An act relating to nonprofit transparency in lobbying and elections

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Michael Boutin

The bill requires nonprofits that lobby or influence elections in Vermont to disclose lobbying expenditures, funding sources, and related political activity to the public.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

Summary of Bill H. 734 (2025-2026) – Vermont

Purpose and intent

H. 734 is titled An act relating to nonprofit transparency in lobbying and elections.

The bill appears to address transparency requirements for nonprofit organizations in the context of lobbying activities and political or electoral influence.

The overarching goal is to increase visibility into how nonprofits engage in lobbying and political activities, with the aim of informing voters, policymakers, and the public about funding sources and lobbying efforts.

Key provisions and changes (as described by the bill’s scope)

Transparency requirements for nonprofits: The bill would require certain nonprofits to disclose information related to lobbying activities. This may include reporting on lobbying expenditures, the nature of policy influence, and/or the entities or individuals paying for lobbying efforts.

Reporting and disclosure specifics:

Potentially detailed reporting thresholds (e.g., dollar amounts spent on lobbying, or specific types of lobbying activities).
Public access to disclosures, enabling scrutiny by the public and government entities.

Elections-related transparency: Provisions may require nonprofits to disclose political campaign activity, involvement in elections, or expenditures aimed at influencing electoral outcomes.

Record-keeping and accessibility: The bill could mandate maintenance of records for defined periods and ensure records are accessible to state officials and possibly the public.

Who would be affected

Nonprofit organizations operating in Vermont that engage in lobbying or election-related activities.

Lobbyists and lobbying coalitions working on behalf of or in coordination with nonprofits.

Government agencies responsible for enforcement, compliance monitoring, and enforcement of transparency rules.

The general public, journalists, researchers, and policymakers who monitor lobbying and election-related activities.

Procedural and timeline aspects

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs on January 21, 2026.

It has a sponsor listed as a co-sponsor: Michael Boutin.

As a first-step measure, the bill will undergo committee review, potential amendments, and eventual vote in the Vermont General Assembly. If advanced, it would proceed through the standard bill passage process (committee recommendations, floor debates, and votes in both chambers, followed by potential gubernatorial action).

Potential impacts and considerations

Public accountability: Enhanced transparency may improve public understanding of how nonprofits influence policy and elections.

Compliance burden: Nonprofits may need to establish or modify reporting systems to track lobbying expenditures and activities.

Enforcement: The effectiveness of transparency hinges on clear definitions of reportable activities, robust enforcement mechanisms, and accessible public disclosures.

Privacy and scope: The bill’s terms will determine whether incidental or broad advocacy activities are captured, and how sensitive information is protected.

Note: The description above reflects the bill’s stated purpose and typical components for this policy area. For precise language, definitions, reporting thresholds, exact requirements, penalties, and effective dates, the full text of H. 734 and any amendments from committee work would be needed.