The bill amends the Lobbyist Regulation Act in New Mexico by introducing new definitions and expanding the requirements for expenditure reporting by lobbyists. Key definitions added include "beneficial client," "beneficiary," "contractual client," and "payee," which clarify the roles and relationships involved in lobbying activities. The bill also revises the definition of "expenditure" to specify what is included and excluded, and it introduces a more detailed reporting structure for lobbyists regarding their expenditures and political contributions. Notably, the threshold for reporting individual expenditures has been lowered from $100 to $50, and the required details for each expenditure have been expanded to include the date, payee, beneficiary, and purpose of the expenditure.

Additionally, the bill mandates that lobbyists file their expenditure reports electronically and provides a structured timeline for reporting, including specific deadlines for different types of expenditures. It emphasizes the need for transparency by requiring lobbyists to maintain records for two years and to ensure that their reporting does not duplicate that of their employers. Organizations that spend over $2,500 on lobbying-related advertising campaigns must also register and report their activities, further enhancing accountability in lobbying practices.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 2-11-2, 2-11-6