The Court of Appeals of Maryland issued an order postponing the 2022 primary elections.

Originally scheduled for June 28, the state’s highest court has moved the elections to July 19 due to ongoing legal challenges to the 2022 legislative redistricting plan.

There is a concern that a midsummer date could negatively affect local election boards’ ability to obtain the necessary personnel to run the election.

Additionally, some have expressed concern that this may cause confusion amongst voters, while others have welcomed the postponement as an opportunity to better educate voters on the issues and candidates ahead of the primary election.

Campaign Finance

National: “Russian Oligarch Andrey Muraviev Indicted in Political Contribution Scheme Linked to Illegal Donors to Trump PAC” by Dan Mangan for CNBC

National: “Trump Accused of Breaking Campaign Laws by Teasing 2024 Run” by Meg Kinnard (Associated Press) for MSN

Virginia: “General Assembly OKs Bill Creating Candidate Finance Audits” by Sarah Rankin (Associated Press) for Virginian-Pilot

Elections

Iowa: “Democrats Move Closer to Cutting Iowa’s First-in-the Nation Status for 2024 Presidential Calendar” by Michael Scherer (Washington Post) for MSN

Maryland: “Top Maryland Democratic Party Official Resigns After Questioning Electability of Black Candidates” by Ovetta Wiggins (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Document in Jan. 6 Case Shows Plan to Storm Government Buildings” by Alan Feuer (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

Colorado: “A State Lawmaker Dropped His Firearm Inside the Capitol While Hurrying to a Vote” by Bente Birkeland for Colorado Public Radio

Lobbying

National: “U.S. Lobbyists Connect Ukraine Officials with Powerful Allies to Help in War Against Russia” by Brian Schwartz for CNBC

The second regular session of the 122nd Indiana General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 8 after passing House Bill 1242 and Senate Bill 348.

Senate Bill 348 requires campaign finance reports to be filed electronically and allows for electronic signatures.

House Bill 1242 requires the Department of Administration to adopt administrative rules to establish a goal to procure in each state fiscal year at least 1.5% of state contracts with state agencies from minority business enterprises, nonprofit agencies for individuals with disabilities, veteran-owned small businesses, and women’s business enterprises.

The 2022 session of the Florida Legislature adjourned sine die on March 14.

Originally set to adjourn on March 11, the session was extended to enable the passage of the state’s $112 billion budget, which passed with bipartisan support.

However, most of the notable bills passed were approved along party lines, including a 15-week abortion ban, the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, the “Stop WOKE Act” and the creation of an election police force.

Meet Jim Warner, Esq., Assistant Director, Compliance Services!

What are your areas of expertise?   

U.S. state and local lobbying compliance; Canadian federal, provincial, and local lobbying compliance

How many years of experience do you have at State and Federal Communications?

I have been with the company for 13 years.

How do you help our clients?

I assist with the administration of the Compliance Department for all of our ALERTS clients.  I work on lobbying disclosures on a monthly basis for U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions.  I also work on a wide variety of projects, including those related to gifts and hospitality, political contributions, and shareholder disclosures.

Campaign Finance

National: “U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry Set to Go on Trial, Which Will Focus on His Memory and Money” by Todd Cooper (Omaha World-Herald) for Lincoln Journal-Star

Tennessee: “Tennessee Kickback Scandal Leaves GOP Reps Feeling Betrayed” by Jonathan Mattise (Associated Press) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Ginni Thomas, Wife of Supreme Court Justice, Says She Attended Jan. 6 ‘Stop-the-Steal’ Rally Before Capitol Attack” by Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) for MSN

Oregon: “One of the Creators of Oregon’s Legal Psychedelic Mushroom Program Leaves Advisory Board” by Lizzy Acker for Portland Oregonian

Vermont: “Ethics Bill Gets Green Light from Key Committee” by Lola Duffort for VTDigger.org

Lobbying

National: “Lobbying Broke All-Time Mark in 2021 Amid Flurry of Government Spending” by Jonathan O’Connell and Anu Narayanswamy (Washington Post) for MSN

Louisiana: “Louisiana Lobbyist Arrested for Domestic Violence Faces Restrictions, Questions at Capitol” by Julie O’Donoghue for Louisiana Illuminator

New York: “Adams Quietly Undoes de Blasio-Era Lobbying Disclosure Requirement” by Sally Goldenberg (Politico) for MSN

The Wyoming State Legislature adjourned sine die March 11 after passing House Bills 49, 80, and 100.

