Citing an impasse with the Senate over Medicaid expansion, the Florida House abruptly ended its session today. With three days left in the scheduled legislative session, the Senate may choose to stay through Friday.

The Senate has insisted on discussing the expansion of Medicaid during budget negotiations, but the House has refused to do so.

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli stated he plans to return for a special session to resolve the conflict prior to a July 1 deadline.

Photo of the Old and New Florida State Capitols by Infrogmation on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Larry Hogan canceled the bill-signing ceremony scheduled for April 28, 2015, in response to rioting in Baltimore. Prior to the cancellation, Hogan released a list of over 180 bills he intends to sign, including a bill to change contribution disclosure reporting for lobbyist employers.

Senate Bill 767 modifies the threshold amount to include contributions in the aggregate amount of $500 or more, in order to match disclosure requirements of persons doing public business. The bill also changes semi-annual reporting dates to May 31 and November 30.

Since the bill goes into effect June 1, 2015, this year’s dates have been modified to August 31 and November 30. Previously, reports were due on February 5 and August 5.

House Bill 769, a bill making similar changes to contribution disclosure requirements for persons doing public business, is not listed as a bill to be signed. The final bill signing is currently scheduled for May 12, 2015.

Photo of Gov. Larry Hogan by Marrh2 on Wikimedia Commons.

The first session of the 29th Alaska State Legislature adjourned on Monday, April 27 after a week of frustrating budget negotiations. A deal was passed to fund the government through the fall.

Following adjournment, Gov. Bill Walker immediately called a special session; the session began today at 10:00 a.m.

Walker is not willing to accept a budget if it does not cover the full year. He ordered the special session to allow legislators an opportunity to discuss a fully funded state budget and consider pending legislation for Erin’s Law as well as Medicaid reform and expansion.

Photo of the Alaska State House of Representatives chamber by L’Aquatique on Wikimedia Commons.

The Montana Senate and the House both adjourned sine die on April 28, 2015.

Governor Steve Bullock, who does not have a pocket veto, has 10 days upon delivery to sign, veto, or recommend amendments to bills. The Legislature, which meets in regular session for 90 working days in every odd-numbered year, will have its next regular session in 2017.

Photo of the Montana State Capitol by Maksim on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Terry Branstad signed Senate File 135 into law on April 24, 2015. The bill increases political expenditures triggering filing requirements for committees to $1,000.

The bill also amends the definition of an independent expenditure to be one or more expenditures in excess of $1,000. It also makes anonymous contributions in excess of $25 illegal.

Beginning January 1, 2016, all committees not already required to file electronically must do so by 4:30 p.m. of the day the filing is due.

Senate File 135 takes effect July 1, 2015.

Lobbying

“Kevin Spacey’s Brilliant and Weirdly Effective Campaign to Win over DC” by Noam Scheiber for Washingtonian Magazine

“Collapse of Comcast-Time Warner Cable Merger Shows Limits of Lobbying” by Tony Romm and Alex Byers for Politico

California: “New Technology Makes Sacramento Politics More Transparent” by Joe Garofoli for San Francisco Chronicle

North Carolina: “Not Just Photo-Ops: Businesses gain from political visits” by Caitlin Byrd for Asheville Times-Citizen

Campaign Finance

“Never Before Have So Many People with So Much Money Run for President” by Matea Gold and Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post

Maine: “Effort to Place Repeal of Maine’s Clean Election Law on the Ballot Faces Opposition” by Alanna Durkin (Associated Press) for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Ethics

“Clinton Foundation Acknowledges ‘Mistakes,’ Emphasizes Transparency” by Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post

Indiana: “For Indiana Lawmakers, a $500,000 Ethics Question” by Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star

Montana: “Senate Confirms Motl as Political Practices Commissioner” by Charles Johnson for Helena Independent Record

Texas: “Ethics Watchdogs Question Fraser’s Energy Holdings” by Jay Root and Jim Malewitz for Texas Tribune

On April 24, the Montana Senate confirmed Jonathan Motl as the Commissioner of Political Practices. Motl has been serving in the position since June of 2013 when he was appointed by Gov. Steve Bullock.

