HB715 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul DeMarco

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Jack Williams

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Ethics Law, lobbyist to include persons who lobby executive branch, Sec. 36-25-1 am'd.

Summary

HB715 would expand Alabama's ethics law to include people who lobby the executive branch as lobbyists, bringing executive lobbying under the same rules as other lobbying activities.

What This Bill Does

It broadens who counts as a lobbyist by including those who lobby the executive branch, and it expands the definitions and scope of lobbying to cover executive actions like grants, contracts, and regulations. It retains some exemptions (such as public testimony before government bodies and certain professional services) while adding new reporting requirements, including detailed disclosure of gifts, travel, and other things of value to public officials or employees. It also requires ongoing disclosures like the Statement of Economic Interests and sets thresholds for reporting certain expenditures, with immediate effectiveness upon passage.

Who It Affects

• Lobbyists and their principals (including individuals, consultants, and employees of lobbying entities) who would now be considered lobbyists when lobbying the executive branch, subject to ethics rules and reporting requirements.
• Public officials and public employees at state, county, or municipal levels (and their households), as well as the State Ethics Commission, who would face expanded gift, travel, and expenditure reporting and conflict-of-interest rules.

Key Provisions

• Expands the definition of lobbyist to include persons who lobby the executive branch of government.
• Broadens what counts as lobbying (advocacy regarding legislation, executive actions, grants/contracts, and regulations) while preserving certain exemptions for public testimony and professionals providing routine drafting or advisory services.
• Exempts employees of hospitals or other health care corporations from the chapter's provisions, as well as certain other explicit groups.
• Adds comprehensive reporting requirements, including a Statement of Economic Interests and detailed reporting of gifts, travel, meals, lodging, and other things of value to public officials or employees, with specific thresholds (e.g., certain gifts or expenditures over set amounts).
• Defines key terms (e.g., principal, supervisor, thing of value) and clarifies who is subject to disclosure and reporting requirements.
• Establishes effective date as immediate upon passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Ethics