The Iowa Legislative Council extended the suspension of the 88th General Assembly’s 2020 regular session until 9:00 a.m. June 3.

This comes due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and could only change if the adjournment is shortened or further extended prior to that time.

This does not affect lobbying reporting.

Campaign Finance

National: “Courts Hamper Efforts to Shine Light on Digital Campaign Ads” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg Law

National: “Election Watchdog, Dormant for Months, Can Finally Move into Action” by Rebecca Ruiz for New York Times

Montana: “Dark Money Group Ordered to Disclose Details on Campaign Spending in Montana” by Tom Lutey for Billings Gazette

Elections

New York: “New York Democratic Presidential Primary to Proceed Following Federal Appeals Panel Ruling” by Shayna Jacobs and John Wagner for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “Democrats Open Investigation into Trump’s Replacement of Acting Transportation Department Inspector General” by Ian Duncan and Michael Laris (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Targeting Hunter Biden, Senate Panel Approves Subpoena for Lobbying Firm Over Democrats’ Objections” by Mike DeBonis for Washington Post

National: “Susan Pompeo Draws Scrutiny in Inquiry Over Dry Cleaning and Dog Walking” by Lara Jakes (New York Times) for MSN

California: “Here’s a Closer Look at the Ex-Deputy Mayor Enmeshed in City Hall Corruption Probe” by Emily Alpert Reyes and Joel Rubin for Los Angeles Times

Lobbying

California: “Newsom Raises Record $26M in Donations for Covid-19, Some from Companies Lobbying State” by Katy Murphy and Carla Marinucci for Politico

Mississippi: “Nonprofit Officials Spent $400,000 in Welfare Dollars to Lobby State Government. Public Education Funding Flowed Their Way.” by Anna Wolfe for Mississippi Today

The Illinois House of Representatives reconvened for a special session on May 20 in the Bank of Springfield Center to accommodate social distancing due to COVID-19 concerns.

Members were spread across the center’s makeshift House floor, sat at folding chairs and desks with a free-standing microphone beside each lawmaker’s workstation.

Both House Republicans and Democrats went into caucus at the Bank of Springfield center shortly after they convened the special session.

The Republicans moved to another space within the convention center, and Democrats remaining on the floor.

The Senate reconvened on May 18 at the Capitol.

On May 19, The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the Southern District Court of New York’s decision to reinstate New York’s uncontested presidential primary on June 23.

The presidential primary was previously canceled by the New York Board of Elections after Sen. Bernie Sanders announced the end of his presidential campaign.

After the ruling, commissioners for the Board of Elections stated New York would not appeal the decision of the Second Circuit.

On May 18, the final day of the regular session, the Alabama Legislature voted to approve with Gov. Kay Ivey’s amendment to Senate Bill 161.

This amendment allocates the $1.8 billion received by the state from the CARES Act.

Thus, the Alabama Legislature now stands adjourned sine die.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has scheduled a special election to replace Rep. April Weaver of House District 49.

Weaver recently announced her resignation to take a position with the Trump Administration.

If necessary, the primary election for the seat will be held on August 4 with a runoff set for September 1.

Additionally, the special general election will be held on November 17.

On May 19, the U.S. Senate confirmed President Trump’s nominee to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), restoring a quorum for the agency.

With the confirmation of James “Trey” Trainor, the FEC now has four commissioners, which meets the minimum threshold of commissioners required for any official action.

The Commission has two registered members of the Republican Party, one registered member of the Democratic Party, and one Independent.

Trainor is a lawyer licensed in Texas who specializes in election law, campaign finance, and ethics.

Trainor previously served in the president’s administration as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, in the Department of Defense, Office of General Counsel.

Trump had originally nominated Trainor to serve as a commissioner in 2017, but a hearing in the Senate was never held.

Two seats on the FEC still remains vacant.

Campaign Finance

National: “Phantom Super PAC Says It Returned Donations” by Zach Montellaro for Politico

Elections

California: “San Diego Ballot Measures for Ranked Choice Voting, ‘Clean Elections’ Take Key Step Forward” by David Garrick for San Diego Union Tribune

Ethics

National: “House Tells Supreme Court That Mueller Grand Jury Material Is Needed Now” by Robert Barnes and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for Laredo Morning Times

National: “Barr Installs Top DOJ Aide, Prosecutor of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Trespasser, Over U.S. Prosecutors in Washington” by Spencer Hsu and Keith Alexander (Washington Post) for Beaumont Enterprise

National: “Pompeo’s Moves Against Inspector General Leave a Trail of Questions and a Department Divided” by John Hudson and Carol Morello (Washington Post) for MSN

