The bill amends Title 65 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, specifically focusing on lobbying disclosure regulations. It revises the definition of "personnel expense" to include various forms of compensation for lobbyists and related staff, while also clarifying that individuals exempt from reporting under section 13A06 are included in this definition. Additionally, the registration process for lobbyists, lobbying firms, and principals is updated to establish a biennial registration system, automatically renewing registrations unless a termination notice is filed. The bill also introduces new reporting thresholds, lowering the expense reporting requirement from $2,500 to $1 for registered principals, and establishes additional reporting requirements for campaign consulting expenses exceeding $2,500.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the exemptions from registration and reporting, removing certain previous exemptions while adding new ones, such as for individuals whose economic consideration for campaign consulting does not exceed $2,500. It also mandates that audit reports and findings be made public, enhancing transparency in the lobbying process. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is tasked with conducting audits every two years, and the bill includes provisions for biennial reviews of registration and reporting thresholds to ensure they remain reasonable. The act is set to take effect 180 days after its passage.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 170 (Jan 22, 2025): 65-13, 65-03
Printer's No. 0170: 65-13, 65-03