Empty sequences evaluate to be False, so I wouldn't find this offensive:

```python
            if self.requests_list.items and \
                    self.requests_list.items[item_number].approval_state is not None:
```

It bumps out to 86 columns, but this is the sort of case where I think that's appropriate.

Unless the explicit check against None is required, this could also work:

```python
            if self.requests_list.items and \
                    self.requests_list.items[item_number].approval_state:
```