AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Bennett and 4 co-sponsors

HB 6320 bars lobbyist contributions to sitting state lawmakers and state officers running for municipal office while the legislature is in session, reducing influence risks.

06/18/2025 Effective without Governor's signature

Summary — HB 6320

Title: AN ACT PROHIBITING LOBBYIST CONTRIBUTIONS DURING A LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO LEGISLATORS OR STATE OFFICERS RUNNING FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICE
Bill No.: HB 6320 (File No. 682) — introduced January 23, 2025
Subject areas: Campaign financing; General Assembly members and sessions; Lobbyists; Municipal officials; State officers

Purpose

The bill seeks to prohibit campaign contributions from registered lobbyists to sitting state legislators or other state officers who are candidates for municipal elected office during the period when the General Assembly is in session. The intent, as reflected in the title, is to limit potential conflicts of interest or the appearance of undue influence by restricting fundraising links between lobbyists and officeholders actively conducting legislative business.

Key provisions (based on available information)

Prohibits lobbyist contributions during a legislative session to:

Members of the General Assembly; and
State officers who are running for municipal office.

Applies specifically to contributions made while the legislature is in session (the bill’s operative definition of “legislative session” and the precise start/end dates are in the bill text — not provided here).

Applies to persons defined as “lobbyists” under state law; exact definition and whether it extends to lobbyist employers, principals, or affiliated political committees is not included in the summary available.

The bill likely addresses campaign finance reporting and compliance implications for both candidates and lobbyists; details on enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or exceptions (e.g., small-dollar contributions, independent expenditures, or contributions made to party committees) are not included in the available summary and would be found in the full text.

Who would be affected

Registered lobbyists and their employers or related political entities (depending on statutory definitions).

Sitting state legislators and state officers who are or become candidates for municipal office.

Campaign committees that support those candidates.

Indirectly, municipal campaigns and municipal voters (through potential changes to fundraising practices during sessions).

Procedural history & timeline

Introduced: January 23, 2025; referred to the Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections.

Public hearing: March 14, 2025.

Joint favorable report: March 27, 2025.

Filed with LCO: March 28, 2025.

Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis: April 7, 2025.

Favorable report and tabled for House calendar; House Calendar Number 422; File No. 682 (April 14, 2025).

Potential impacts and considerations

Reduces opportunities for lobbyists to make direct campaign contributions to officeholders while legislative work is ongoing, addressing ethics and appearance-of-influence concerns.

Could narrow the fundraising window for candidates who are state officers seeking municipal office, potentially shifting contribution timing to pre-session or post-session periods.

May require compliance guidance and possible rule adjustments for lobbyists, candidates, and campaign treasurers.

Fiscal impact is uncertain; referral to OFA indicates a fiscal analysis was requested or pending.

For full legal effect, specific definitions, exceptions, enforcement provisions, and the effective date, consult the bill text and the analyses prepared by the Office of Legislative Research and the Office of Fiscal Analysis.