Gov. Eric Holcomb called a special election to be held for Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District on November 8 to fill the vacancy created by the death of U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski following a tragic car accident on August 3.

Due to the timing of the vacancy, the state committee of each political party will select a candidate to be placed on the ballot by August 26.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a proclamation calling a special session of the General Assembly beginning July 6 to take action on his plan to distribute $1 billion in tax relief to Hoosiers due to inflation.

The special session also would open the door for lawmakers to pass legislation addressing other issues.

Special sessions may last up to 30 session days, but no more than 40 calendar days after they begin.

The ban on contributions during session does not apply to special sessions in Indiana.

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced he plans to call Indiana lawmakers back into a special session this month to distribute $1 billion in tax relief to Hoosiers due to inflation.

The special session also would open the door for lawmakers to pass legislation addressing other issues.

The governor’s office said lawmakers could decide if they wanted to address other issues at the special session.

No date has been set for the session to begin but Holcomb stated it would be before the end of June.

Indiana lawmakers canceled the one-day special session scheduled for November 29, and Gov. Eric Holcomb has extended the COVID-19 emergency.

The session’s agenda, ending the public health emergency, has been delayed to the January legislative session.

The Indiana Supreme Court decided to hear Gov. Holcomb’s challenge to House Enrolled Act 1123, permitting the Legislature to call itself into special session.

Oral arguments are scheduled in April after the Legislature ends its session on March 14, 2022.

If the General Assembly called itself into a special session, any laws passed could be subject to a constitutional challenge.

The Marion Superior Court ruled that the Indiana General Assembly has the authority to convene emergency legislative sessions without the governor’s consent under House Enrolled Act 1123.

Gov. Eric Holcomb filed the lawsuit, claiming the new law was unconstitutional because it impermissibly infringes upon his constitutional authority.

Marion Superior Judge Patrick Dietrick ruled that the General Assembly now has complete authority to set the rules governing the timing of its sessions.

It may extend its session, as it did this year to complete the redistricting process, or enact measures such as HEA 1123, giving it the ability to commence a session limited to a specified agenda.

Gov. Holcomb is expected to appeal the decision.

Lawmakers recessed the 2021 session early rather than adjourning sine die.

Gov. Eric Holcomb signed House Bill 1372 into law extending the legislative session until November 15 in order to vote on redistricting because the coronavirus pandemic postponed 2020 census results.

Though the session has never been extended, the Indiana Constitution states the length of the legislative session is set by law, so the move is not unconstitutional.

House Bill 1372 states the current April 29 deadline will still be in place for future long sessions, and in all other aspects, the legislative session will act as though it is adjourning for the year, including fundraising.

House Bill 1372 permits lawmakers to start fundraising again on April 29, instead of on the usual day when the General Assembly adjourns the session sine die.

Incumbent Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb was reelected in the biggest statewide race on the ballot this year.

Holcomb defeated Democrat Dr. Woodrow A. Myers by roughly 28 percentage points, and third-party Libertarian candidate Donald Rainwater by over 45 percentage points as of Wednesday morning.

At the time of this post, 74% of votes are counted.

The Election Commission has suspended the normal requirements for absentee balloting in the June 2 presidential and state primary elections.

Gov. Eric Holcomb postponed the presidential and state primary elections to June 2 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Indiana Election Commission Order 2020-37 authorizes the temporary suspension of the state’s statutory absentee voting eligibility requirements.

This will allow all voters to cast their ballots by mail.

The Lobby Registration Commission staff will be working from home until April 7 to comply with Executive Order 20-09, issued by Gov. Eric Holcomb on March 24.

Certain procedures have been changed until further notice.

During this time, any reporting or lobbying law questions should be emailed to Ed Ferguson at eferguson@lrc.in.gov.

Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and all other inquiries may be submitted by email to Amy Nicholson at amynicholson@lrc.in.gov.

MOUs must include a current phone number and contact name.

Submitters will be contacted via telephone to provide the social security number.

Executive Order 20-09 also extended the expiration date for any state agency-issued license, certification, or permit expiring during the public health emergency to May 22.

The second regular session of the 121st General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 12, after a 14-hour session.

Gov. Eric Holcomb signed 25 of the 45 bills received in the last two days of the session.

This is including one providing for electronic filing of campaign finance reports by candidates and committees.

Additionally, Holcomb signed a bill preventing the state and political subdivisions from contracting with a “prohibited person”.

This is officially defined as a person designated as posing a national security threat to the integrity of communications networks.

As a result, the remaining acts passed by the Legislature become law on the eighth day after presentment if Holcomb does not sign or veto them.

Lobbying

“Lobbyists Celebrate Democratic Party’s New Embrace at Convention” by Jay Newton-Small for Time

California: “Judge Questions Private Talks Between Coastal Commissioners and Developer’s Consultants” by Dan Weikel for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

“George Soros Rises Again” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico

California: “‘Behested Payments’ Add Another Layer of Money in Politics” by Tracy Wood for Voice of OC

Indiana: “Eric Holcomb’s Access to Mike Pence’s Campaign Cash Might Be Restricted” by Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star

Ethics

Texas: “Texas AG Took Gift While Investigating Company” by Associated Press for Texarkana Gazette

Elections

“Donald Trump Calls on Russia to Find Hillary Clinton’s Missing Emails” by Ashley Parker and David Sanger for New York Times

“Bill Clinton Praises His Wife’s Feminine Side” by Patrick Healy for New York Times

“Democrats Discreetly Turn Attention to Presidential Prospects of the Future” by Michael Shear for New York Times