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Essential Ethics

Essential Ethics is Nielsen Merksamer’s popular bi-weekly newsletter focused on developments in campaign finance, lobby disclosure, and government ethics laws across the nation. View our latest and archived posts below.

July 18, 2023

Latest Developments: Hawaii Prohibits Lobbyist Campaign Contributions and Expenditures: Hawaii SB 1493 was signed into law and effective immediately, it prohibits, during any legislative session and the five days before and after each session, lobbyist contributions and expenditures,…

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July 12, 2023

Latest Developments: Minnesota Chamber Challenges State’s Foreign-Influence Ban in Federal Court: MPR News reports that the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit in federal court, which seeks to block enforcement of the state’s law that imposes…

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July 5, 2023

Latest Developments: U.S. Senate Passes Bills Requiring Lobbyists Registered Under the LDA To Disclose Foreign Ownership or Influence: The United States Senate recently passed two bills that would require lobbyists, registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act…

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June 26, 2023

Latest Developments: The Federal Election Commission (FEC) Votes Against Requesting Public Comment on Use of AI in Campaign Ads: At its open meeting on June 22, 2023, the FEC discussed a petition requesting guidance that the prohibition on…

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June 19, 2023

Latest Developments: The State of California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Adopted SB 1439 Regulations: On June 15, 2023, the FPPC held a meeting to adopt final regulations on the application of SB 1439, which expanded the reach…

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May 31, 2023

Latest Developments: California SB 1439 Withstands Initial Legal Challenge: In the lawsuit filed by a coalition seeking to invalidate SB 1439 on the grounds that expanding California pay-to-play rules violates both the California Constitution and the…

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May 22, 2023

Latest Developments: The State of Washington Will Require More Disclosures From Grassroots Campaigns: Washington enacted HB 1317, and effective July 23, 2023, the new law expands the definition of a “sponsor” of a grassroots lobbying campaign, adjusts…

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May 17, 2023

Latest Developments: Minnesota Enacts Voter Registration, Election and Campaign Finance Reform: On May 5, 2023, the Governor of Minnesota signed HF 3 into law, which includes provisions for automatic voter registration and the criminalization of knowingly spreading certain…

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May 8, 2023

Latest Developments: The State of California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Reminds All City and County Attorneys That SB 1439 Is In Effect: On May 3, 2023, the FPPC issued a press release, notifying the public that…

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May 1, 2023

Latest Developments:  Maryland SB 269 and HB 192 Prohibit The Use of Cryptocurrency (or Any Non-US Currency) in Campaign Finance: Effective July 1, 2023, contributions to a campaign finance entity and donations to entities registered with the State Board…

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