His confirmation had been contentious because of a perception by many Republicans that Motl was partisan in his pursuit of violations of campaign finance laws. However, eight Republican senators joined all the Democratic senators to confirm Motl with a vote of 29 to 21. According to the Helena Independent Record, Motl said, “I’m delighted and humbled, and I fully remember that I work for the people of Montana, and I’ll do my best to make them proud.”

The commissioner monitors and enforces the state’s laws concerning campaign finance, lobbying, business interest disclosures of candidates and officials, and ethical standards of elected and public officials.

The 2015 regular session of the Washington State Legislature adjourned sine die on April 26, 2015.

However, legislators did not come to an agreement on the state’s budget.

Therefore, the Legislature will convene a special session on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, in order to complete the budget process.

Photo of the Washington State Capitol by Nicopoley on Wikimedia Commons.

Lobbying

“Bill Shuster Muscled Through Transportation Bill Pushed by Lobbyist Girlfriend” by Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, and John Bresnahan for Politico

“Taco Bell Lobbyists Thank Congressional Staff with 6,000 Tacos” by Lee Fang for The Intercept

California: “For Statewide Change, Advocates Are Making Their Battles Local” by Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times

Indiana: “Trinkets, Website Part of Gov. Pence’s Unique Lobbying Effort” by Ryan Cook for Indianapolis Star

New York: “Skelos Probe Sparks Competing Calls for Change in Nassau County” by James Galloway for Island Now

Campaign Finance

Pennsylvania: “Council Moves to Illuminate Super PAC Money” by Tricia Nadolny for Philadelphia Inquirer

Rhode Island: “Raimondo Signs into Law New Campaign Finance Measures” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal

Ethics

Illinois: “Ex-State Rep. Smith, Who Pocketed $7,000 Bribe, Gets 5 Months in Prison” by Jason Meisner for Chicago Tribune

Elections

Missouri: “Resignations after Election of Black Mayor Put Missouri Hamlet in Spotlight” by John Eligon for New York Times

Procurement

Florida: “Inspector General Questions County Contractor Deals” by Andy Reid for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly adjourned the 2015 session on Wednesday, April 22.

The session was highlighted by the passage of legislation allowing handgun-carry permit holders to be armed in any state park and a failed attempt to make the Bible the official state book. Lawmakers also approved the annual budget after rejecting a renewed attempt to authorize Medicaid expansion.

The 2016 session of the 109th General Assembly will convene at noon on Tuesday, January 12, 2016.

Photo of the Tennessee state capitol house floor by Ichabod on Wikimedia Commons.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin ordered special elections to fill vacancies in Districts 73 and 85 of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. District 85 is vacant due to the death of the Honorable David Dank; District 73 was left vacant after the Honorable Kevin Matthews won the special Democrat primary election for District 11 of the Oklahoma State Senate.

A special primary election will be held for both seats on July 14, and the special general election will follow on September 8, 2015. If a special primary is not necessary, the special general election will be held on July 14.

At its April meeting, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission increased the maximum individual contribution limit for the 2016 election cycle to $2,700.

The increase is the first mandatory increase approved by the commission since its new rules were adopted in 2014; the individual contribution limits will be adjusted automatically in conjunction with the consumer price index.

The new limit is currently in effect and will apply to all 2015 special elections.

On April 23, Rhode Island Gov. Gina M. Raimondo signed four campaign finance bills into law.

The bills make numerous amendments to state election laws regarding state campaign finance, including the requirement for segregated accounts, appointments of deputy treasurers, and filing of fourth quarterly account statements with the Board of Elections. The bills signed were Senate Bill 681 and House Bills 5789, 5840, and 5920.

In her press release Raimondo said, “Strong campaign finance rules and a more transparent system highlight our commitment to accountability for those who serve in government across the state.”

The legislation will take effect on January 1, 2016.

Photo of Gov. Gina Raimondo by Jim Jones on Wikimedia Commons.

John St. Croix, the executive director of the city’s Ethics Commission, has announced his intention to resign after 11 years leading the organization.

St. Croix’s resignation letter to commissioners did not give a specific reason for leaving, but did announce August 27, 2015, as his final day.

The resignation and search for a replacement is a discussion item on the commission’s April 27 meeting agenda.