Substitute House Bill No. 5449 seeks to amend the current laws regarding lobbyist contributions during legislative sessions. The bill expands the definition of "state office" and introduces the term "municipal office," which refers to elective offices at the municipal level, excluding state senators and representatives. It prohibits lobbyists and lobbyist political committees from making or soliciting contributions to candidates or committees related to the General Assembly, state offices, and now municipal offices during legislative sessions. The bill also clarifies that these restrictions do not apply to candidates in special elections for the General Assembly or to exploratory committees for offices other than the General Assembly or municipal offices.

Additionally, the bill outlines new procedures for dissolving exploratory committees, including the requirement for treasurers to file a notice of intent to dissolve within fifteen days after a candidate declares their intent for a specific office, receives an endorsement, or files for candidacy. It details how to handle surplus funds and deficits, including returning contributions from lobbyists if the committee was established for non-prohibited purposes. The bill also updates language for inclusivity, replacing terms like "chairman" with "chairperson." Set to take effect on October 1, 2024, the bill has no fiscal impact on the state or municipalities and received a Joint Favorable report from the Government Administration and Elections Committee.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-608
GAE Joint Favorable: 9-608
File No. 488: 9-608