The Georgia Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session sine die yesterday, March 30, 2017.

In the final days of the session, lawmakers tackled issues such as a campus gun bill, tax credits, and medical marijuana.

Georgia is one of 17 states prohibiting guns on university campuses and Gov. Nathan Deal has shown his opposition to the issue, particularly by vetoing a similar bill last year.

The Mississippi Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session sine die on March 29, 2017, days before its anticipated adjournment date of April 2.

Gov. Phil Bryant is, however, expected to call a special session before July 1, the date a new budget is needed for the next fiscal year.

The House and Senate reached a stalemate over infrastructure funding and an internet sales tax. Gov. Bryant said he would call the special session when lawmakers reach an agreement.

The Idaho Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session sine die on March 29, 2017.

Major issues of this year’s session included proposed income tax cuts and funding for public schools.

A handful of legislators will work through the interim on updating the state’s public school funding formula. Many argue it is outdated and does not meet the needs of a modern education.

On March 27, South Dakota lawmakers met for the final day of the 2017 legislative session to consider five bills Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoed.

Two-thirds support is required to overturn a gubernatorial veto and lawmakers failed to raise enough support to override any of the vetoes up for consideration.

The next legislative session is set to convene January 9, 2018.

See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!

Both chambers of the Florida Legislature held organizational sessions yesterday, Nov. 22, 2016. Agenda items included selection of House and Senate leadership, administering the oath of office for new members and approving the rules governing the upcoming session.

Newly minted Speaker Richard Corcoran’s agenda to reduce the influence of lobbyists will take effect during the next session through the approved House Rules. Among the changes, lobbyists are now required to disclose the issues they are lobbying by filing an electronic notice of appearance; former members of the Legislature are prohibited from lobbying the House for six years; and no member of the House may accept private plane travel from a lobbyist or a corporation employing lobbyists.

The Senate also passed its rules but did not make such sweeping changes.

The Nevada Legislature adjourned a four-day special session sine die on October 14, 2016.

Lawmakers approved a bill allocating funding for an NFL stadium and the expansion of a convention center in Las Vegas as well as a bill to fund the hiring of more than 300 police officers.

Gov. Brian Sandoval is expected to sign the bills Monday, October 17.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin is considering calling a special legislative session for lawmakers to address the issue of teacher pay raises.

Budget cuts during the fiscal year were deeper than necessary, resulting in $140 million of unused and unallocated funds. She claims if legislators do not agree to a special session, the money would be distributed equally among all agencies.

While most lawmakers believe teachers deserve a pay increase, they are less than enthusiastic about a special session. Many feel the money should go back into the agencies suffering the most from the original budget cuts.

The Hawaii State Senate convened a special session on Wednesday, October 22, to consider judicial appointments to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit and to the District Court of the Third Circuit.

Private attorney Jeffrey Crabtree and Family Court Judge Christine Kuriyama were both confirmed for 10-year appointments on the Circuit Court. Margaret Masunaga, a former deputy attorney general and private attorney, was confirmed for a six-year County District Court term.

Following the confirmations the Senate adjourned sine die on Thursday, October 23.

Lobbying

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

“Inside NFL’s lobbyist draft drama” by Anna Palmer and John Bresnahan in Politico.

“Jim Nussle lands credit union job” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“These 2 Billionaires Spend More on Lobbying for Their Pet Issues Than Most Industries” by Tess VandenDolder in InTheCapital.

“Former Sen. John Breaux says he and Trent Lott are not lobbying for Russian bank” by Bruce Alpert in the Times-Picayune.

“Lobbyists ‘who know what’s good for them’ lose ball game to lawmakers” by Crystal Hill in The Hill.

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Clean Elections chief: Horne broke campaign law” by Bob Christie (Associated Press) in the Arizona Daily Sun.

Maryland: “Maryland Democratic Party targets use of campaign bus by GOP’s Hogan” by John Wagner in The Washington Post.

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin prosecutors seek ruling to restart campaign finance probe” by Brendan O’Brien and Mary Wisniewski in Reuters.

Ethics

Ohio: “Senate ethics allegations stir prosecutor’s interest” by Jeremy Pelzer in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Virginia: “Va. voters agree with McDonnells’ guilty verdict, want stronger ethics laws, poll finds” by Jenna Portnoy in The Washington Post.

Virginia: “Top Virginia lawmakers back stiffer ethics law after ex-governor’s conviction” by Gary Robertson in Reuters.

Elections

“2014 Election Primary Results” in Politico.

“2014 Governors Races: The Tossups” by Louis Jacobson in Governing.

“2014 Governors Races: Where Republicans Are Likely to Win” by Louis Jacobson in Governing.

“2014 Governors Races: Where Democrats Are Likely to Win” by Louis Jacobson in Governing.

“Scott Brown cruises in NH Senate primary” by Alexandra Jaffe in The Hill.

Legislative Sessions

Missouri: “Missouri Veto Session starts today in Jefferson City” by Korey Johnson in the Daily Journal.

Nevada: “Sandoval issues proclamation, calls special session for Tesla deal” by Laura Myers in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Tech and Social Media

“Breaking Government’s Cloud Procurement Gridlock” by Brian Heaton in Government Technology.

FLORIDA: The 2012 session of the Florida legislature adjourned on Friday, March 9th. Governor Rick Scott now has 15 days to sign or veto legislation, or the legislation will become law without his signature. Additionally, Governor Scott has called the legislature back to Tallahassee for a special session, set to begin Wednesday, March 14th. The session is slated to deal with the Florida Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the legislature’s redistricting plan for the state Senate.

INDIANA: Lawmakers concluded the 2012 legislative session at nearly 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 10th.

VIRGINIA: The General Assembly concluded the 2012 legislative session on Saturday, March 10, 2012. The assembly introduced 2,875 bills during the 60-day legislative session. Nearly 1,600 passed, and the Governor has already signed over 200 into law.

WEST VIRGINIA: The legislature of West Virginia adjourned sine die shortly before midnight on Saturday, March 10, 2012. The legislature then reconvened shortly thereafter on Sunday, March 11, 2012, to begin work on the 2012 extended budget session.

Anonymous and unsolicited text messages are being sent against democratic candidates in Virginia. Here is the Washington Post article “Anti-Democratic text messages in Northern Va. prompt lawsuit, complaints” by Anita Kumar.

Government Technology discusses the tension between the demands of government transparency and the realities of state bugdet constraints in “Transparency Demands Cost Governments Money” by Sarah Rich.

NCSL has updated their 2012 Legislative Session Calendar.

Judicial races are getting expensive. PoliticsPA.com posted “Pa. Rated as Second Costliest Judicial Elections; Candidates Weigh in” by Sari Heidenreich. Here is the recent study by the Brennan Center For Justice, “The New Politics of Judicial Elections: 2009-10” that ranks judicial elections in the states.

Photo of texting by Alton on Wikipedia.