The Maryland General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 12.

Key enacted legislation included the $1 billion pandemic relief enacted with Gov. Larry Hogan’s approval and sweeping police reform measures enacted despite Hogan’s veto.

Additionally, a hotly debated immigrants’ rights bill aimed at making Maryland a sanctuary state was also passed, but it is expected to be vetoed by Hogan.

The West Virginia Legislature adjourned sine die on April 10 after passing the $4.5 billion state budget.

Other major bills passed include establishing an intermediate court of appeals, COVID-19 liability protections, and the very controversial prohibition of transgender student-athletes from playing in single-sex sports.

Governor Jim Justice will have up to 15 days to sign or veto the session’s passed legislation.

The Wyoming Legislature adjourned sine die on April 7 after passing an increase to lobbying fees.

House Bill 148 raises the annual registration fee from $25 to $75.

Fees for individuals receiving $500 or less in compensation increases from $5 to $10.

The bill becomes effective July 1.

The Maine Legislature adjourned sine die Tuesday, March 30.

During the session, the Ethics Commission proposed Legislative Document 670 to increase the annual registration fees for lobbyists from $200 to $250 and lobbyist associates from $100 to $125.

The bill would have raised lobbyist registration fees for the first time in over 20 years but did not pass in the first regular session.

The Legislature also scheduled a special session to convene on April 28 regarding a proposed supplemental budget.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

A registered lobbyist is required to file monthly reports beginning the month they register through the lobbying year.

However, after the legislative session is concluded, if the lobbyist anticipates no further lobbying for a client, the lobbyist may file a request for a non-session waiver with their final monthly report for the session.

The 2021 session of the Mississippi Legislature adjourned sine die on April 4.

The session was mostly uneventful with most of the notable bills failing to pass including a proposal to overhaul the state tax system.

Among the measures that did pass were bills granting pay raises to teachers and an update to the state’s parole rules, which await the governor’s consideration.

This does affect lobbying reporting dates.

An end-of-session report is due on April 14, 10 days following adjournment sine die of the Legislature.

Georgia’s 2021 Legislative session adjourned sine die on March 31.

Among the measures passed is Senate Bill 202, which was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on March 25 and made sweeping changes to the State’s voting laws, including bans on mass mailings of unsolicited absentee ballot requests and polling places on buses among other changes.

Another controversial bill, Senate Bill 221, also passed and currently awaits gubernatorial approval.

Senate Bill 221 allows certain elected officials to chair and register PACs called a leadership committee which is not subject to the in-session contribution ban.

Further, contributions to and expenditures by these leadership committees are not subject to the state’s contribution limits.

Governor Kemp will have just over a month to consider action on Senate Bill 221, as well as, the other bills passed during the session.

The 96^th session of the South Dakota Legislature adjourned sine die on March 29.

During the session, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 112, permitting the governor to fill vacancies in several state offices by appointment with the advice and consent of the Senate.

If the Legislature is in recess, the governor is authorized to make a temporary appointment until the next session.

Also, House Joint Resolution 5003 submits a constitutional amendment to voters at the next primary election to require a three-fifths vote of the Legislature for any initiated constitutional amendment or measure that increases taxes or obligates the state to appropriate funds of $10 million or more in any of the first five fiscal years after enactment.

If passed, the constitutional amendment would be effective upon voter approval.

The Kentucky General Assembly voted to place a constitutional amendment on the November 2022 ballot authorizing the Legislature to change the legislative session end dates with a three-fifths vote in each chamber.

The proposed amendment also authorizes the Senate president and House speaker to jointly call special sessions lasting up to 12 days annually.

Currently, only the governor can call a special session.

The amendment also removes specific legislative session end dates from the constitution and instead provides legislative sessions in odd-numbered years are limited to 30 legislative days and sessions in even-numbered years are limited to 60 legislative days.

The amendment also changes the date legislation is effective from 90 days after the General Assembly adjourns sine die to July 1 or 90 days after signed into law, whichever is later.

This constitutional amendment will be effective upon voter approval.

The 55th New Mexico Legislature is set to adjourn sine die March 20.

During the session, several bills were introduced relating to lobbying and campaign finance.

Two key bills related to lobbying and the legislative session are advancing through the Legislature.

House Joint Resolution 13, relating to the legislative session, proposes to change the date each regular session of the Legislature begins and seeks to remove the restrictions on bills that may be considered in even-numbered years and the date laws would go into effect after adjournment sine die.

