Bill > H0686

This bill expands the requirements for identifying who is behind certain advertisements that aim to influence legislation, requiring that any advertisement intended to influence legislative action or encourage others to do so, regardless of when it is aired or published, must clearly state the name of the lobbyist, lobbying firm, or lobbyist employer that paid for it and include a statement indicating it was paid for by them. The bill also broadens the definition of "advertisement" to include not only traditional media like radio, television, newspapers, and websites, but also communications widely distributed to the public such as mass mailings, robotic phone calls, and paid internet messages, and clarifies that "lobbying" includes oral or written communication with legislators or officials to influence action, soliciting others to do so, attempting to gain goodwill through such communications, or activities sponsored by an employer or lobbyist to enable members of an interest group to communicate with officials to influence action or gain goodwill.