Minnesota SF 2562: Definition modification of lobbyist and metropolitan government unit

Bill Text

1.1 A bill for an act​
1.2 relating to campaign finance; modifying the definitions of lobbyist and metropolitan​
1.3 governmental unit; modifying lobbying reporting requirements related to expert​
1.4 witnesses; requiring additional individuals to file statements of economic interest;​
1.5 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 10A.01, subdivisions 21, 24, 35, by​
1.6 adding a subdivision; 10A.04, subdivision 4; 10A.07, subdivision 1; 10A.08,​
1.7 subdivision 1; 10A.09, subdivisions 1, 6a.​
1.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​
1.9 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.01, is amended by adding a subdivision​
1.10 to read:​
1.11 Subd. 16c.Expert witness."Expert witness" means an individual providing testimony​
1.12 or a report consisting of information, data, or professional opinions on which the individual​
1.13 has particular expertise gained through formal education, professional or occupational​
1.14 training, or experience in a field in which the individual is or has been employed.​
1.15 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.01, subdivision 21, is amended to read:​
1.16 Subd. 21.Lobbyist.(a) "Lobbyist" means an individual:​
1.17 (1) engaged for pay or other consideration of more than $3,000 from all sources in any​
1.18 year:​
1.19 (i) for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or administrative action, or the​
1.20 official action of a political subdivision, by communicating with public or local officials;​
1.21 or​
1.22 (ii) from a business whose primary source of revenue is derived from facilitating​
1.23 government relations or government affairs services if the individual's job duties include​
1​Sec. 2.​
25-04486 as introduced​03/05/25 REVISOR JFK/CH​
SENATE​
STATE OF MINNESOTA​
S.F. No. 2562​NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​
(SENATE AUTHORS: WESTLIN)​
OFFICIAL STATUS​D-PG​DATE​
Introduction and first reading​773​03/13/2025​
Referred to Elections​
See SF3045​

2.1 offering direct or indirect consulting or advice that helps the business provide those services​
2.2 to clients; or​
2.3 (2) who spends more than $3,000 of the individual's personal funds, not including the​
2.4 individual's own traveling expenses and membership dues, in any year for the purpose of​
2.5 attempting to influence legislative or administrative action, or the official action of a political​
2.6 subdivision, by communicating with public or local officials.​
2.7 (b) "Lobbyist" does not include:​
2.8 (1) a public official;​
2.9 (2) an employee of the state, including an employee of any of the public higher education​
2.10 systems;​
2.11 (3) an elected local official;​
2.12 (4) a nonelected local official or an employee of a political subdivision acting in an​
2.13 official capacity, unless the nonelected official or employee of a political subdivision spends​
2.14 more than 50 hours in any month attempting to influence legislative or administrative action,​
2.15 or the official action of a political subdivision other than the political subdivision employing​
2.16 the official or employee, by communicating or urging others to communicate with public​
2.17 or local officials, including time spent monitoring legislative or administrative action, or​
2.18 the official action of a political subdivision, and related research, analysis, and compilation​
2.19 and dissemination of information relating to legislative or administrative policy in this state,​
2.20 or to the policies of political subdivisions local official or employee spends more than 50​
2.21 hours in any month attempting to influence legislative or administrative action or the official​
2.22 action of a metropolitan governmental unit, other than a political subdivision employing​
2.23 the official or employee, by communicating with public or local officials;​
2.24 (5) a party or the party's representative appearing in a proceeding before a state board,​
2.25 commission, or agency of the executive branch unless the board, commission, or agency is​
2.26 taking administrative action;​
2.27 (6) an individual while engaged in selling goods or services to be paid for by public​
2.28 funds;​
2.29 (7) a news medium or its employees or agents while engaged in the publishing or​
2.30 broadcasting of news items, editorial comments, or paid advertisements which directly or​
2.31 indirectly urge official action;​
2.32 (8) a paid expert witness whose testimony is requested by the body before which the​
2.33 witness is appearing, but only to the extent of preparing or delivering testimony an expert​
2​Sec. 2.​
25-04486 as introduced​03/05/25 REVISOR JFK/CH​

3.1 witness who communicates with public or local officials, other than the Public Utilities​
3.2 Commission, if the communication occurs at a public meeting or is made available to the​
3.3 general public;​
3.4 (9) a party or the party's representative appearing to present a claim to the legislature​
3.5 and communicating to legislators only by the filing of a claim form and supportin