Good morning, Denver. The State and Federal Communications team flew to town yesterday and today we are setting up our booth.

In fact, this is our 22nd year at NCSL…Would have been 23 had it not been for the pandemic. It is interesting how things have changed in the 22 years we have been at the conference.

State and Federal Communications considers the NCSL Legislative Summit as our #1 trade show to attend and we make sure our booth is inviting for our clients, and prospective clients, and friends. There really isn’t another conference like it. I am so impressed how bipartisan the programs are how well both parties work together for the states.

This year’s team includes Jean Cantrell, Rebecca South, Gamble Hayden, Jon Spontarelli, Anthony Didion along with my husband, John Chames, to build up our booth, attend sessions, welcome guests to our booth, catching up with our government relations friends from Washington State Relations Group (WASRG) and State Government Relations Group (SGAC), and attend a number of evening receptions.

Years ago…okay decades ago…State and Federal Communications also joined the NCSL Foundation and that has instrumental in meeting so many others not only in government affairs but also state legislators from all over the country.

It really isn’t too late to fly to Denver and register for the great programs, which include Kevin O’Leary—Mr. Wonderful—from Shark Tank along with Charlie Cook widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading authorities on U.S. elections and political trends. And if you are already in Denver stop by Booth 428 and we will “stateandfederalize” you.

Thank you.
Elizabeth Z. Bartz, @elizabethbartz

A majority of city voters endorsed Measure 2E, banning corporations and labor organizations from donating directly to political campaigns for city offices and lowering the cap on donations for mayor, City Council, and other government posts.

Beginning January 1, 2020, mayoral candidates will be prohibited from accepting more than $1,000 per donor, as opposed to $3,000.

Individual donations for at-large council members will drop from $2,000 to $700, and donations to district candidates will be capped at $400 instead of $1,000.

The Denver City Council approved a ballot initiative proposing the creation of a dedicated fund to match campaign donations of up to $50 per donor to candidates participating in the program.

The measure also requires public disclosure of all campaign spending, lowers contribution limits, and eliminates campaign contributions from corporations or labor organizations.

The ballot measure will be decided by voters in a special election held concurrently with the general election on November 6. If passed, the ordinance is effective January 1, 2020.

Voters in Denver approved a $937 million bond package to fund roads, parks, libraries, and cultural facilities.

The bond package, made up of seven different ballot questions, is the city’s largest ever and the first it has seen in a decade.

Support on all seven ballot questions was strong, the smallest margin of victory hovering above 60 percent.

There was no organized opposition to the package which covers about 460 repair and improvement projects throughout the city.

Voters in Denver approved a $937 million bond package to fund roads, parks, libraries, and cultural facilities.

The bond package, made up of seven different ballot questions, is the city’s largest ever and the first it has seen in a decade.

Support on all seven ballot questions was strong, the smallest margin of victory hovering above 60 percent.

There was no organized opposition to the package which covers about 460 repair and improvement projects throughout the city.

Denver City Council unanimously approved a proposal to close a loophole allowing campaign spending to go unreported if not coordinated directly with a candidate’s campaign.

Individuals, companies, and other organizations making $1,000 in independent expenditures, including electioneering communications, will be required to disclose all expenses and donors exceeding $25 within two days after reaching the $1,000 expenditure threshold.

The approved legislation also amends various campaign finance definitions, changes reporting periods for political committees, and imposes fines for late reports.

All bill provisions are effective Friday, September 15, unless otherwise provided in the legislative text.

Denver City Council is attempting to close a loophole allowing campaign spending to go unreported if not coordinated directly with a candidate’s campaign.

The measure would adopt the state definitions of independent expenditure and electioneering communication. It would also require individuals or entities making independent expenditures to file a report within two days of spending more than $1,000, itemize all contributions received exceeding $25, and clearly identify the source of funding for any paid advertising.

If the bill passes, other changes to city campaign finance laws would include differentiation between issue committees and other political committees, as well as a requirement for quarterly reports in the calendar year before an election and additional reporting in the weeks leading up to an election.

Council has scheduled a final vote for Sept. 11.

Denver City Council approved legislation on Monday amending the city gift rules. Council Bill No. 16-1202 establishes a $300 annual limit on meals, tickets, or free or reduced price admissions from persons or donors with a city interest.

Officers, officials, and employees may accept meals, tickets, or free admission to events regardless of the annual cap if the meals are provided to all attendees at a public meeting and consumed while the meeting is in progress.

The $300 limit also excludes meals provided to all members of any governmental, civic, or non-profit board if the officer, official, or employee is a member and if the meals are consumed in conjunction with any meeting of the board.

Finally, the limit excludes tickets or free admission offered by a charitable or other non-profit entity hosting the event and not by any third party.

The bill will be forwarded today to the mayor for approval and to the city clerk and recorder for attestation; it is effective tomorrow, March 8.

Denver City Council approved a bill this week amending the city’s lobbying ordinance. Council Bill No. CB16-0920 narrows the definition of lobbying and changes registration and reporting requirements.

Lobbying no longer includes appearances to give public testimony at council hearings or at the request of public officials or employees. Additionally, instead of renewing a registration each year on the registrant’s anniversary date, every lobbyist will be required to renew his or her registration annually by January 15.

Lobbyists are also now required to file bi-monthly reports. Such reports must include an itemized list and the estimated value of all gifts, entertainment, and direct or indirect expenditures to, on behalf of, or benefiting a covered official for lobbying purposes. The changes are effective immediately.

Denver City Council is one step closer to adopting amendments to the city ethics code. Proposed ethics reform would amend lobbyist and gift disclosure rules and increase transparency.

Council recently discussed a new dollar limit on event tickets from any donor with a city interest, and proposed making all public official gift disclosures and lobbying reports available online. Such proposals are set for a final vote on January 3.

In a separate proposal, Councilman Kevin Flynn is also seeking to amend ethics laws and set a $300 annual limit on tickets or event admissions from donors with city interests. His proposal could be considered by council late next month.

Brian Spano, chairman of the Denver Board of Ethics, has resigned due to a potential conflict of interest.

Spano is a law partner with Kristin Bronson, the newly appointed city attorney. Mayor Michael Hancock appointed Bronson in mid-August, and she will begin her position with the city on October 17.

Because the city attorney occasionally appears before the Board of Ethics, Spano is stepping down to avoid any questions about future conflicts of interest, real or perceived. His term was set to end in April. His resignation is effective October 19.

After being challenged in court by a lobbyist and political consultant, a proposed Denver ballot initiative was recently withdrawn by its backers.

The initiative would have lowered contribution limits for elected officials, banned corporate contributions to candidates, and created a public financing system for city elections.

The challenge alleged the initiative violated the single-subject rule for ordinances and the ballot title inadequately summarized the measure and included words intended to sway voters.

The measure was withdrawn for 2016 due to the resources required to fight the legal challenge and to run a fall campaign in such an expensive election season.

Denver Councilman Kevin Flynn is drafting legislation to amend the city ethics code.

His proposal will establish a monetary gift limit. Officials or employees in a position to take action benefiting a donor would be prohibited from accepting more than $250 from a donor in each calendar year.

Other proposed ethics changes may appear in a ballot initiative set to be finalized soon. The measure may include lower campaign contribution limits for local candidates and a ban on corporate contributions, as well as create a public financing system for local elections.

Proponents of the system argue it would provide incentive for candidates to build wider bases of funding support from small-dollar donors. The Denver Board of Ethics has been discussing changes to city ethics laws for nearly two years.