U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold resigned his seat in congress last week following a string of ethics investigations stemming from a 2014 sexual harassment allegation.

Farenthold, under fire for using $84,000 of taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment claim, announced his retirement in December, but said he planned to serve out the remainder of his term ending in January of 2019.

Gov. Greg Abbott is tasked with calling a special election to fill the seat for the remainder of the year. Gov. Abbott can schedule the special election on the state’s next uniform election date on November 6, or can order an emergency election on any other Tuesday or Saturday.

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned sine die at midnight on April 9, 2018. Lawmakers passed legislation involving sexual harassment.

House Bill 1342, bans lobbyists from sexually harassing a member, employee, intern, or page of the General Assembly, an employee of the Department of Legal Services, an official or employee of the Maryland Executive Branch, or an individual regulated lobbyist.

Additionally, a lobbyist may report a violation of antiharassment policy and procedures by a member of the General Assembly to the State Ethics Commission.

If Gov. Hogan signs the bill into law, it will be effective immediately, however, the section involving lobbyists will not be effective until July 1, 2019.

The Maryland House of Delegates unanimously voted on Monday to strengthen the General Assembly’s sexual harassment policies to cover lobbyists.

The bill authorizes a person to file a complaint with the State Ethics Commission against a regulated lobbyist who has sexually harassed a member or employee of the General Assembly, and it also allows a lobbyist to file a complaint against a member of the General Assembly for sexual harassment.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.