law, providing more time to complete future reviewing and updating the agency’s computer systems.
Washington – Foes of WA Initiative to Repeal Climate Law Fined $20K for Campaign Finance Violations
Yahoo News – Jerry Cornfield (Washington Standard) | Published: 6/26/2025
A political committee that helped defeat last year’s ballot measure to repeal a Washington climate law was fined $20,000 for not disclosing how it spent $1 million until after the election. The Public Disclosure Commission levied the civil penalty on Green Jobs PAC, which admitted to the violation and two other breaches of state campaign finance laws as part of an agreed upon settlement.
July 3, 2025 •
Oklahoma to Consider Foreign Agent Registration Requirements

Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton approved an interim study request for the Judiciary Committee to review establishing a state Foreign Agent Registration Act. The aim of the act would be to provide public transparency around political and propaganda activities […]
Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton approved an interim study request for the Judiciary Committee to review establishing a state Foreign Agent Registration Act. The aim of the act would be to provide public transparency around political and propaganda activities conducted by agents of foreign countries of concern, which may overlap with lobbying activities. Study schedules and meeting notices will be posted on the Senate website at oksenate.gov and must be completed by October 31.
Make sure you understand pay-to-play regulations in your state. See all 50 states and nearly 300 jurisdictions in our online guidebooks. Check them out here.
July 3, 2025 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Florida: “DeSantis Vetoes Bill Aimed at Limiting Corruption in Office” by Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) for Yahoo News Michigan: “New Ballot Committee Aims to Get More Corporate, Utility Money Out of Michigan Politics” by Arpan Lobo for […]
Campaign Finance
Florida: “DeSantis Vetoes Bill Aimed at Limiting Corruption in Office” by Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) for Yahoo News
Michigan: “New Ballot Committee Aims to Get More Corporate, Utility Money Out of Michigan Politics” by Arpan Lobo for Detroit Free Press
Virginia: “State’s First-Ever Audit of Campaign Finance Report Leaves Many Questions Unanswered” by David Poole for Cardinal News
Elections
North Carolina: “NC Republicans Unveil Sweeping Elections Bill. Could It ‘Purge’ Nonpartisan Staff?” by Kyle Ingram (Raleigh News and Observer) for Yahoo News
Ethics
California: “Ex-Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet Gets Probation, No Jail Time for Taking Bribes” by Christopher Damien (Palm Springs Desert Sun) for Yahoo News
National: “How Trump’s Media War Brought Paramount to Its Knees” by Sarah Ellison and Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) for MSN
North Dakota: “North Dakota Ethics Commission Makes First Finding of Violations by Public Official” by Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News
Legislative Issues
National: “Carveouts for Alaska and Tax Breaks for Whalers: How Lisa Murkowski got to yes on Trump’s agenda bill” by Eric Bradner, Sarah Ferris, Lauren Fox, and Annie Grayer (CNN) for MSN
July 2, 2025 •
Oregon Legislature Adjourns Sine Die

The 83rd session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on June 27. Lawmakers did not pass a last-minute attempt to delay Oregon’s campaign contribution limits, established last year by House Bill 4024. The limits are set to take effect in 2027, […]
The 83rd session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on June 27. Lawmakers did not pass a last-minute attempt to delay Oregon’s campaign contribution limits, established last year by House Bill 4024. The limits are set to take effect in 2027, however some legislators wanted to postpone the limits until 2031.
Monitor your registration thresholds by state, by referring to our easy to navigate online guidebooks. Request a web tour to learn more.

Background of the banknotes of various currencies.
On June 30, the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas denied a preliminary injunction targeted at Kansas House Bill 2106, which added new prohibitions against accepting foreign funds when engaging in activities promoting or opposing a Kansas constitutional […]
On June 30, the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas denied a preliminary injunction targeted at Kansas House Bill 2106, which added new prohibitions against accepting foreign funds when engaging in activities promoting or opposing a Kansas constitutional amendment. Judge Daniel D. Crabtree found the state likely has a compelling interest in limiting foreign influence in its constitutional amendment ballot issue elections. The bill went into effect July 1.
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July 2, 2025 •
New Hampshire Legislature Adjourns

