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Bill > SF4


IA SF4

IA SF4
A bill for an act relating to lobbying activities of former or future executive or administrative heads of licensing boards, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2025
In Committee
01/13/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

91st General Assembly

Bill Summary

Under current law, a person who serves as a statewide elected official, the executive or administrative head of an agency of state government, the deputy executive or administrative head of an agency of state government, and a member of the general assembly are prohibited from becoming a lobbyist for two years following the termination of service or employment. This bill also prohibits an executive or administrative head of a licensing board, as defined in Code section 272C.1, from acting as a lobbyist for two years after the termination of the person’s service or employment. Additionally, the bill prohibits a person who was a lobbyist from serving as an executive or administrative head of a licensing board for two years after the person stopped lobbying. Code section 272C.1 includes 32 specifically identified licensing boards. The bill does not prohibit an executive or administrative head of a licensing board from lobbying as the board’s executive director. By operation of law, a person who knowingly and intentionally acts as a lobbyist when prohibited from being a lobbyist is guilty of a serious misdemeanor and may be reprimanded, suspended, or dismissed from the person’s position or otherwise sanctioned. Under the bill, a person who was a lobbyist and then serves as an executive or administrative head of a licensing board when prohibited commits a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.

AI Summary

This bill addresses potential conflicts of interest between lobbying and leadership roles for licensing boards in Iowa by establishing a two-year "cooling off" period for certain government officials. Specifically, the bill expands existing restrictions to prohibit a person who served as an executive or administrative head of a licensing board from becoming a lobbyist for two years after leaving their position. Conversely, it also prevents a person who was previously a lobbyist from serving as an executive or administrative head of a licensing board for two years after their lobbying activities. A licensing board, as defined in Code section 272C.1, includes 32 specific professional regulatory boards. Violations of these restrictions are classified as a serious misdemeanor, which can result in up to one year of confinement and a fine ranging from $430 to $2,560. The bill aims to prevent potential undue influence and maintain the integrity of professional regulatory processes by creating a temporal barrier between lobbying and board leadership roles.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Senate Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee Subcommittee (11:45:00 1/27/2025 RM 315) (on 01/27/2025)

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