House Bill No. introduced by S. Fitzpatrick aims to revise existing laws related to lobbying in Montana. The bill proposes to increase the payment threshold for lobbyists from $2,150 to $3,000 and establishes a new method for adjusting this threshold for inflation every even-numbered year. The adjustment will be based on the consumer price index, with the resulting figure rounded to the nearest $50 increment. Additionally, the bill mandates that principals must file electronic reports detailing payments made for lobbying purposes, specifically when those payments exceed the newly established threshold.

The bill amends Section 5-7-112 and Section 5-7-208 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). It specifies that principals are required to submit electronic reports of lobbying payments, with deadlines based on the timing of legislative sessions and the amount spent. The reports must include detailed information about various categories of expenses and contributions related to lobbying activities. This legislative change aims to enhance transparency and accountability in lobbying practices within the state.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 5-7-112
HB0804_1(1): 5-7-112
HB0804_1(2): 5-7-112
HB0804_1(3): 5-7-112
HB0804_1(4): 5-7-112
HB0804_1(5): 5-7-112
HB0804_1(6): 5-7-112
HB0804_1(7): 5-7-112
HB0804_1(8): 5-7-112
HB0804_1(9): 5-7-112
HB0804_1: 5-7-112
HB0804_2(1): 5-7-112
HB0804_2(2): 5-7-112
HB0804_2: 5-7-112