Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan resigns

• On Feb. 18, Illinois state Rep. Michael Madigan (D) resigned from the Illinois General Assembly. Madigan had been a member of the state House since 1971, representing District 22. 
   
• “Fifty years ago, I decided to dedicate my life to public service,” Madigan said in a statement. “Simply put, I knew I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. I believed then and still do today that it is our duty as public servants to improve the lives of the most vulnerable and help hardworking people build a good life. These ideals have been the cornerstone of my work on behalf of the people of Illinois and the driving force throughout my time in the Illinois House.”
   
• Madigan served as House speaker from 1983 until 1995, when the Republican Party gained control of the chamber, and again from 1997 to 2021. In 2017, Madigan became the longest-serving state House speaker in U.S. history. In 2021, he was not re-elected as speaker after Illinois utility company Commonwealth Edison admitted its involvement in an effort to influence Madigan to pass favorable legislation through offering jobs, contracts, and payments to his associates. Madigan was not charged with a crime and has denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of the scheme. Chris Welch (D) was elected to succeed Madigan as speaker on Jan. 13.
   
• Vacancies in the Illinois General Assembly are filled by appointment by the party which last held the seat. Vacancies must be filled within 30 days by the respective party organizations covering the legislative district. As a member of the Cook County Democratic Party, Madigan has a role in choosing his successor.
   
• The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Illinois General Assembly. With Madigan’s resignation, the partisan breakdown of the chamber will be 72 Democrats, 45 Republicans, and one vacancy.

Jill Underly, Deborah Kerr advance from Wisconsin superintendent of public instruction primary

• Jill Underly (27.3%) and Deborah Kerr (26.5%) advanced to the general election from a seven-candidate field in Wisconsin's superintendent of public instruction spring primary on Feb. 16. According to unofficial results, Underly received 27.3 of the vote and Kerr, 26.5%. The superintendent of public instruction primary was the only statewide nonpartisan race on the ballot.
   
• Incumbent Carolyn Stanford Taylor, who was appointed in January 2019, is not running. Gov. Tony Evers (D) appointed Taylor after he resigned from the office in 2018. Evers was elected superintendent of public instruction in 2009, 2013, and 2017.
   
• Voters also decided two partisan state legislative special elections: 
  • John Jagler defeated Todd Menzel and Don Pridemore to win the Republican primary for the District 13 seat in the Wisconsin state Senate. The seat became vacant after Scott Fitzgerald (R) was elected to the U.S. House. Jagler will face Melissa Winker (D), Ben Schmitz (American Solidarity Party), and Spencer Zimmerman (Trump Conservative Party) in the general election.
     
  • Elijah Behnke won the five-way Republican primary for state Assembly District 89 with 44.5% of the unofficial vote. The seat became vacant on Dec. 2 after John Nygren (R) resigned to work in the private sector. Behnke faces Karl Jaeger (D) in the general election.
     
• The  Apr. 6 general election ballot will feature more offices, including three state appellate court seats and local nonpartisan seats.

Iowa requires public schools to offer full-time, in-person instruction

• Iowa schools were required to offer full-time in-person instruction as of Feb. 15. Legislation Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed on Jan. 29 requires schools to open but also allows parents to request a hybrid or all remote option for their children. Schools can request a waiver from the requirement to provide in-person instruction from the state Department of Education based on factors such as the number of teachers quarantining because of the virus. The bill passed the state House and Senate with the support of all Republicans and one Democrat. 
   
• Previously, Iowa public schools had to provide at least half-time, in-person instruction. Gov. Reynolds issued the part-time order on July 17, 2020. 
   
• Nationwide:
  • Four states (Calif., Del., Hawaii, N.M.) and Washington, D.C. had state-ordered regional school closures, required closures for certain grade levels, or allowed hybrid instruction only.
     
  • Four states (Ark., Fla., Iowa, Texas) had state-ordered in-person instruction.
     
  • One state (W.Va.) had state-ordered in-person instruction for certain grades.
  • Forty-one states left decisions to schools or districts.

Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson announces resignation

• Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson announced on Feb. 15 that she would resign, citing health and family reasons. Lawson said she will leave office as soon as a successor appointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) is ready to take office.
   
• “I have dedicated the last 32 years of my life to public service,” Lawson said in a statement. “I have served with all of my heart and soul. It has been an honor to serve, but it is time for me to step down. Like many Hoosiers, 2020 took a toll on me. I am resigning so I can focus on my health and my family. I will work with Governor Holcomb to ensure our next Secretary of State is up to the task and has the tools and resources to hit the ground running.”
   
• Lawson was first appointed as secretary of state by Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) on Mar. 16, 2012, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Charlie White (R). She was re-elected in 2014 and 2018. Her tenure of nearly nine years is the longest in the history of the office.
   
• The Indiana secretary of state is one of five statewide, elected offices established by Indiana's Constitution. It is responsible for maintaining state records, overseeing the state’s elections, and chartering new businesses, among other duties.

Rhode Island among states expanding vaccine distribution

Here are some notable changes to vaccine availability and distribution in various states during the past week:

• In Rhode Island, individuals 75 and older became eligible for vaccination appointments on Feb. 18. This marked the beginning of Phase 2 in the state’s distribution plan. On Feb. 22, individuals 65 and older will become eligible to register for vaccination. Previously, in Phase 1, nursing home residents and healthcare workers were prioritized.
   
• In Vermont, residents age 70 and above became eligible to register to receive coronavirus vaccines on Feb. 16.
   
