Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lobbying And Ethics topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House approves tighter lobbyist reporting, lowers gift threshold and bars bundling in many cases
Summary
The Utah House passed a package of lobbyist-transparency measures including HB 373 (lowering the gift reporting threshold and restricting bundling) and HB 287 amendments clarifying registration and penalties. Supporters said disclosure restores public trust; opponents warned of overreach. 62-8.
The Utah House on Feb. 20 approved changes aimed at increasing disclosure of lobbyist spending, moving to lower the reporting threshold and adding new registration and penalty provisions.
Representative Perry L. Buckner, sponsor of HB 373, said the bill "is pretty straightforward" and is intended to cut the threshold for disclosure in half so the public can better assess gift-giving to legislators. The legislation also seeks to capture bundled expenditures by preventing lobbyists from dividing an expenditure simply to stay below the reporting limit, while allowing shared-costs when all participating lobbyists physically attend an event.
Supporters, including Representatives Franson and Tanner, framed the amendment as a needed fix to a loophole that has permitted nontransparent bundling. Representative Buckner cited prior audit figures and estimates—"Last year, there was $166,000 plus spent by lobbyists on legislators that's unaccounted for"—as a rationale for tighter reporting.
Opponents expressed concern about new compliance burdens and the message it sends to constituents. Representative Hickman said he found lowering the threshold "a little offensive" and questioned whether it would materially change behavior. Several members called the bill a reporting measure rather than a prohibition: "This is giving the public the right to know," Representative Barrett said.
Conflicts of interest were declared on the floor prior to final passage; Representative Lockhart noted her husband is a registered lobbyist and the notation was recorded.
The House adopted Amendment No. 1 (bundling restrictions with an attendance exception) as described on the floor. The bill passed the House 62 yes and 8 no and will be transmitted to the Senate for further action.
Next steps: the measures will go to the Senate for consideration; sponsors said administrative rules and enforcement details will follow as the bills move through the legislative process.
