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S 2136

An Act relative to convicted lobbyists and legislative agents

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Ryan Fattman and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts bill prohibits individuals convicted of specified crimes from working as lobbyists or legislative agents to strengthen ethics in legislative advocacy.

Hearing rescheduled to 11/05/2025 from 10:30 AM-01:00 PM in B-2 and Virtual Hearing location changed
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Bill Summary · S 2136

Legislative bill overview

S 2136 establishes restrictions on individuals with certain criminal convictions from serving as lobbyists or legislative agents in Massachusetts. The bill appears designed to create ethical guardrails by prohibiting those convicted of specific offenses from engaging in professional legislative advocacy activities.

Why is this important

Lobbyists and legislative agents have direct access to policymakers and influence over legislation affecting public resources and rights. Restricting individuals with certain criminal backgrounds from these roles addresses potential conflicts of interest, public trust concerns, and accountability in the legislative process.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of offenses: The specific crimes that trigger restrictions are not detailed in available information—this determines whether the bill targets serious crimes only or casts a wider net that could affect rehabilitation and reentry
  • Permanent vs. temporary bars: Whether restrictions are lifetime bans or allow rehabilitation after a set period could reflect different philosophies on criminal justice and second chances
  • Retroactive application: Whether the law applies to currently registered lobbyists with prior convictions raises implementation complexity and potential legal challenges

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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