Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation on March 18 allowing local governments the option to postpone the May 2 uniform election until November 3.

If a local election is postponed until November, it will postpone Texas Ethics Commission filing deadlines associated with that election.

However, if a political subdivision opts to hold local elections on May 2, the deadlines for campaign finance reports filed by candidates, officeholders, and PACs for races or measures on the May 2 ballots remain the same.

The Texas Ethics Commission does not have the statutory authority to extend these types of filing deadlines.

The 30-day pre-election report for the May 2 uniform election is due by April 2.

The eight-day pre-election report is due by April 24.

Gov. Greg Abbot has postponed the special election for the Austin area Texas Senate District 14 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The election will replace retiring state Sen. Kirk Watson, an Austin Democrat leaving office at the end of April.

The election has been moved from May 2 to July 14.

It is unclear whether additional action will be taken to delay municipal elections across the state, which are scheduled for May 2.

Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session of the Texas Legislature on Tuesday in an effort to push through a bill package necessary to keep some state agencies from closing.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick intentionally kept the legislation, known as a sunset bill, from passing in order to force a special session to discuss other items that did not pass during the regular session of the Legislature.

Gov. Abbott announced a 20-item agenda for the session but stated no other legislation would be looked at until the sunset bill is passed in full. Some other items listed on the agenda include school finance reform and mail-in ballot fraud.

The special session is scheduled to convene July 18, 2017.

Texas ethics overhaul, Senate Bill 14, passed unanimously in the Senate this week and is headed to the House.

Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement praising the Senate’s swift movement, stating his confidence the comprehensive reforms will be passed.

An identical bill, House bill 1238, as well as six separate back-up bills duplicating each of the six articles in the reform package, were filed to avoid replicating the failure of a large ethics reform package during the 2015 legislative session.

Ethics

Maryland: “Mosby’s Newfound Popularity Made Her a Sought-After National Speaker in 2015” by Justin Fenton for Baltimore Sun

Michigan: “Ex-Detroit Principal Gets Year in Prison for Kickbacks” by Jennifer Chambers for Detroit News

New York: “Independent Budgeting a Little-Used Practice for City Watchdog Agencies” by Aaron Holmes for Gotham Gazette

Ohio: “Fired Convention Center Caterer Sues Managers” by Lucas Sullivan for Columbus Dispatch

Oklahoma: “Ex-Oklahoma Reserve Deputy Sentenced to 4 Years in Killing” by Justin Juozapavicius (Associated Press) for Miami Herald

Pennsylvania: “Wolf Wants Lobbyist Legislation Tied to Campaign Finance Reform” by Brad Bumsted and Mike Wereschagin for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Texas: “Greg Abbott, Glenn Hegar Tell State Agencies to Stop Using Leave as Severance” by Lauren McGaughy and J. David McSwane for Dallas Morning News

Elections

“Inside Democrats’ Trump-Fueled Scramble to Take Back the House” by Ed O’Keefe and Mike DeBonis for Washington Post

“Doubts Creep into Trump-Clinton Polls” by Niall Stanage for The Hill

Colorado: “Raise the Bar Wants to Make It Harder to Change Colorado’s Constitution” by Marianne Goodland for Colorado Independent

On February 17, in his state of the state address, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott emphasized his desire for ethics reform legislation. Included in his proposals are requirements for more detailed disclosure concerning campaign finance, disclosure of elected officials’ contracts with public entities, and a prohibition of lawmakers voting on “legislation from which they could profit.”

Abbott challenged the legislature by stating, “The most important commodity we have as elected officials is the bond we share with our constituents. Transparency – and rising above even the appearance of impropriety – will strengthen that bond. Rejection of ethics reform will weaken that bond and rightfully raise suspicions about who we truly serve – ourselves, or the people of Texas.”

The governor’s entire address can be seen here: