Essential Ethics

Latest Developments: The Illinois Legislature, after rebuffing the Governor’s request to amend SB 539 earlier, passed the requested amendments to the ethics bill at the beginning of a one-day session called to “consider a comprehensive energy package.” The Mattoon Journal-Gazette & Times-Courier explains…

Latest Developments: The Alaska Supreme Court sided with the Alaska Public Offices Commission in determining that limits on contributions to independent expenditure committees are unconstitutional. In APOC v. Patrick, the court found that existing limits are unconstitutional as applied…

Latest Developments: Multnomah County, Oregon (County Seat: Portland) announced that it will implement campaign contribution limits. According to the release, a “Circuit Court judge has ruled that Multnomah County’s campaign contribution limits are constitutional and do not violate free…

Latest Developments:  The California Fair Political Practices Commission adopted a new regulation requiring disclosure when a committee pays for website advertisements or third-party social media advertisements.  The commission also amended two other regulations related to online communications paid for by…

Latest Developments:  The Chair of the New York Joint Public Ethics Commission resigned.  She was appointed by the Governor to the position in February.  The Albany Times-Union reports that she told the Governor in June that she intended…

In Case You Missed It: Pay-to-Play Conviction: The New Mexico Attorney General announced that a Rio Arriba County Commissioner was convicted for violating the state’s procurement code. The Commissioner failed to disclose campaign contributions he made to an Española…

Latest Developments: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a new opinion in Thompson v. Hebdon. The previous decision of the court was vacated by the United States Supreme Court in 2019. (That Supreme Court case is here: Thompson v….

Latest Developments: The North Dakota Ethics Commission approved a $10 food and drink exception to its gift rules for public officials. At their July 29 meeting, effective immediately, “[f]ood or beverage with a value of $10 or less…[may be]…

Latest Developments: The Governor of Illinois indicated that he will sign SB 539, according to the Chicago Tribune. Among other things, the bill would expand state lobbyist registration to include local lobbyists, regulate consultants who work for lobbyists, expand revolving…

Latest Developments: The Pennsylvania Legislature passed B. 336 last month, which includes a provision that requires lobbyists file “equity reports” that disclose their equity interest in the entity for which they are lobbying. The measure became law this month without…