Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and statehouse leaders announced there will not be a special session this July.

The July special session was to be called for deliberation on how to best allocate the federal relief money given by the American Rescue Plan, but lawmakers decided the discussion would be better served if it was delayed until the 2022 legislative session.

The Nevada Legislature reopened its doors to the public April 15.

Lobbyists can attend hearings and schedule appointments with lawmakers but must submit to a COVID-19 rapid test before entering.

Only 63 members of the public, or one person per lawmaker, can enter the building by appointment.

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.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will call a special session of the New Mexico Legislature tentatively for Wednesday, March 31 to address the regulation of cannabis in the state.

The Senate Majority Leader addressed the fact that there was not enough time in the 60-day session to pass House Bill 12 before the session adjourned at noon on March 20.

The length of the special session has not yet been addressed.

During a special legislative session, a lobbyist or lobbyist employer must file a report within 48 hours of making or incurring expenditures of $500 or more.

The Idaho Legislature voted to close down until early April after a coronavirus outbreak among members of the state House.

The recess, which will last until April 6, comes after six members in the lower chamber tested positive for the virus.

The recess will postpone debates on significant issues, including setting the state budget.

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.

Gov. Steve Sisolak signed Assembly Bill 110, which revises the Nevada Lobbying Disclosure and Regulation Act.

The bill changes the definition of a lobbyist by removing the requirement to appear in person at the Capitol building or any other building the Legislature or their committees hold meetings.

Currently, lobbying is taking place virtually because the legislative session is closed to all but lawmakers, essential staff, and some members of the media.

However, lobbyist registration has not taken place because the definition required in-person communication.

Assembly Bill 110 became effective upon being signed by the governor.

Commissioners appointed Fabian Donate and Tracy Brown-May to seats in the Nevada Legislature, filling two vacant seats the day after the 2021 Legislature convened in Carson City.

Donate will represent Senate District 10, a seat vacated when Yvanna Cancela resigned to take a position in the administration of President Joe Biden.

Brown-May will represent Assembly District 42, where Alexander Assefa resigned amid accusations of campaign finance irregularities.

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.

The Florida House and Senate have instituted COVID-19 safety protocols during committee meetings ahead of the 2021 legislative session.

For the month of January, Senate committee meetings will be limiting in-person attendance to individuals invited by the committee leaders.

Rooms at the Leon County Civic Center have been reserved and will be made available to other individuals wishing to remotely appear and provide testimony.

House committee meetings attendance will also be limited.

Individuals seeking to attend and provide public testimony must register online at least three hours prior to the meeting.

Once seating capacity is reached, individuals will be allowed to provide written testimony.

The testimony will then be distributed amongst the committee members prior to the meeting.

The new House protocols will be in effect until February 28.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced he was calling a special session of the Legislature during his State of the State address, delivered virtually for the first time in the state’s history.

He called the special session to consider the State Unemployment System.

Evers explained that, due to an outdated system, the Department of Workforce Development has struggled to keep up with an unprecedented number of claims.

The Colorado Legislature will convene for the 2021 regular session on January 13.

However, it is expected to pause soon after until February 16 due to growing COVID-19 concerns in the state.

Lawmakers will convene to address urgent business, including swearing in new members, as quickly as possible before temporarily pausing the session.

The tentative plan is to resume February 16 when leaders hope the peak of the pandemic will have subsided. However, work may resume earlier if there is an emergency that requires immediate attention.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Del. Derrick Evans has announced his resignation from the West Virginia Legislature.

This comes after being arrested and charged for his part in storming the U.S. Capitol Building.

Evans was set to serve his first term as delegate for West Virginia’s 19^th House District after winning the seat in November.

Gov. Jim Justice is expected to appoint a replacement for Evans in the coming weeks.