SB 745: Strengthening and reforming lobbying requirements - West Virginia

Engrossed Committee Substitute → sb745 sfa garcia _1 3-31 adopted.htm · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to explicitly prohibit lobbyists from offering or providing political campaign contributions to elected officials, candidates, or their committees. This change strengthens the existing ban by clarifying that the prohibition applies to both the act of giving contributions and the act of soliciting them, closing potential loopholes regarding campaign finance.

Scope change

The scope of the prohibition was expanded to explicitly include the solicitation of campaign contributions by officials and candidates from lobbyists, in addition to the existing ban on lobbyists offering contributions.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new provision explicitly prohibiting elected officials and candidates from soliciting or receiving political campaign contributions from lobbyists.

Clarified the existing ban on lobbyists offering contributions to include specific mention of candidate committees, political party committees, and political caucus campaign committees.

Committee Substitute → Engrossed Committee Substitute · 3 edits · Apr 1, 2025

MINOR

The bill was updated to strengthen lobbying transparency and ethics rules. Key changes include expanding the ban on political contributions to cover candidate committees and political parties, clarifying who cannot solicit these funds, and slightly correcting the language regarding lobbyist identification badges.

Scope change

The scope of the political contribution prohibition was expanded to include candidate committees, political party committees, and political caucus campaign committees, broadening the restrictions on where lobbyists can direct their funds.

REQUIREMENT

Prohibited lobbyists from offering political contributions to new categories of recipients, specifically candidate committees, political party committees, and political caucus campaign committees, in addition to elected officials.

Expanded the prohibition on soliciting contributions to explicitly include candidate committees, political party committees, and political caucus campaign committees alongside elected officials.

Corrected a grammatical error in the identification badge section, changing 'shall be issues' to 'shall be issued'.

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 8 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add stricter lobbying restrictions and new transparency requirements. Key changes include prohibiting lobbyists from making political campaign contributions, raising the financial thresholds for grassroots lobbying campaigns, increasing lobbyist registration fees, and requiring lobbyists to wear identification badges on Capitol grounds. The bill also adds a new requirement for the Ethics Commission to create a searchable online reporting system and clarifies reporting rules for state agencies.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a new prohibition on lobbyists offering political campaign contributions and to require state agencies to report lobbying activities more frequently.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section prohibiting lobbyists from offering or providing political campaign contributions to elected officials or candidates.

Added a requirement for all registered lobbyists to wear an identification badge issued by the Capitol Police at all times on Capitol grounds.

Added a requirement for the Ethics Commission to develop a searchable electronic system for lobbyist registration and reporting by December 31, 2025.

Modified the exemption for grassroots lobbyists, reducing the allowed lobbying time from 25 days to 20 days per regular legislative session.

Added a requirement for state agencies and municipal subdivisions to issue reports on lobbyist activities to the Ethics Commission.

ELIGIBILITY

Increased the financial thresholds for grassroots lobbying campaigns, raising the three-month limit from $5,000 to $7,500 and the one-month limit from $1,000 to $2,500.

FISCAL

Increased the base registration fee for lobbyists from $100 to $250, plus $250 for each employer represented.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'Expenditure' to include 'advance deposit' as a form of payment.

Strengthening and reforming lobbying requirements

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