Bill > SB248

This bill amends the Lobbyist Regulation Act to expand and enhance reporting requirements for lobbyists in New Mexico. The legislation introduces several new definitions, including terms like "beneficial client" (the specific individual or organization on whose behalf lobbying is conducted), "contractual client" (the entity that retains a lobbyist), and "legislation" (which now broadly covers any matter pending in the legislature). The bill lowers the threshold for reporting individual expenditures from $100 to $50 and requires much more detailed reporting of expenditures, including the date, payee, beneficiary, purpose, specific legislation involved, and the lobbyist's stance on the matter. Lobbyists must now provide more comprehensive information about political contributions, including the names, addresses, employers, and occupations of contributors. The bill also mandates more frequent reporting, including within 48 hours for significant expenditures during legislative sessions, and requires organizations spending over $2,500 on lobbying advertising to register with the secretary of state. These changes aim to increase transparency in lobbying activities and provide more detailed public information about how lobbyists are attempting to influence legislative actions.

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legtype=B&legno=248&year=25