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Witnesses back H686 to extend lobbying ad disclosures year‑round, urge clarifications
Summary
Secretary of State staff, VPIRG and the Vermont Natural Resources Council told the committee H686 would close a transparency gap by requiring reporting of lobbying advertising 'at any time' and recommended clarifying definitions (paid internet communications, mass mailings, robocalls) and the 'brief description' requirement to avoid ambiguity and unintended campaign‑finance effects.
Witnesses told the Government Operations & Military Affairs committee that H686 would end a reporting gap that currently lets some paid advertising aimed at influencing the legislature escape lobbying disclosure during the months between legislative sessions.
"Everything that is in this chapter needs to be enforced by the attorney general's office," Deputy Secretary Lauren Hibbert of the Secretary of State's office told members and recommended the committee seek the Attorney General's Office's input on…
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