Changes to the lobbying laws, including changes recommended by the Ethics Commission

Under current law, every state public official is encouraged to meet with clubs, conventions, special interest groups, political groups, school groups, and other gatherings to discuss and interpret legislative, administrative, executive, or judicial processes, proposals, and issues. Consistent with that provision, the bill allows an agency official, an elected state public official, or a legislative employee to attend a meeting with such groups for the purposes specified under current law without paying the cost of admission. However, under the bill, the person may not receive food, beverages, or other items included in the cost of admission unless the person pays the event organizer, including a principal or lobbyist, for the actual cost of the food, beverages, or items.

Under current law, the code of ethics for public officials applies not only to state public officials, but also to certain local public officials such as an elected official of a local governmental unit, a county administrator, and a city or village manager.

Under the bill, the code of ethics for public officials applies also to a school district administrator. Current law defines “school district administrator” as the school district superintendent, supervising principal, or other person who acts as the administrative head of a school district.

Finally, the bill makes a technical change by substituting the term “give” with the term “furnish.” The term was changed from “furnish” to “give” by 2015 Wisconsin Act 117 , but that change is not consistent with the use of the term “furnish” throughout the current lobbying law.