Michigan: “Bribery Case Against Detroit Councilman Could End in Plea Deal 3 Years After He Took Money” by M.L. Elrick for Detroit Free Press

Missouri: “Clean Missouri Proponents Sue to Have Lawmaker-Approved Repeal Question Rewritten” by Crystal Thomas for Kansas City Star

New Jersey: “Katie Brennan Settles Lawsuit Against State and Murphy Campaign for $1 Million Following Rape Allegation” by Kelly Heyboer and Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star Ledger

Oregon: “Oregon High Court Halts Ruling Nixing Virus Restrictions” by Gillian Flaccus and Andrew Selsky for AP News

The Minnesota Legislature left much unfinished when it adjourned sine die on May 18 as required by the constitution.

Both chambers expect to be back in a special session on June 12 when Gov. Walz’s current declaration of a Peacetime Emergency ends.

If Walz wants to extend the emergency declaration again, he is obligated by law to call a special session to give both chambers the right to rescind his declaration by a majority vote.

Although Walz calls the session, the legislative branch decides when it ends.

This also takes away the governor’s power to set the agenda for the special session.

Most of the bills passed were in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, a Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding was formed to allow the House to continue conversations about the pandemic after wrapping up its regular legislative session.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Rhode Island General Assembly has extended the delay of the legislative session.

House and Senate sessions have been canceled for the week of May 18 to May 22.

Additionally, the House and Senate Finance Committees are expected to review the administration’s third-quarter spending report this week.

Both chambers of the General Assembly are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, May 26.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Campaign Finance

National: “Donors Can Now Give $620,600 to Biden and DNC, Expanding Democratic Big-Money Fundraising” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post

Oklahoma: “Controversial Oklahoma Bill That Would Have Reversed Campaign Contribution Rules Permanently Killed” by Cassandra Sweetman for KFOR

Elections

National: “Freed by Court Ruling, Republicans Step Up Effort to Patrol Voting” by Michael Wines for New York Times

Ethics

National: “Trump’s Company Has Received at Least $970,000 from U.S. Taxpayers for Room Rentals” by David Fahrenthold and Joshua Partlow (Washington Post) for MSN

Alaska: “Alaska Lawmaker Says Hitler Was Not White Supremacist After Comparing Coronavirus Measures to Nazi Rule” by Hannah Knowles and Candace Buckner (Washington Post) for MSN

Legislative Issues

National: “Work from Home Congress? House OKs Proxy Votes” by Lisa Mascaro for AP News

Lobbying

National: “EPA Emails Reveal Talks Between Trump Officials, Chemical Group Before 2017 Settlement” by Rachel Frazen for The Hill

New York: “Who Exactly Is a Lobbyist?” by Rebecca Lewis for City & State

The Legislature’s first special session since 2004 ended Saturday night with three bills headed to the desk of Gov. Mark Gordon for his consideration.

The main task of the special session was to set up programs and time frames for the spending of $1.25 billion Wyoming received through the federal CARES act.

Though Gov. Gordon has the ultimate authority to spend the money, the approved legislation provides a broad outline of where that money will go.

On May 12, the South Carolina Legislature met to approve a resolution allowing the state to continue to spend money until the budget can be addressed later this year.

In addition to the budget and any potential legislation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Legislature may take up any legislation that has passed either the House or the Senate during the fall session.

As of May 14, the Legislature stands recessed until September 15

Campaign Finance

National: “Liberals Embrace Super PACs They Once Shunned” by Max Greenwood for The Hill

Maryland: “Super PAC Supporting Baltimore Mayoral Candidate Mary Miller Shuts Down After Email Details Strategy to Attract White Voters” by Talia Richman and Luke Broadwater for Baltimore Sun

Ethics

National: “Appeals Court Greenlights Emoluments Suit against Trump” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

National: “Fired Inspector General Was Examining Whether Pompeo Had a Staffer Walk His Dog, Handle Dry Cleaning, Official Says” by Mike DeBonis and John Hudson for Washington Post

National: “Sen. Richard Burr Stepping Aside as Intelligence Committee Chair Amid FBI Investigation of His Stock Sales” by Devlin Barrett, Seung Min Kim, and Katie Shepherd for Washington Post

Florida: “Curry’s Former Chief Administrator, Political Strategist Worked for JEA Bidder, According to Documents” by Christopher Hong for Florida Times Union

Lobbying

National: “K Street, PACs Not Eager to Attend In-Person Fundraisers Yet” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Auditor General Probing ‘Undue’ Outside Influence on Business Waivers” by Christen Smith (The Center Square) for Clearfield Progress