House approves lobbyist activity reporting bill after weeks of contentious floor debate

The House passed House Bill 143, the Lobbyist Activity Reports Act, in a divisive floor session that included detailed questions about enforcement, scope and whether the measure should extend beyond registered lobbyists to paid advocates and nonprofit-paid participants.

The bill’s sponsor described the measure as a transparency tool to let legislators and the public see who is working for or against particular pieces of legislation and when. “This bill would require lobbyists to file an activity report once per session within 48 hours of the commencement of lobbying activity as long as they don't change their position on that legislation,” Lindsey Bachman of the Secretary of State’s office told the chamber as an expert witness.

Floor debate focused on several issues: whether non-registered advocates who are paid to come to the Capitol should be covered, how the bill would treat nonprofits and small organizations, whether the 48-hour update window is practicable during frenetic late-session activity, and whether the Secretary of State should set rules. Sponsor (Representative) said the intent was not to “surveil” lobbyists but to capture the “lifespan of a bill” so constituents can see who shaped it at every stage.

Several amendments were offered on the floor. One amendment restricting lobbyist gifts and imposing a $50 cap on expenditures outside the session was offered and accepted as friendly. Two larger amendments aimed at expanding coverage to non-lobbyist paid participants and another that would have restricted political contributions by certain entities were hotly debated and put to roll-call tabling motions. House floor amendment number 2 (a broad restriction on contributions and other caps) was tabled by a vote of 30–26. House floor amendment number 3, which would have extended reporting to payments or tangible benefits received by non-lobbyists, was tabled by a vote of 37–26.

On final passage the bill, as twice amended, carried on the floor by a roll call of 36 in favor and 26 opposed. The bill requires electronic, 48-hour activity reporting and places reporting responsibilities on both registered lobbyists and, in defined circumstances, their employers; the Secretary of State retains rulemaking authority for report formats and posting. Supporters framed the bill as a transparency measure to level the informational playing field between paid lobbyists and ordinary constituents; opponents warned of operational burdens and potential overreach that could deter civic participation.

With House passage recorded, the bill will move forward for concurrence/next steps in the legislative process.