• In New York, all adults with certain underlying conditions became eligible for vaccination Feb. 15. Qualifying conditions include cancer, moderate to severe asthma, obesity, and hypertension.

Kansas state Senator Bud Estes dies

• Kansas state Sen. Bud Estes (R) died on Feb. 13 after being hospitalized with an illness. He was first elected to state Senate District 38 in 2016. Before that, Estes was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing District 119 from 2013 to 2017. 
   
• Estes ran for re-election to the Kansas Senate on Nov. 3, defeating Edgar Pando’s (D), 68.9% to 31.1%. In addition to serving in the legislature, Estes had owned a farm implementation business.
   
• Republican precinct committee members will select Estes’ replacement, with Gov. Laura Kelly (D) officially making the appointment. Since the vacancy occurred before May 1 of the second year of Estes’ term, the appointee will serve until the next general election in November 2022. A special election will then be held for the seat, with the winner serving the remainder of Estes’ term.
   
• The Kansas state Senate currently has 28 Republicans, 11 Democrats, and one vacancy. Kansas has a divided government, and no political party holds a state government trifecta. A trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers.

Wyoming eases coronavirus restrictions, keeps face-covering mandate

• Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) issued an executive order, effective Feb. 15, extending the state’s mask mandate through Feb. 28. The order also raised indoor gathering limits from 250 to 500 people and outdoor gathering limits from 500 to 1,000. Indoor gatherings are still limited to 25% capacity, and outdoor gatherings are limited to 50% capacity.  
   
• In total, 39 states have issued statewide mask requirements. Thirty-five states currently have statewide mask orders, including all 23 states with Democratic governors and 12 out of the 27 states with Republican governors. Four states have lifted statewide mask requirements.

South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg charged with misdemeanors after police complete investigation of 2020 accident

• South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg (R) was charged with three misdemeanors on Feb. 18, including careless driving, operating a motor vehicle while using a mobile electronic device, and driving out of a lane. The charges are related to a car crash on the night of Sept. 12, 2020, when Ravnsborg fatally struck a pedestrian. 
   
• Toxicology reports determined that Ravnsborg was not under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of the incident. An investigation led by the South Dakota Highway Patrol found that Ravnsborg was distracted at the time of the crash and that Ravnsborg's car left the road before it struck the victim.

Two state officials test positive for COVID-19

• Idaho state Sen. Steve Bair (R) announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 16. 
   
• South Dakota state Rep. Hugh Bartels (R) announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 15.

Scott Jensen to resign as Rhode Island Director of Labor and Training

• According to The Providence Journal, Scott Jensen will resign as Rhode Island’s Rhode Island Director of Labor and Training on Feb. 22. The department provides employment services, educational services, and economic opportunities for both individuals and employers.
   
• Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) appointed Jensen to the position and the Rhode Island Senate confirmed Jensen in February 2015. Prior to the appointment, he worked in the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation for eight years. 
   
• According to Rhode Island law, any vacancy in the office shall be filled by gubernatorial appointment. If the state Senate is in session, the person may not serve for more than 10 days without Senate approval. If the vacancy occurs during a recess, the appointee serves until the next legislative session begins and their name must be submitted to the Senate for approval within three days of the legislature reconvening.

Voters recall Colorado school board member

• A recall election seeking to remove Lance McDaniel from his position as the District A representative on the Montezuma-Cortez School District Board of Education in Colorado was approved by voters on Feb. 16. Cody Wells was elected to replace McDaniel on the board.
   
• The recall effort started in July 2020. Recall supporters said McDaniel had shown a "lack of leadership and has proven to be a poor role model for our children," regarding several of his social media posts. The petition stated, "We need school board members that understand leadership and the power of mentoring, and know not to voice their personal, political, or social opinions that could influence children."
   
• McDaniel said he was not concerned about the recall effort. “When it gets down to it, I’m a loudmouth liberal, and they don’t like that,” he said. McDaniel said he stood by his social media posts. “The conservatives don’t like the fact that there are some more progressive people in the town,” he said. McDaniel was one of seven members on the board of education. He was appointed to his position in 2018.
   
• Three other school board recall elections have been scheduled so far this year. All three are in Idaho and are being held on March 9.

Ballot measures update

• Thirteen (13) statewide measures have been certified for the 2021 ballot so far.
  • No new measures were certified for the 2021 ballot last week.
     
• Signatures have been submitted for one additional 2021 initiative in Maine.
   
• Four statewide measures have been certified for the 2022 ballot.
  • No new measures were certified for the 2022 ballot last week.
     
• Signatures have been submitted and are pending verification for four additional 2022 initiatives in California and Michigan.

State legislative special elections

• Twenty-six state legislative special elections have been scheduled in 16 states so far this year, with five elections having taken place already. Heading into those races, Democrats had previously controlled two of the seats, and Republicans previously controlled three.
  • In special elections between 2011 and 2020, one party (either Republicans or Democrats) saw an average net gain of four seats nationally each year.
  • An average of 57 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past six even years (2010: 30, 2012: 46, 2014: 40, 2016: 66, 2018: 99 2020: 59).
  • An average of 88 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past five odd years (2011: 94, 2013: 84, 2015: 88, 2017: 98, 2019: 77). 
     
• Upcoming special elections include:
  • Feb. 23
    • Texas House of Representatives District 68 (runoff)
  • March 2
    • Alabama State Senate District 26
    • California State Senate District 30 (primary)
    • Connecticut State Senate District 27
    • Massachusetts House of Representatives 19th Suffolk District (primary)
  • March 9
    • Georgia House of Representatives District 90 (runoff)
    • Maine State Senate District 14