The Illinois House elected Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch as speaker of the House.

This took place shortly after the swearing-in of newly elected General Assembly members, to start the 2021 regular session.

Welch succeeds Rep. Michael Madigan, the longest-serving statehouse speaker in U.S. history, and becomes the first Black person to hold the position.

Three women who were running for the position withdrew before the vote after Welch entered the race following an announcement by Madigan he was suspending his own campaign.

Legislation aimed at reforming U.S. campaign finance, lobbying, and ethic laws is being reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 1, For the People Act 2021, is a sweeping 791-page bill incorporating much of H.R. 1 introduced in 2019 by the last Congress. That bill passed the House in the previous Congress but never got a vote in the U.S. Senate.

Among the changes in the bill, H.R. 1 restructures the Federal Election Commission and amends federal conflict of interest and lobbying laws. Introduced by Rep. John Sarbanes, the bill requires enhanced disclosure of donors making political contributions, creates a multiple matching system for small donations for political campaigns, and amends rules governing super PACs. If passed, the bill also requires presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns, prohibits partisan gerrymandering, increases oversight over election vendors, creates an automatic voter registration across the country, and changes registration requirements for lobbyists and foreign agents.

Another bill reintroduced is H.R. 244, Executive Branch Conflict of Interest Act, which expands and establishes new prohibitions related to conflicts of interest involving certain federal government employees, prohibits a federal government employee from accepting a bonus from a former private sector employer for entering government service, and increases lobbying restrictions to two years for certain senior officials. H.R. 244 also prohibits a procurement officer in the federal government from working for a company that received a contract overseen by the procurement officer during the officer’s last two years in government service.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced he was calling a special session of the Legislature during his State of the State address, delivered virtually for the first time in the state’s history.

He called the special session to consider the State Unemployment System.

Evers explained that, due to an outdated system, the Department of Workforce Development has struggled to keep up with an unprecedented number of claims.

In response to the unexpected death of Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Reese in early January, Speaker Bryan Cutler has announced a special election.

This election will be held during the May 18 primary in Pennsylvania’s 59^th House District to fill the vacant seat.

Campaign Finance

California: “U.S. Supreme Court Takes Up Dispute Over California Nonprofit Donor Disclosure Requirement” by Lawrence Hurley for Reuters

Nevada: “Nevada Lawmaker Resigns Amid Campaign Finance Investigation” by Sam Metz for Associated Press News

Elections

National: “A Siege on the U.S. Capitol, a Strike Against Democracy Worldwide” by Anthony Faiola, Shibani Mahtani, and Isabelle Khurshudyan (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “House Hands Trump a Second Impeachment, This Time with GOP Support” by Mike DeBonis and Paul Kane (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Backlash to Riot at Capitol Hobbles Trump’s Business as Banks, Partners Flee the Brand” by Josh Dawsey, David Fahrenthold, and Jonathan O’Connell (Washington Post) for MSN

Colorado: “Denver Mayor Hancock’s Office Still Exposed to Conflicts of Interest, Auditor Says” by Conrad Swanson for Denver Post

Michigan: “Michigan Plans to Charge Ex-Gov. Snyder in Flint Water Probe” by Ed White, David Egert, and Tammy Webber for Associated Press News

Legislative Issues

Illinois: “Michael Madigan’s Decadeslong Grip on Illinois Ends as House Democrats Set to Make Rep. Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch State’s First Black Speaker” by Rick Pearson, Dan Petrella, and Jamie Munks (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

National: “House Democrats Reintroduce Bill to Reduce Lobbyist Influence” by Alex Gangitano (The Hill) for MSN

Texas: “A Texas Lawmaker Worked with the State Restaurant Association to Draft an Alcohol-to-Go Bill. His Wife Lobbies for the Group.” by Mitchell Ferman and Juan Pablo Garnham for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Ethics Board Fines Ald. Austin $145,500 For Accepting Improper Campaign Contributions” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

New York: “New York’s Aggressive Elections Enforcement Chief to Retire” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Ethics

National: “Beyond Impeachment, a Push for Ethics Laws That Do Not Depend on Shame” by Elizabeth Williamson for New York Times

National: “Trump’s Nonprofit Inaugural Committee Improperly Paid a $49,000 Bill Incurred by His Company, D.C. Attorney General Alleges” by David Fahrenthold (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “Former Tallahassee Ethics Officer Julie Meadows-Keefe Charged with Stalking” by Karl Etters (Tallahassee Democrat) for MSN

North Carolina: “Charlotte Council Member Announces Sudden Retirement After Taking Construction Job” by Danielle Chemtob and Alison Kuznitz (Charlotte Observer) for MSN

Oregon: “Rioters Stormed the Oregon Capitol in December. Video Sows a Republican Lawmaker Let Them In.” by Katie Shepherd for Washington Post

West Virginia: “GOP West Virginia Lawmaker Who Live-Streamed Himself Storming the Capitol Resigns After Arrest” by Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Illinois: “In Politically Calculated Move, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan Suspends bid for Another Term but Doesn’t Bow Out” by Dan Petrella (Chicago Tribune) for MSN

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced a special election to be held on March 23 for the 38^th Senate District.

