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'Amy Act' would require lobbyists to register before paid outreach; committee advances bill
Summary
SB2402 would remove a five-day registration grace period and require lobbyists to register prior to engaging in paid lobbying; sponsors cited recent mass messages falsely naming organizations as the impetus for the change. Committee discussion focused on the definition of 'lobbyist' and whether anonymous social-media posts would be affected.
Sponsor Senator Boyd told the committee she filed Senate Bill 2402 — called in committee the "Amy Act" — to require lobbyists to register before undertaking paid lobbying activity, eliminating a five-day grace period.
"I have asked that we take that grace period away and that they have to register prior to initiating out becoming a lobbyist," the sponsor said, describing recent incidents in which mass texts and messages used organization names that were not registered with the Secretary of State. She said she contacted the Secretary of State’s office when the messages circulated.
Committee members asked whether the change would broaden the definition of a lobbyist or require paid registration for anonymous posters. The sponsor and committee staff repeatedly said the bill does not change the statutory definition of a lobbyist; it changes only the timing of registration so that paid individuals must register before engaging in paid outreach. Senator Turner asked whether the county of registration or the individual would be subject to the provision; the sponsor said the objective is transparency about where messages come from, not to restrict free speech.
Senator Hopson raised hypothetical scenarios about anonymous social-media posters; staff responded that anonymous unpaid posters do not meet the statutory definition of lobbyist absent financial compensation or a client relationship. Several senators voiced support for the transparency goal while asking for clarity about enforcement and whether the legislation could create protectionist effects; the sponsor said the bill is limited to registration timing and does not alter lobbyist definition.
The committee voted to report the bill out of committee; the transcript records no roll-call tally.
