2025 -- H 5720

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND

LOBBYING REFORM ACT

     Introduced By: Representative Brian C. Newberry

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-139.1-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-139.1 entitled "The

Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-139.1-6. Lobbying reports — Lobbyists.

     (a) Every registered lobbyist shall file with the secretary a report listing, for the indicated

reporting period, the following information related to said lobbyist, together with all updates to said

information upon each subsequent applicable filing:

     (1) All compensation that the lobbyist received for lobbying;

     (2) The name(s) of the person(s) who paid the compensation;

     (3) All expenditures made for the purpose of lobbying, other than routine office expenses;

     (4) All money and anything of value provided or promised to any legislative or executive

branch official which in the aggregate exceeds two hundred fifty dollars ($250) in the current

calendar year;

     (5) All annual campaign contributions in excess of one hundred dollars ($100) two hundred

dollars ($200) made to any elected state official, candidate for state-level elected office, or political

action committee;

     (6) The legislation by bill number or by the subject matter(s) of the lobbying; and

     (7) The executive branch officials or public bodies lobbied.

     (b) All reports shall be submitted on a form prescribed by the secretary, and the reports

shall be maintained as public documents.

     (c) Reports shall be filed by the fifteenth day of each of February, March, April, May, June,

and July for activity relating to the lobbyist’s activity during the calendar month immediately

preceding each said filing, and upon any termination of the lobbyist’s engagement. Reports relating

to the lobbyist’s activity in July, August, September, October, November, and December shall be

filed on or prior to October fifteenth, and January fifteenth of each calendar year for activity relating

to the lobbyist’s activity during the three (3) calendar months immediately preceding each said

filing, and upon any termination of the lobbyist’s engagement.

     (d) For purposes of this section, any in-house lobbyist shall disclose only that portion of

the compensation which represents a reasonable estimate of the percentage of the time spent by the

in-house lobbyist on lobbying activities.

     (e) Governmental lobbyists shall be exempt from the reporting requirements of subsection

(a).

     (f) For purposes of this section, any contract lobbyist who is employed by a firm,

corporation, partnership, or other entity shall disclose the total compensation paid to that entity, but

shall not be required by this section to disclose the percentage of said compensation paid to

individual partners, members, or employees.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND

LOBBYING REFORM ACT

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     This act would change the requirement for a registered lobbyist to file with the secretary a

report listing all political contributions from one hundred dollars ($100) to two hundred dollars

($200) per annual cycle.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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