Nationwide Round-Up: Changes to State Lobbying Laws

Several states have amended their lobbying laws in 2019, with a number of changes going into effect on July 1. Below is a summary of the most recent updates:

Idaho amended its lobbying law to expressly exempt members of a trade association from lobbyist registration when the trade association itself is registered and reporting as a lobbyist, and its members are acting at the trade association’s request or direction. The amended law also clarifies the procedures for corporate entities that register and appoint a “designated” lobbyist for the purpose of avoiding registration for their individual employees. 

Louisiana increased the dollar limit for its “meal and beverage” gift exception to $62 (previously $61).

Nevada amended its lobbying law to require lobbyists to file a supplementary registration statement within 24 hours if their registration information changes during a regular or special legislative session. For changes that occur when the legislature is not in session, the lobbyist has 14 days to file the supplementary registration statement. The amendments also clarify that the state’s lobbyist gift ban prohibits a lobbyist from arranging, facilitating, or acting as a conduit for a gift to a member of the Legislative branch or a member of his or her immediate family.

Beginning with the next report due on October 9, New Mexico will require lobbyists to disclose the cumulative total of all individual expenditures of less than $100 made or incurred during the reporting period. (Previously, expenditures under $100 did not have to be disclosed at all.) Stay tuned for additional updates on the state’s forthcoming independent ethics commission, which came into existence this month but will not have enforcement authority until January 1, 2020.