Kansas SB 286: Relating to the definitions of lobbyist, lobbying and lobbying client for purposes of the state governmental ethics law.

Bill Text

Session of 2025
SENATE BILL No. 286
By Committee on Federal and State Affairs
3-4
AN ACT concerning the state governmental ethics law; relating to the
definitions of lobbying and lobbyist; providing for a new definition of
lobbying client; amending K.S.A. 46-222 and 46-225 and repealing the
existing sections.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
New Section 1. (a) "Lobbying client" means any person or entity that
employs or retains another person for financial or other compensation to
conduct lobbying activities on behalf of such person or entity. A person or
entity whose employees act as lobbyists on such person's or entity's behalf
is both a lobbying client and an employer of such employees. In the case
of a coalition or association that employs or retains other persons to
conduct lobbying activities, the lobbying client is the coalition or
association and not its individual members.
(b) This section shall be a part of and supplemental to the state
governmental ethics law.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 46-222 is hereby amended to read as follows: 46-222.
(a) "Lobbyist" means:
(1) Any person employed in considerable degree for lobbying;
(2) any person formally appointed as the primary representative of an
organization or other person to lobby in person on state-owned or leased
property and who is compensated at least as much annually as an elected
member of the legislature;
(3) any person who makes expenditures in an aggregate amount of
$1,000 or more is retained by another person for financial or other
compensation to conduct lobbying activities on behalf of such person or
entity and receives at least $5,000 in financial or other compensation from
such person for such lobbying activities, exclusive of excluding personal
travel and subsistence expenses, in any calendar year for lobbying; or
(4) any person hired as an independent contractor and compensated
by an executive agency, as defined in K.S.A. 46-225, and amendments
thereto, for the purpose of evaluation, management, consulting or acting as
a liason for the executive agency and who engages in lobbying, except an
attorney or law firm representing the executive agency in a legal matter.
(b) "Lobbyist" shall does not include:
(1) Any state officer or employee engaged in carrying out the duties
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of their office;
(2) the employer of a lobbyist, if such lobbyist has registered the
name and address of such employer under K.S.A. 46-265, and
amendments thereto;
(3) any nonprofit organization which that has qualified under 501(c)
(3)(a) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, which is interstate
in its operations and of which a primary purpose is the nonpartisan
analysis, study or research of legislative procedures or practices and the
dissemination of the results thereof to the public or its members,
irrespective of whether such organization may recommend a course of
action as a result of such analysis, study or research;
(4) any justice or commissioner of the supreme court or judge of the
judicial branch or employee or officer of the judicial branch, or, any
member of a board, council or commission who is appointed by the
supreme court or who is elected or appointed to exercise duties pertaining
to functions of the judicial branch, when if such person is engaged in
performing a function or duty for the judicial branch; or
(5) any appointed member of an advisory council, commission or
board, who serves without compensation other than amounts for expense
allowances or reimbursement of expenses as provided for in K.S.A. 75-
3223(e), and amendments thereto, when if such member is engaged in
performing a function or duty for such council, commission or board.
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 46-225 is hereby amended to read as follows: 46-225.
(a) Except as otherwise provided, "lobbying" means:
(1) Promoting or opposing in any manner action or nonaction by the
legislature on any legislative matterProviding any oral or written
communication by an individual, including electronic communication, that
is made on behalf of a lobbying client to a member of the legislature,
elected officer of either chamber of the legislature, any employee of a
member of the legislature, any employee of a committee of the legislature
and any employee of the leadership staff of the legislature with regard to
the formulation, modification or adoption of legislation;
(2) promoting or opposing in any manner an action or nonaction
byproviding any oral or written communication by an individual,
including electronic communication, that is made on behalf of a lobbying
client to the governor or the head of any executive agency on any
executive administrative matter;
(3) promoting or opposing in any manner an action or nonaction
byproviding any oral or written communication by an individual,
including electronic communication, that is made on behalf of a lobbying
client to any judicial agency