Under the bill, the legislative session would convene on the third Tuesday of February rather than January and would remain in session no longer than 45 days instead of thirty.

Additionally, bills would go into effect 75 days rather than 90 days after adjournment of the session.

If passed, House Joint Resolution 13 would be submitted to voters for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date that may be called for that purpose.

Separately, House Bill 244, relating to ethics commission responsibilities for campaign reporting and lobbyist regulations, provides the ethics commission, in consultation with the secretary of state, must issue advisory opinions when requested.

The bill designates the ethics commission, rather than the secretary of state, to receive any complaints regarding a violation of the Campaign Reporting Act.

Under the bill, the secretary of state may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of the Lobbyist Regulation Act.

If passed, House Bill 244 would become effective July 1, 2021.

Legislation not acted upon by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will be pocket vetoed on April 9, meaning passed bills will become law without her signature.

A special session or pause in the Nebraska Legislature is anticipated due to delays in delivering U.S. Census data.

This data is needed for redrawing districts served by state legislators, U.S. congressional representatives, and other elected officials.

Normally, the once-a-decade census is done by October, affording plenty of time for double-checks so that census numbers needed for redistricting can be delivered by April 1.

COVID-19 and other factors delayed the 2020 Census, and now state officials are expecting the census data to be delivered September 30.

This is three months after the regular session of the Legislature is scheduled to end.

A special meeting, session, or some of the 49-member Nebraska Legislature will be special accommodation, will be necessary.

Rather than calling a separate special session, the Legislature could decide to pause its 90-day session before its scheduled end date of June 10.

The session will, then, resume the remainder of the session in the fall.

Delaying the end of the session would also delay the implementation date for many bills until late into the year.

This created a strong argument for ending the regular session and then gaveling in a special session later.

No decision has been made yet because of the uncertainty due to the pandemic.

The Idaho House passed a constitutional amendment allowing the Legislature to call itself into a special session.

The legislation stems from lawmaker dissatisfaction with restrictions Gov. Brad Little put in place last March.

Specifically, those to reduce coronavirus infections and deaths.

The Legislature had adjourned for the year by then and couldn’t call itself back into session.

Idaho is one of 14 states where only the governor can call a special legislative session.

The legislation must now pass the Senate with a two-thirds vote.

It, then, would go to voters in the November 2022 general election, where a simple majority is needed for approval.

If voters approve it in 2022, lawmakers could call themselves back into session if 60% of members in each the House and Senate agree.

The 2021 legislative session will start off closed to all but lawmakers, essential staff, and some members of the media.

All others will participate virtually, according to a logistics plan issued by the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

The plan released on Thursday, less than two weeks before the legislative session begins on February 1, is similar to one in place during two special sessions over the summer.

However, the plan hints at broader access once core personnel are vaccinated for COVID-19.

Members of the public can watch hearings through the legislative website and through YouTube livestreams.

Those wishing to participate in hearings will do so by reservation and through Zoom.

Public comments can be made by phone, or through videoconference at designated locations being developed across the state.

Legislators will meet with constituents and lobbyists through Microsoft Teams.

Once lawmakers and staff have been vaccinated, lobbyists and members of the public will be allowed at hearings in person by reservation.

Participants who come in person will need to show documentation they have been vaccinated or take a free, rapid COVID test before entering the building.

In order to account for more virtual lobbying taking place, the plan also calls for an update to state law.

Only lobbyists who appear in person in the building will need to register with the Legislative Counsel Bureau and be regulated.

Lawmakers convened the 122nd Indiana General Assembly with several adjustments due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

These changes include moving the House of Representatives to the Government Center South building and installing plexiglass barriers in Senate.

Neither chamber is requiring masks despite a push by House Democrats on Organization Day for a mask mandate.

Republicans also have supermajorities in both chambers.

Lawmakers will be focusing on writing the two-year budget, which must be done by June 30.

Additionally, they will redraw legislative and congressional district lines when the state receives the population data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Illinois House elected Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch as speaker of the House.

This took place shortly after the swearing-in of newly elected General Assembly members, to start the 2021 regular session.

Welch succeeds Rep. Michael Madigan, the longest-serving statehouse speaker in U.S. history, and becomes the first Black person to hold the position.

Three women who were running for the position withdrew before the vote after Welch entered the race following an announcement by Madigan he was suspending his own campaign.