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Senate committee advances bill to recodify Idaho "sunshine" lobbying rules, expand disclosure
Summary
The Senate State Affairs Committee voted to send House Bill 398 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The bill reorganizes Idaho’s 1974 sunshine laws to separate lobbying rules from campaign finance, expands indirect-lobbying definitions and reporting, and brings public universities under the same lobbyist reporting requirements.
The Senate State Affairs Committee voted to send House Bill 398 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation after sponsors and the secretary of state described the measure as a modernization and reorganization of Idaho's sunshine laws.
Representative Bruce Skogg (R-10) told the committee the legislation “reorganizes the Sunshine laws” and separates lobbying requirements from campaign finance. He said the bill seeks to add clarity and transparency rather than make wholesale policy changes. “First, indirect lobbying. It adds a clear definition in what constitutes indirect lobbying,” Skogg said, listing examples including email, text messaging, billboards, door-to-door, TV, radio, online ads and social media.
Skogg said the bill would require year-round monthly reporting by registered lobbyists, require lobbyists to disclose the subject matter of their lobbying activities, and require paid-for disclaimers on public…
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