Gov. Tim Walz called a special session which will begin June 12.

The primary purpose of the session will be to extend the COVID-19 peacetime emergency by 30 days, making sure the state can quickly respond to the pandemic.

The House and Senate adjourned sine die on May 18, marking the end of the 2020 legislative session.

However, unfinished business and recent protests have added to the agenda.

Walz is obligated by law to call a special session for the Legislature to approve the emergency declaration.

Although, the length of the session will be determined by the Legislature.

The Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission passed an emergency regulation and provided guidance on a passed bill.

This bill passed amends registration requirements for executive agency lobbying.

Effective July 1, Senate Bill 157 requires the initial registration statement to include compensation paid to, or received by, each executive agency lobbyist, employer, and real party in interest as part of the engagement.

The emergency regulation provides the procedures for filing lobbyist forms and includes changes to the lobbyist forms.

In addition, electronic fillable forms and instructions will be posted on the commission’s website soon.

In the regular reminder notices, the new forms and revisions will also be addressed.

Each lobbyist, employer and real party in interest receives these notices.

All initial registration and updated registration statements must now be submitted using the 2020 revised forms.

Additionally, a credit card payment app will be available starting July 1.

The commission also extended the filing period deadline for the required updated registration filing forms and registration fee payment from July 31 to August 31 due to COVID-19.

The Hawaii Legislature will resume its session on June 22 to address budget issues, COVID-19, and police discipline measures.

The Legislature previously recessed on May 22 after passing legislation storing more than $1 billion in the general fund.

Now lawmakers will need to pass a balanced budget of approximately $413 million for the fiscal year.

In terms of law enforcement reform, lawmakers will consider a proposal to require police to intervene when they see their fellow officers involved in potentially unlawful situations.

The legislative session is expected to adjourn sine die on July 10.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Campaign Finance

California: “L.A. Police Union Spent Big in Local Elections. Some Politicians Now Shun the Money” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times

Missouri: “Democratic Club in North St. Louis County Fined $2,500 for Cash Withdrawal, Reporting Failures” by Jack Suntrup for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Tennessee: “Campaign Finance Officials Uphold $465,000 Fine Against Ex-Lawmaker Jeremy Durham” by Joel Ebert (The Tennessean) for MSN

Elections

National: “Beyond Georgia: A warning for November as states scramble to expand vote-by-mail” by Nick Corasaniti and Michael Wines for New York Times

Florida: “GOP Expects to Move Its Convention to Jacksonville After Dispute with North Carolina Over Pandemic Safeguards” by Annie Linskey and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “How the Black Lives Matter Movement Went Mainstream” by Jose Del Real, Robert Samuels and Tim Craig (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Outsider Tapped in Flynn Case Calls Justice Dept. Reversal a ‘Gross Abuse’ of Power” by Charlie Savage and Adam Goldman for New York Times

Maryland: “Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh Expected to Plead Guilty to Perjury in State Case” by Tim Prudente for Baltimore Sun

Ohio: “Councilman Matt Zone, Chair of Police Oversight Committee, Acknowledges Son Is a Cleveland Officer” by Robert Higgs for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Lobbying

National: “Ex-Sen. Trent Lott: Squire Patton Boggs took ‘low road’ in split” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications, decided 2020 was the year she would buy Girl Scout Cookies from anyone who asked. Yes, anyone who asked!

The result was Bartz bought 400 boxes of assorted Girl Scout Cookies. She bought from scouts in Ohio, Virginia, and Arizona. “I bought way too many cookies!” said Bartz.

So, what do you do with 400 boxes of cookies? Always thinking about corporate social responsibility, Bartz decided to give them to an organization. She posted on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn that she was giving away cookies to a worthy group.

Kara O’Neill (wife to WKDD’s Keith Kennedy) contacted Jaclyn Flossie from Red Oak Behavioral Health in Akron and said this was a perfect fit for them. The Red Oak team was the first to respond. They are a non-profit mental health agency serving the greater Akron community since 1963. They provide professional therapeutic and community support services for children, youth, families, and older adults.

Elizabeth Bartz and staff from State and Federal Communications had fun delivering them today. Bon appétit, everyone!

Campaign Finance

Washington: “Judge Orders Freedom Foundation to Pay $80,000 in Attorney General’s Campaign Finance Case” by Washington Attorney General’s Office for Access Washington

Ethics

National: “Joe Biden Let Police Groups Write His Crime Bill. Now, His Agenda Has Changed.” by Michael Kranish (Washington Post) for Laredo Morning Times

National: “GAO Offers Congress Steps to Protect Independence of Federal Watchdogs” by Kyle Cheney for Politico

National: “Trump Draws Rebukes for Suggesting 75-Year-Old Protester Pushed to the Ground in Buffalo Was Part of a ‘Set Up’” by John Wagner (Washington Post) for Laredo Morning Times

California: “‘This Is Money Laundering 101’; More People Charged in Widening SF Public Corruption Probe” by Staff for KPIX

Florida: “Jacksonville City Council Panel Investigating JEA Seeks Interviews with Curry Aides” by Christopher Hong for Florida Times Union

Lobbying

Mississippi: “Bill That Could End Practice of Public Officials Appearing in Public Service Announcements During Election Years Faces Critical Deadline” by Steve Wilson for Northside Sun

Procurement

Hawaii: “How A Major Campaign Donor Got A Million-Dollar Cleaning Contract in Honolulu” by Blaze Lovell for Honolulu Civil Beat

On June 10, the House of Commons will sit by order of a recall by the Speaker Anthony Rota, who issued the proclamation on June 8. Lawmakers are being recalled to consider a bill to enact certain measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The House had agreed to meet following the conclusion of the proceedings of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate, currently on an extended adjournment, is scheduled to next meet on June 16.

