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House debate trims lobbyist disclosure thresholds; definitional amendment adopted, full bill left pending
Summary
Lawmakers debated Substitute House Bill 14 to lower lobbyist-reporting triggers from $100 to $15 and to cap reportable tangible gifts at $50; an amendment defining 'tangible personal property' was adopted but further amendments and final passage were left until the next sitting.
Debate continued Feb. 2 on Substitute House Bill 14, a lobbyist-disclosure proposal that would lower the reporting trigger for lobbyist expenditures to $15 and limit reportable tangible gifts to items over $50. Representative Connor walked the House through the bill’s two main changes: reducing the threshold for individual reporting from $100 to $15 and adopting a $50 limit for tangible gifts.
The sponsor explained that the $15 trigger would require a lobbyist to report the name of a legislator if the lobbyist spent more than $15 on that legislator; smaller items under $15 would be reported only in aggregate. The bill’s gift provision would prohibit legislators from accepting tangible personal property over $50 and would require reporting of higher-value event tickets or items.
Members debated a proposed amendment to clarify what qualifies as "tangible personal property." The amendment’s sponsor said the goal was to draw a clear line for criminal penalties tied to the provision and to exclude events, meals and tickets where appropriate; opponents said the amendment might still require reporting of small tokens and raised concerns that a very low reporting threshold could burden community groups and volunteers who use small items to communicate with legislators.
The House voted to adopt the definitional amendment and the amendment to the bill by voice vote. Several members reserved the right to offer additional amendments; before further action could be taken, a motion to adjourn carried and the House recessed until 10:00 a.m. the next day, leaving the bill at the same point in debate.
No final House passage of Substitute HB14 is recorded in this transcript; the definitional amendment and the narrowing of gift language were adopted and further action was deferred.