House Bill 49 requires organizations that receive contributions or expend funds in excess of $1,000 to file a statement of formation and increases penalties for failure to file an itemized statement of expenditures.

House Bill 100, a contentious redistricting bill, was finalized during the twilight hours of the 2022 session and provides a term limit for House members who were removed from the district because of legislative boundary changes.

House Bill 80, already signed by the governor, changed the reporting requirement for expenditure reports so all committees who contribute to another committee must file a report, not only if the receiving committee expended funds during a primary or general election.

The 2022 session of the West Virginia Legislature adjourned sine die on March 12.

Key measures passed include the $4.65 billion state budget and Senate Bill 4, which repeals the state’s ban on nuclear power plants first established in 1994.

Additionally, a proposed amendment to the state constitution shifting the power of public education policy and rule decisions from the Board of Education to state lawmakers was passed.

This proposed amendment will be submitted for voter ratification on November 8.

The 2022 session of the Virginia General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 12, but failed to complete and pass the biennial budget.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin is expected to call a special session to enact a budget once lawmakers have reached an agreement.

Passed bills included Senate Bill 57 to provide an exception to gift restrictions for certain tickets and admission if performing official duties; and House Bill 125 to impose a $10,000 penalty for illegal negative campaign advertisements.

Both bills now await gubernatorial action by Youngkin.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

The lobbyist gift notification to public officials is due on April 2.

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “Colorado Campaign Donation Limits Stand – for Now – After Federal Court Ruling” by Sandra Fish for Colorado Sun

Florida: “Disney Suspends Political Donations in Florida After Bill Restricting LGBTQ Discussion” by Kelsey Ables (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “State Board of Elections Begins Enforcing Campaign Finance Disclosure Laws” by Sam Mellins for New York Focus

Elections

National: “Inside the Effort to Disbar Attorneys Who Backed Bogus Election Lawsuits” by Tierny Sneed (CNN) for MSN

Texas: “A Texas County Didn’t Count 10,000 Ballots. Now the Parties Are at War Over Who’s to Blame.” by Amy Gardner (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

Hawaii: “Honolulu Councilwoman Tupola Likely Violated Ethics Laws, Commission Finds” by Christina Jedra for Honolulu Civil Beat

Lobbying

National: “Exxon Mobil’s Lobbying Report Sets Benchmark, ESG Advocates Say” by Ellen Meyers (Roll Call) for MSN

Ohio: “PUCO Orders Long-Awaited Audit into Whether FirstEnergy Used Customer Money for HB6 Lobbying” by Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Voters in St. Louis, Missouri will decide on April 5 whether to amend the city charter to include several new conflicts of interest provisions.

Proposition R would prohibit alderpersons from knowingly using their official position to influence others for their own financial benefit; require alderpersons to declare personal or financial conflicts of interest and abstain from voting when there are conflicts of interest; prohibit alderpersons from accepting employment or contracts that interfere with the discharge of public duties or create conflicts of interest; and require former alderpersons to wait at least one year before serving as a lobbyist to influence a city government decision.

Proposition R would also transfer redistricting from the Board of Alderpersons to a nine-member redistricting commission and change the name of the Board of Aldermen to the Board of Alderpersons.

A special election for Ward 28 will be April 19.

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon signed a campaign finance bill into law on March 10.

House Bill 80 states all political action committees or candidate’s campaign committees must file an itemized statement of contributions and expenditures at least seven days but not more than 14 days before any election, regardless if funds were expended in the election.

The bill also increases the penalty of not filing an expenditure report to up to $500 per day past the due date. This bill becomes effective July 1.

Following an ethics workshop discussing recommendations by the city’s Independent Ethics Board, the Tallahassee City Commission voted to move forward with introducing ordinances amending the city’s ethics code, including a ban on contingency lobbying.

However, the commission declined to move forward on other recommended changes to lobbying laws including changes to the definition of lobbyist; a lobbyist contact log requirement; and a charter amendment to give the Independent Ethics Board direct oversight over lobbyists.

The Washington Legislature adjourned sine die March 10 after passing a $64.1 billion state budget and a nearly $17 billion transportation package.

During the session, both houses passed Senate Bill 5196 and Senate Bill 5855.

Senate Bill 5196 allows the Legislature to call a special session through an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of both chambers.

Senate Bill 5855 allows the use of campaign funds to reimburse a candidate for expenses incurred for childcare, care for a person with a disability, or the care for a person with a medical condition that occurred directly because of the candidate’s campaign activities.

Both bills have been sent to Gov. Jay Inslee and await his signature.