Bill > H5875

This bill expands the Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act to broaden the definition of lobbying and lobbyists to include municipal government executives, legislative bodies, and local fire districts. Specifically, the bill modifies the existing law by inserting the terms "municipal" and "local fire district" into the definition of lobbying, which previously only covered state government branches. This means that individuals who attempt to influence actions or decisions in municipal governments and local fire districts would now be subject to the same lobbying disclosure and registration requirements as those who lobby at the state level. The bill maintains the existing definitions of what constitutes a lobbyist, including contract lobbyists, in-house lobbyists, and governmental lobbyists, but extends these categories to include municipal and local fire district interactions. The legislation also preserves existing exemptions from lobbying regulations, such as licensed attorneys representing clients, expert witnesses, elected officials acting in their official capacity, and individuals appearing solely on their own behalf. The bill will take effect immediately upon passage, potentially increasing transparency in local government interactions and decision-making processes.

Government Affairs

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