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Committee introduces RS32434 to tighten lobbying disclosure during session
Summary
RS32434, sponsored by Chairman Brent Crane, would increase transparency around lobbying by requiring weekly reporting during the legislative session and more immediate disclosure of expenditures; committee introduced the measure by voice vote and members sought clarity on whether executive-branch lobbying is covered.
Chairman Brent Crane introduced RS32434, a proposal aimed at increasing transparency in lobbying activity by tightening reporting requirements during the legislative session.
Crane said the bill would require lobbyists to report weekly during session so citizens can more quickly see expenditures and who is advocating on specific issues. “If they're influencing policy and they're taking lawmakers out to dinner … citizens have the ability to know right away,” Crane said, describing the proposal as an effort to make lobbying more open.
Representative Kortsklaw moved to introduce RS32434 and invoked Rule 80 out of an abundance of caution for the draft. Representative Nicholson and Representative Barbieri asked whether the draft addresses situations where lobbyists seek to influence executive-branch officials; Crane said that statutory coverage for executive-branch lobbying is handled elsewhere and that the current draft does not explicitly incorporate that topic.
The measure was introduced by voice vote. The chair said a later hearing would provide more opportunity to refine the draft and address questions about executive-branch coverage.
Ending: RS32434 was introduced and will be returned for further drafting and possible expansion to address lobbying of the executive branch if the committee elects to do so.
