State House Majority Leader Mike Hager (R) resigned from the General Assembly to support himself financially and take care of his elderly parents. Hager was the majority leader for two years and a House member for five.

It is likely Hager would have been reelected in November as his only competition was an unaffiliated candidate.

The North Carolina Republican Party House District 112 Executive Committee has not yet named Hager’s replacement.

The Massachusetts Legislature adjourned its formal session on July 31 with a flurry of activity.

Lawmakers passed several significant pieces of legislation, including a campaign finance law requiring certain independent expenditure-only committees to disclose their top five contributors, a law regulating services like Uber and Lyft, and bills funding state infrastructure projects.

The Legislature will continue to hold informal sessions until the body is adjourned sine die in January of 2017.

Photo of the Massachusetts State Capitol by Fcb981 on Wikimedia Commons.

On July 18, the Alaska Legislature adjourned its fifth special session.

The Legislature failed to pass any deficit reduction measures the special session was called to address.

Following the unsuccessful eight day session, it is expected that further work towards budget reforms will wait until after the November election.

Photo of the Alaska State Capitol by Jay Galvin on Wikimedia Commons.

The North Carolina Legislature adjourned its short session on Friday, July 1, 2016. The session lasted almost 10 weeks with the biggest accomplishment being the passage of the state budget.

The next regular session is not scheduled until January 2017.

Photo of the North Carolina State Legislative Building by Jayron32 on Wikimedia Commons.

The Kansas Legislature has adjourned its 2016 session sine die today, June 1, 2016.

Following a decision by the state’s Supreme Court disapproving of how funding is distributed among public schools, many were expecting lawmakers to take action during its typically ceremonial session. Senate leaders, however, blocked any consideration of a school funding bill, causing both houses to adjourn the session.

Gov. Sam Brownback will now have to call a special session if any changes will be made prior to a court-imposed deadline of June 30. Many Republican senators, however, are pledging to defy the court’s ruling.

Photo of the dome of the Kansas State Capitol by Aviper2k7 on Wikimedia Commons.

On May 27, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a call for a second special session of the Louisiana Legislature. The special session will convene at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 6, and must adjourn by midnight on June 23.

The governor wants the Legislature to address the state’s budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning on July 1. The Legislature is currently in session and is schedule to adjourn no later than June 6, the same day the special session is scheduled to begin.

Photo of the Louisiana State Capitol Building by Chrismiceli on Wikimedia Commons.

Lobbying

Pennsylvania: “Pa. Officials, Lobbyists Split on How to Vet Business Propositions” by Brad Bumsted for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Campaign Finance

“Key G.O.P. Donors Still Deeply Resist Donald Trump’s Candidacy” by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns for New York Times

Massachusetts: “New Bill Would Rein in State GOP’s Fund-Raising” by Frank Phillips for Boston Globe

Ethics

Alabama: “One-Time Rising Star Hubbard to Stand Trial on Ethics Charges” by Mike Cason for AL.com

Colorado: “Audit: Colorado ethics commission rarely helps those filing complaints” by Joey Bunch for Denver Post

Hawaii: “Hawaii Lawmakers Again Balk at Ethics, Lobbying Reform” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat

Elections

“Why Democrats Are Set to Retake State Legislatures in 2016 (and It’s Not Just Trump)” by Amber Phillips for Washington Post

“Bernie Sanders Makes a Campaign Mark. Now, Can He Make a Legacy?” by Jonathan Mahler and Yamiche Alcindor for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Montana: “Term Limits Have Weakened Legislature, Some Observers Say” by Jayme Fraser for Helena Independent Record

Redistricting

Virginia: “Supreme Court Upholds Virginia Redistricting” by Richard Wolf for USA Today

On May 23, the Third Extraordinary Session of the 90th General Assembly adjourned sine die.

The primary focus of the special session was Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s $50 million highway funding plan. After three days, the plan was given final approval by the Legislature.

A package of government transparency bills making the governor and Legislature subject to Michigan public record laws has reported out of a House committee in a unanimous vote.

The reform package strives to open the majority of the Legislature’s records to public inspection and would eliminate many existing public records exemptions for the governor and lieutenant governor by including these records under the umbrella of the Freedom of Information Act.

Lawmakers are hopeful the bills will pass the Legislature prior to adjournment for the summer. If passed, the reform measures would apply only to records created after January 1, 2017.

The Kansas Legislature adjourned after passing a budget in the early hours of May 2, 2016. Lawmakers have been in session only 73 of the scheduled 90 days and will return to the state capitol on June 1 for a brief adjournment ceremony.

Leadership is hopeful business has been completed for the year; however, more work may be ahead as the state’s supreme court reviews changes to how more than $4 billion is distributed to school districts. Justices will hear arguments on May 10.

Photo of the Kansas State Capital dome by Aviper2k7 on Wikimedia Commons.

The 2016 session of the 87th General Assembly adjourned on Friday, April 29, 2016.

The House and Senate have agreed to continue state funding for Planned Parenthood clinics and to double the state tax credit for adoptions.

Legislators also approved a state budget of $7.35 billion, effective for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017.

The second regular session of the 127th Legislature adjourned sine die April 29, 2016.

The statutory adjournment date was April 20, 2016; however, the Legislature spent an additional nine days in session.

Legislators successfully overturned 20 of the 30 vetoes by Gov. Paul LePage.

Photo of the Maine State House by Albany NY on Wikimedia Commons.

With scheduled renovations to begin May 1 at the Alaska Capitol, lawmakers are moving to a new location before continuing to work to fix the state’s multi-billion dollar budget deficit. Constitutionally, the legislature can remain in session for up to 121 days, despite a 90-day limit written into state law after voters passed a ballot initiative in 2008.

Senate President Kevin Meyer wants to remain in Juneau as long as the legislature remains in regular session. Last year, lawmakers moved to Anchorage following Gov. Bill Walker’s call for a special session.

On Wednesday, Walker announced he is prepared to call a special session in Juneau if the budget issue, including his plan for a broad-based tax, cannot be addressed before the 121-day deadline.

The Mississippi Legislature has adjourned its 2016 legislative session sine die today, April 21, 2016. The Senate concluded its session yesterday, but a House member held a bill on a motion to reconsider, forcing the House to convene once more.

The adjournment comes several days early, having originally been planned for April 24.

Photo of the Mississippi State Capitol by Shawn Lea on Wikimedia Commons.