Bill > LD1415

This bill expands transparency requirements for legislators and lobbyists regarding "behested payments," which are financial contributions made to an organization at the suggestion or coordination of a legislator for legislative, governmental, or charitable purposes. Under the new law, if a lobbyist or another person makes a behested payment of $200 or more, the legislator on whose behalf the payment was made must file a detailed statement with the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices within 45 days. The statement must include the name of the person who made the payment, the payment amount, the organization receiving the payment, and the organization's primary purpose. Similarly, lobbyists who make such payments must also report them, with slightly different thresholds: they must report payments totaling $200 or more to a single organization or $400 or more across multiple organizations in a calendar year. Lobbyists must also notify the legislator within 5 days of making the payment and file a report by the 15th day of the following month, including specific details about the payment and the organization. The bill explicitly excludes standard political contributions from these reporting requirements, aiming to increase transparency in how legislators might influence charitable or governmental funding.

Military Affairs and Security

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1415&snum=132