Bills › 89th General Assembly
Relating to lobbying activities by political subdivisions
Sponsored by the House State Government Committee
Topics:State government
Same legislation: HF 346
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 2, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 23, 2021
- Done: House committeeMarch 4, 2021
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 29, 202191–3
- Done: Senate committeeApril 5, 2021
- Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to the lobbying activities of political subdivisions. The bill defines “political subdivision” as a county, city, township, or school district, and “lobbying” as direct action to encourage the passage, defeat, approval, veto, or modification of legislation, a rule, or an executive order that is being considered by the general assembly, a state agency, or a statewide elected official. The bill provides that a political subdivision that contracts with or otherwise compensates a person to lobby on behalf of the political subdivision shall do so in a reasonable manner, including by using written requests for proposals to solicit lobbying services.
Read the full explanation
The duration of a contract for lobbying services shall not exceed five years, and a renewal or new contract for lobbying services also requires the use of a written request for proposal. The bill provides that if a political subdivision contracts with or otherwise compensates a person to lobby on behalf of the political subdivision in exchange for compensation, or if any employee, officer, or elected or appointed official of the political subdivision engages in more than hours of lobbying on behalf of the political subdivision in a calendar month, the political subdivision is subject to certain document preservation requirements. Current law provides that the Iowa state association of counties, the Iowa league of cities, and the Iowa association of school boards be audited annually by the auditor of state or by a certified public accountant, and that the audit state all moneys expended for expenses incurred by and salaries paid to legislative representatives and lobbyists of such associations. The bill requires that the audit also include the total number of hours the association’s representatives and lobbyists spent lobbying.7 except for attorney work product related to litigation. The bill further provides that documents and records that are attorney work product and relate to a political subdivision’s strategy or position on legislation, an administrative rule, or an executive order are confidential unless otherwise ordered by a court.
Senate subcommittee
Named March 30, 2021. On March 31, 2021 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Family tree
89th General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- SF 2395 Relating to lobbying activities by political subdivisions88th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same titleCleared committee
- SF 639 Relating to lobbying activities by political subdivisions88th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 2395 · same titleCleared committee
Matched by wording or an identical title.