The seat was previously held by Sen. A. Benton Chafin, Jr. who passed away January 1.

The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office has increased contribution limits for the 2021-2022 election cycle.

Effective January 1, an individual may not contribute more than $5,300 per election cycle to a candidate committee for statewide office and legislative office. Additionally, an individual may not contribute more than $6,550 per election cycle to a candidate committee for district office, county office, town office, and city office.

Contribution limits for PACs have also increased. A PAC without Mega PAC status may not contribute more than $5,300 per election cycle to a candidate for statewide office. In contrast, a PAC with Mega PAC status may contribute $10,600 per election cycle to candidates for statewide and legislative office and $13,100 per election cycle to candidates for county, city, town, or district office.

A special election for April 13 has been set to fill a vacancy in New Hampshire House District Hillsborough 21.

The primary is scheduled for February 23, but may serve as the general election if no primary is required.

The filing deadline for candidates is January 15.

The Colorado Legislature will convene for the 2021 regular session on January 13.

However, it is expected to pause soon after until February 16 due to growing COVID-19 concerns in the state.

Lawmakers will convene to address urgent business, including swearing in new members, as quickly as possible before temporarily pausing the session.

The tentative plan is to resume February 16 when leaders hope the peak of the pandemic will have subsided. However, work may resume earlier if there is an emergency that requires immediate attention.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

On January 11, the Federal Election Commission’s published its civil monetary penalty amounts adjusted for inflation in the Federal Register.

The potential fine for civil violations of federal campaign finance laws have increased to range from $6,141 to $71,812, from the previous range of $6,069 to $70,973. The amounts are calculated through a statutory formula applying the most recent “cost-of-living adjustment multiplier,” issued by the Office of Management and Budget, to the current amounts.

The amended civil monetary penalties took effect as of January 11, the publication date.

A special election for Iowa Senate District 41 is scheduled for January 26.

Gov. Kim Reynolds called the special election to fill the vacancy left by newly elected Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who stepped down last month.

Following a recount, Miller-Meeks was certified by Iowa as the winner by six votes out of nearly 400,000.

The election result, however, is being contested by her Democratic opponent, Rita Hart.

A spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats will provisionally seat Miller-Meeks pending the outcome of the challenge.

The House can later decide Hart won the race and should replace Miller-Meeks.

Hart’s contest argues at least 22 lawfully cast votes, including 18 for her, were wrongly excluded due to a variety of errors.

The Associated Press has not called a winner in this race.

Campaign Finance

National: “U.S. Campaign Finance System Rocked as Major Firms Pause or Halt Political Contributions After Election Results Challenged” by Todd Frankel, Jeff Stein, and Tony Romm (Washington Post) for Seattle Times

Utah: “Tribune Analysis: Utah lawmakers spend unlimited amounts in campaign cash – sometimes in violation of state law” by Taylor Stevens and Bethany Rodgers (Salt Lake Tribune) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Dems Prep ‘Incitement of Insurrection’ Charge against Trump” by Lisa Mascaro, Bill Barrow, and Mary Clare Jalonick for Associated Press News

Kansas: “Wichita City Council Plans to Tackle Ethics Reform Following Clendenin Resignation” by Chance Swaim for Wichita Eagle

South Dakota: “City Insurance Now Covers Legal Defense If Mayor, Councilors Face Ethics Violation” by Trevor Mitchell (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) for MSN

Tennessee: “Tennessee House Speaker on FBI Raid: Those subject to search warrants on ‘administrative leave’” by Natalie Allison (Tennessean) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “As Biden Raises Money for His Virtual Inauguration, Lobbyists Prepare for a Scaled-Down Schmooze-Fest” by Fredreka Schouten for CNN

Minnesota: “State Board Proposals Would Change How Lobbying Activities Are Reported in Minnesota” by Peter Callaghan for Minnesota Post

Oklahoma: “Former Stitt Staffer Lobbying for Company Bidding on State Medicaid Contract” by Carmen Forman for The Oklahoman

The Illinois Legislature began a final session for the 101st General Assembly on January 8.

The Senate met at the Capitol while the House met at the Bank of Springfield Center.

The separate meeting locations accommodated social distancing due to COVID-19 concerns.

Rep. Patrick Windhorst indicated if ethics reforms were not addressed, he would refile a proposal for the 102nd General Assembly, set to convene January 13.

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan announced he is suspending his bid for another term as speaker, but is not withdrawing from the race.

A speaker must be elected before the House of Representatives can begin work.