Relating to lobbying activities by political subdivisions

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.