Committee sends lobbying recodification (House Bill 398) to the floor with due-pass recommendation

Representative Bruce Skog (presentation recorded in the hearing as Bruce Gogg) presented House Bill 398, the lobbying component of a broader recodification of the sunshine laws. The bill reorganizes lobbying statutes, adds a definition of "indirect lobbying" (covering mailers, texts, social media and other methods intended to influence public opinion), requires monthly reporting for registered lobbyists year-round, and expands reporting requirements for state entities including universities.

The bill would require paid-for statements on public communications sent by lobbyists or organizations with registered lobbyists and would require state entities that lobby to report the subject of lobbying efforts. Sponsor testimony framed the changes as updating statutes written decades ago to reflect modern communications.

Members asked about exemptions and thresholds for registration; Secretary McGrane explained the statutory test requires compensation (more than $250) or expenditure to influence legislators and that elected officials and many executive-branch appearances are not captured by compensation-based lobbying registration. Jonathan Oppenheimer, government-relations director for the Idaho Conservation League, testified in support of transparency and urged careful tailoring; he also flagged one typographical error in the draft ("combination" vs. "communication" on page 11, line 15) for correction.

The committee voted to send House Bill 398 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. Representative Barbieri moved the motion; Representatives Hostetler and Scott were noted on the record as voting no. No negative testimony was recorded in committee for the bill.

Ending: House Bill 398 will move to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the committee expects continued discussion about implementation and exemptions as the bill proceeds.