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Committee introduces paired bills to require disclosure of out-of-state travel by legislators and state officials
Summary
Representatives introduced RS32618 and RS32619 to require disclosure of out-of-state travel by legislators and, in a separate measure, state executive-branch officials; the bills would require reporting of destination, dates, purpose and payer within 30 days but exclude trip value.
Legislators advanced two related bills intended to expand disclosure of out-of-state travel by public officials. Representative Stephanie Mickelson introduced RS32618 to require legislators to report out-of-state travel within 30 days, and RS32619 would apply similar requirements to executive-branch state officials.
Under the draft language Mickelson described, disclosures would include travel destination, travel dates, purpose and the name and address of the person or entity that paid for the travel; value of the trip would be excluded. Mickelson said the bills are intended to increase transparency while omitting the monetary value of trips from the disclosure requirement.
Committee members asked procedural and privacy questions. Representative Alfieri asked whether the bills exclude trip cost; Mickelson confirmed the value is removed from the disclosure. Members who supported the measures praised the sponsor for transparency; Representative Barbieri said she would have preferred a single bill covering both branches but supported introduction. The committee approved motions to introduce both RS32618 and RS32619 by voice vote.
What’s next: Both requests were introduced and will proceed through the legislative process. The sponsor and supporters said the measures are intended to standardize reporting across the legislature and executive branch.
