Essential Ethics

Latest Developments: California Pay-to-Play Law Amended: SB 1243 and SB 1181 have been signed by the Governor and will make the following changes to the state’s pay-to-play law (known as the Levine Act) applicable to…

Latest Developments: Federal Campaign Finance Lawsuit Fails: Though it expressed sympathy, the Sixth Circuit felt constrained by U.S. Supreme Court precedent and rejected an attempt to overturn federal limits on political parties’ ability to coordinate…

Latest Developments: Federal Court Blocks Foreign Influence Rule: An Ohio federal district court has granted an injunction preventing the enforcement of Ohio House Bill 1, which was intended to limit foreign influence in elections by…

Latest Developments: AI Content in Election Communications: CNN reports that the FEC plans to seek public comment on rules requiring all radio and television broadcast stations that air political ads to disclose on-air if there…

Latest Developments: The Federal Election Commission published proposed regulations that would define “AI-generated content,” require certain disclosures, and require broadcasters, cable providers, and others to inquire whether an advertisement contains AI-generated content. Public comments are…

Latest Developments: Minnesota Lobbying Changes: The Minnesota Campaign Finance Board has issued an update on recent legislative changes, which includes no longer requiring grassroots lobbyists to register, raising the compensation threshold for when an organization…

Latest Developments: SCOTUS Rules that Corruption Law Allows Gifts to State and Local Officials: In a 6-3 ruling that reversed the conviction of an Indiana mayor who had accepted payment from a contractor with business…

Latest Developments:  Texas Requires Influencers to Disclose Paid Posts: The Texas Ethics Commission unanimously voted to amend a campaign finance rule, requiring influencers to disclose when they are paid to make posts and videos for…

Latest Developments: Massachusetts Public Employee Pays $17,000 Fine for Accepting Gifts: The Boston Herald reports that a department of public works deputy director has paid a $17,000 civil penalty for violating the state’s conflict of…

Latest Developments:  The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, in Cuomo v. New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying State Government, upheld a lower court ruling that found the state’s new ethics…