Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea has scheduled a special election for April 3, following the resignation of former state Sen. Jamie Doyle.

Doyle, who represented Senate District 8, unexpectedly stepped down from office citing personal reasons stemming from his struggle with alcohol.

A primary election will be held on February 27 if more than one candidate from either party qualifies to run for the empty seat.

Rhode Island lawmakers returned this week to work through legislation abandoned by the General Assembly’s abrupt recess in June amid a budget dispute.

The General Assembly is considering a handful of bills including legislation requiring paid time off for workers who call in sick. There is no recess date planned.

The Legislature is scheduled for final adjournment on January 2, 2018.

A bill introduced in the Rhode Island House earlier this month would prohibit lobbyists from making any political contribution to any member of the General Assembly in any year during the period from January 1 through July 1, unless the Legislature has adjourned its business for the year prior to July 1 of the session year.

House Bill 5036, introduced by Representatives John Lombardi and Raymond A. Hull, amends Rhode Island Revised Statute §22-10, a part of the lobbying law repealed and replaced on January 1, 2017, with the Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act. The Act repealed the lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 of the state’s statutes and enacted a new consolidated code section covering both the legislative and executive branches of government.

The bill is currently in the House Judiciary committee and would take effect upon its passage.

On January 1, the Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act took effect. The Act repeals the lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 in the state’s statutes and enacts a new consolidated code section covering both the legislative and executive branches of government.

Among the changes in the new law are the simplification of lobbyists’ reporting requirements, an increase in penalties for failing to comply with lobbying requirements, and the allowance for more investigative and administrative authority for enforcing the lobbying laws, including administrative subpoena power.

Elections

“Donald Trump Is Elected President in Stunning Repudiation of the Establishment” by Matt Flegenheimer and Michael Barbaro for The New York Times

“News Media Yet Again Misreads America’s Complex Pulse” by Jim Rutenberg for The New York Times

“Republicans Keep Control of Congress”  by Eric Bradner for CNN

“GOP Dominates Democrats in Governors’ Races” by Michael J. Mishak and Ben Wieder for The Center for Public Integrity

Missouri: “Missouri Supports Voter ID, Campaign Limits” by the Staff of St. Joseph News Press

Rhode Island: “R.I. Ethics Commission’s Jurisdiction Over Assembly Is Restored” by Alex Kuffner for Providence Journal

South Dakota: “The Latest: Voters choose to allow public campaign finance” by The Associated Press for The Sacramento Bee

Campaign Finance

“Panel Upholds ‘Soft-Money’ Ban but Sends GOP Campaign Finance Challenge to Supreme Court” by Spencer S. Hsu for The Washington Post

Alaska: “Federal Judge Rejects Lawsuit Challenging Alaska’s Limits on Campaign Donations” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch News

On November 8, Rhode Island voters approved a constitutional amendment giving the Ethics Commission the ability to investigate and prosecute state lawmakers for ethics violations. Question 2, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission Amendment is aimed at deterring unethical behavior in the Legislature and will go into effect January 3, 2017. The amendment requires lawmakers to disclose potential conflicts and tightens rules regarding formal ethics complaints.

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission previously oversaw issues of misconduct in the General Assembly, but lost the authority in a 2009 court ruling.

The constitutional amendment passed 77.7 percent to 22.3 percent with 98 percent of precincts reporting.

On November 9, a public hearing will be held regarding proposed regulations for the new Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act. The hearing will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the State House, Room 313.

Additionally, a public comment period is open until November 27.

Senate Bill 2361 and House Bill 7388, both officially signed into law on June 13, repeal the current lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 in the state’s statutes and enact the new act. Among the changes are the simplification of lobbyists’ reporting requirements, an increase in penalties for failing to comply with lobbying requirements, and the allowance for more investigative and administrative authority for enforcing the lobbying laws, including administrative subpoena power.

The Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act takes effect on January 1, 2017. If passed, the new regulations will take effect on January 2, 2017.

Photo of the Rode Island State Capitol by Garrett A. Wollman on Wikimedia Commons.

On July 19, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted unanimously to bar people from filing ethics complaints 90 days before a general election. The commission still reserved the right to lodge its own internal complaints during the 90-day period.

With this rule, the commission believes it will prevent frivolous complaints, designed to influence elections, from being filed.

In 2016, the moratorium will begin August 10 and last until November 8, the date of this year’s general election.

Today, the 2016 Rhode Island Lobby Reform Act was celebrated at a ceremonial signing during a State House Library ceremony.

“This legislation provides the public with the means to easily discern who is lobbying for what, as well as, giving the Secretary of the State the means to root out those who are undermining the democratic process through unethical lobbying behavior,” said Sen. Lynch Prata, one of the bill’s sponsors, according to a State House press release.

Senate Bill 2361 and House Bill 7388, both officially signed into law on June 13, repeal the current lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 in the state’s statutes and enact the Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act. Among the changes in the bills are the simplification of lobbyists’ reporting requirements, an increase in penalties for failing to comply with lobbying requirements, and the allowance for more investigative and administrative authority for enforcing the lobbying laws, including administrative subpoena power.

The effective date for the two bills is January 1, 2017.

The General Assembly concluded its session and recessed on June 18. Any bills submitted to Gov. Gina Raimondo must be signed or vetoed by June 28. There is no pocket veto.

Photo of the Rode Island State Capitol by Garrett A. Wollman on Wikimedia Commons.

On June 13, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Marie Raimondo signed two bills into law changing the state’s lobbying laws. Senate Bill 2361 and House Bill 7388 both repeal the current lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 in the state’s statutes and enact the Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act.

Among the changes in the bills are the simplification of lobbyists’ reporting requirements, an increase in penalties for failing to comply with lobbying requirements, and the allowance for more investigative and administrative authority for enforcing the lobbying laws, including administrative subpoena power.

The effective date for the two bills is January 1, 2017.

On June 7, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed two bills changing the state’s lobbying laws.

Senate Bill 2361 and House Bill 7388 both repeal the current lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 in the state’s statutes and enact the Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act. Among the changes in the bills are the simplification of lobbyists’ reporting requirements, an increase in penalties for failing to comply with lobbying requirements, and the allowance for more investigative and administrative authority for enforcing the lobbying laws, including administrative subpoena power.

The bills now head to Gov. Gina Marie Raimondo, who has six days after transmittal (excluding Sunday) to sign or veto the bills or the legislation will become law without her signature. The effective date for the two bills is January 1, 2017.

Photo of the Rhode Island State Capitol by Garrett A. Wollman on Wikimedia Commons.

On May 24, the Rhode Island House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill changing the state’s lobbying law. House Bill 7388A creates a new system of lobbying regulation by creating one set of rules for lobbying both the executive and legislative branches of state government.

The bill also includes increases in fines, redefines lobbying, and allows the Secretary of State to have subpoena power to investigate violations. Other requirements in the bill include the reporting of lobbyists’ income and expenditures and the reporting of names of executive branch officials lobbied. A similar bill is scheduled for a vote in the Senate on May 26.

On May 19, Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea unveiled the launch of Open Government Interactive, an online tool to better understand and interact with the state’s public data, which includes lobbying information. Data visualization is provided through interactive graphs displaying the number and types of lobbyists registered, of organizations hiring lobbyists, and of lobbying relationships relative to legislative topics.

The state also includes other material with this interactive online tool, including public meeting information. “It is my belief that government must be effective, transparent, and accountable to the people it serves in order to succeed. Part of this transparency comes with the general public having access to information about meetings happening among our government bodies and knowledge of who is lobbying their elected officials,” Gorbea said in her press release. All data published is from 2011-2015.