The New Hampshire General Court stands adjourned as of June 26 until the next call of the chair. A bill to prohibit corporate campaign contributions was voted down in committee. Lawmakers passed a budget for the next two years, which […]
The New Hampshire General Court stands adjourned as of June 26 until the next call of the chair. A bill to prohibit corporate campaign contributions was voted down in committee. Lawmakers passed a budget for the next two years, which was signed by Gov. Ayotte on June 27.
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July 2, 2025 •
Rhode Island Passes Anti-Bid-Rigging Act

The General Assembly passed House Bill 6173, the Rhode Island Anti-Bid-Rigging Act. The act prohibits two or more persons from predetermining the winning bidder of a contract proposed, offered, or otherwise submitted for competitive bidding by a government entity. Violations […]
The General Assembly passed House Bill 6173, the Rhode Island Anti-Bid-Rigging Act. The act prohibits two or more persons from predetermining the winning bidder of a contract proposed, offered, or otherwise submitted for competitive bidding by a government entity. Violations of this act are a felony and can cause vendors to be subject to disbarment. The bill was signed by Gov. McKee on June 30 and is effective immediately.
Comply with state and local procurement lobbying rules. Our online guidebooks make it easy to view regulations all in one place. Learn more here.
July 2, 2025 •
32 Years of Excellence, Commitment, and Growth

What started in 1993 has grown into a thriving business thanks to our incredible clients, resolute team, and supportive community. In 1993, we opened our doors with a clear vision and a strong sense of purpose: to provide outstanding service, […]
What started in 1993 has grown into a thriving business thanks to our incredible clients, resolute team, and supportive community.
In 1993, we opened our doors with a clear vision and a strong sense of purpose: to provide outstanding service, build trusted relationships, and make a lasting impact in our industry and community. Now, 32 years later, we are proud to celebrate more than just our longevity—we are celebrating the journey, the people, and the partnerships which brought us here.
Over the past three decades, we have weathered industry shifts, embraced innovation, and adapted to change—all while staying true to the core values that define us: integrity, excellence, and commitment. From our earliest days to our latest milestones, our success has been fueled by the trust of our clients and the dedication of our incredible team.
We know staying in business for 32 years is not just about doing good work, it is about building lasting relationships. Many of our clients have been with us for years, and some since the very beginning. That loyalty and support mean everything to us, and we do not take it for granted.
As we reflect on our journey, we are proud of what we have accomplished: the projects we have delivered, the problems we have helped solve, and the lives we have touched along the way. But we also see this anniversary as a time to look forward—with fresh goals, renewed energy, and an even stronger commitment to those we serve.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of our story—our clients, partners, staff, and friends. Here is to 32 years of resilience and growth—and to many more chapters still to be written.
Thank you for being part of our story and for making this possible.
July 2, 2025 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Kansas: “Judge Allows Kansas Law Barring Foreign Contributions to Constitutional Amendment Campaigns” by Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) for Yahoo News Massachusetts: “MCAS Ballot Question Supporters Pay $4K Penalty to Resolve Late Reporting Accusations” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston […]
Campaign Finance
Kansas: “Judge Allows Kansas Law Barring Foreign Contributions to Constitutional Amendment Campaigns” by Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) for Yahoo News
Massachusetts: “MCAS Ballot Question Supporters Pay $4K Penalty to Resolve Late Reporting Accusations” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN
Elections
Iowa: “Trump Drops Federal Lawsuit Against Iowa Pollster, Refiles in State Court” by Brianna Tucker and Frances Vinall (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Appeals Court Seems Likely to Back Trump’s Deportations Under Wartime Law” by Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “DOGE Has the Keys to Sensitive Data That Could Help Elon Musk” by Desmond Butler, Jonathan O’Connell, Hannah Natanson, and Aaron Gregg (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Judge Finds Trump Executive Order Punishing Susman Godfrey Unconstitutional” by Melissa Quinn (CBS News) for MSN
Illinois: “Cook County Tax Board Commissioner, Staff Face Multiple Fines from Ethics Board” by A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News
Lobbying
California: “Irvine City Council Re-Adopts Lobbying Rules to Settle Lawsuit” by Angela Hicks for Voice of OC
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.