Essential Ethics

Latest Developments: The Governor of Texas signed HB 2677. The bill, which takes effect September 27, 2019, restricts a person who has made specified contributions and expenditures from political funds from lobbying for two years from…

Latest Developments: The United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, in Schickel v. Dilger, upheld Kentucky’s ethics laws, overturning a lower-court ruling.  The court upheld a ban on lobbyists’ contributions to legislators, a restriction on contributions to…

Latest Developments: The Governor of Washington signed HB 1195, but vetoed parts of the measure.  The bill revises campaign finance statues by changing definitional  threshold for an independent expenditure to $1,000 or more, requiring e-filing, allowing commissioners…

Latest Developments: The Federal Election Commission met this week.  The agenda included a discussion of pending opinions and an interpretive rule.  The Commission issued a final opinion to Defending Digital Campaigns, AO 2018-12, which allows cybersecurity services to be provided…

Latest Developments: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in United States v. Singh, upheld the power of congress to prohibit campaign contributions from foreign nationals to state and local candidates.  In addition, the court found that the…

Latest Developments: The United States District Court in South Dakota struck down a 2018 state constitutional amendment that prohibited contributions to ballot question committees from nonresidents, including businesses.  In SD Voice v. Noem, the court found that…

Latest Developments: The Governor of Maine approved B. 29, which bars legislators from registering as compensated lobbyists for one year after their term of office ends.  The measure applies beginning with the next legislature. Maryland has followed a trend of…

Latest Developments: The Governor of Maryland approved B. 79, which requires that lobbyist registrations and reports be filed electronically. The Governor of Alabama signed B. 289, which creates an exception from the requirement that a person register as a lobbyist if the…

Latest Developments: The Federal Election Commission staff has issued a draft opinion regarding the circumstances under which a political committee can receive contributions that consist of cryptocurrency mining operations.  The opinion is subject to public comment and review by…

Latest Developments: The Governor of New Mexico signed B. 3, a campaign finance measure.  Among other things, the measure revises campaign finance reporting deadlines and reporting thresholds, and revises the dates when an election cycle begins and…