Since the start of safety measures to deal with the pandemic, the House and the Senate have been recalled under special standing orders for short one-day sessions.

Campaign Finance

National: “‘Bloomberg Loophole’ Paves the Way for Rich Donors to Ignore Contribution Limits” by David Moore for Sludge

South Carolina: “Judge Throws Out Upstate Lawmaker’s Suit Against SC GOP, Primary Challenger” by Maayan Schechter for The State

Elections

National: “Amid Pandemic and Upheaval, New Cyber Risks to the Presidential Election” by David Sanger, Nicole Perlroth, and Matthew Rosenberg (New York Times) for MSN

Tennessee: “Judge: Tennessee must allow postal voting for all amid virus” by Associated Press for Politico

Ethics

Colorado: “Ethics Commission Concludes Hickenlooper Violated Colorado’s Gift Ban for Public Officials” by Andrew Kennedy for Colorado Public Radio

Texas: “Furor in Texas GOP After Leaders Post Racist Memes That Suggest Floyd’s Death Is a Hoax” by Ted Armus, Meryl Kornfield, and Annie Gowan for Washington Post

Lobbying

National: “Feds Press Criminal Case Against Flynn Partner” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

Washington DC: “Trump-Connected Lobbyist Ends Coronavirus Contract with D.C. Amid Bowser, White House Feud” by Josh Dawsey and Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post

After 17 years of service representing District 15, Sen. Gary Jackson has announced his resignation effective June 30, citing growing health concerns.

Jackson was met with a standing ovation following his announcement on the Senate Floor.

Furthermore, a special election to fill Jackson’s seat for the remainder of his term ending in 2024 will be scheduled.

The Kansas Legislature adjourned its special session on June 5 after passing legislation to amend Gov. Laura Kelly’s emergency powers.

House Bill 2054 provides oversight on the governor’s ability to distribute federal aid and close businesses for longer than 15 days at a time. It also gives the Kansas Board of Education the power to close schools.

The bill further prevents the governor from using emergency powers to seize ammunition.

Additionally, the bill limits the sale of firearms during a declared state of emergency, including for COVID-19.

The measure has been sent to the governor’s desk for signature.

Campaign Finance

National: “Political Advertising Grows on Streaming Services, Along with Questions About Disclosure” by Fredreka Schouten for CNN

Elections

Texas: “Federal Appeals Court Extends Block on Voting-by-Mail Expansion in Texas” by Alexa Ura for Texas Tribune

Ethics

National: “Tech Group Files First Lawsuit Against Trump Over Executive Order Targeting Social Media” by Tony Romm for Washington Post

California: “Fundraiser Pleads Guilty in L.A. City Hall Corruption Case” by Joel Ebert for Los Angeles Times

New Jersey: “N.J. Legislative Aide Accused of Rape Resigns Though Investigation Found No Proof of Wrongdoing, Sources Say” by Susan Livio (NJ Advance Media) and Kelly Heyboer (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star Ledger

Legislative Issues

Arizona: “Attorney for Arizona Tells Federal Court Legislature Can Remove Members with Two-Thirds Vote” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for KAWC

Lobbying

National: “Rep. Steve King Toxic to K Street” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Redistricting

Nevada: “Judge Extends Signature-Gathering Deadline for Proposed Redistricting Commission Ballot Question” by Riley Snyder for Nevada Independent

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly has canceled legislative sessions for the week of June 8 to June 12.

In addition, the Joint Legislative COVID-19 Emergency Spending Task Force is expected to meet on Tuesday, June 9.

The meeting will be televised and live streamed online here.

Both chambers of the General Assembly are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 16.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Louisiana lawmakers called themselves into a 30-day special session that began on June 2, immediately following the adjournment of the regular session.

The special session agenda focuses on piecing together a more than $30 billion operating budget for the financial year that begins on July 1.

The session will also center on tax credit considerations, exemptions, and suspensions for businesses that were forced to reduce operations since March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On June 4, the Foreign Agents Registration Acts (FARA) Unit of the Department of Justice (DOJ) updated its public list “Letters of Determination” it has issued since 2017. The list was initially published on the DOJ’s website on June 1.

The 15 letters made public were sent by the FARA Unit to potential registrants after evaluations were completed by the unit to determine whether registration was required. The letters, issued between 2017 and 2019, set forth relevant facts, applicable statutory and regulatory provisions, and the unit’s analysis.

While the names of the individuals and foreign principals who are the subject of the letters, and their respective activities being considered by the FARA Unit, are not redacted, the letters do contain some redactions.

According to the FARA Unit, “[The FARA Unit of the DOJ] regularly reviews information to determine whether an entity or individual has an obligation to register under FARA. Where such information suggests that a registration obligation may exist, the FARA Unit sends a letter advising the entity or individual of its potential obligations under FARA, and seeking additional information.”

FARA is a disclosure statute requiring persons acting as agents of foreign principals in a political or quasi-political capacity to make public disclosure of their relationship with and activities for the foreign principal.