Summary:

 Senate Bill 248 (SB 248) amends the Lobbyist Regulation Act, providing definitions and expanding expenditure report requirements.  

Legislation Overview:

 Senate Bill 248 (SB 248) amends the Lobbyist Regulation Act to include the following definitions:

•	"beneficial client" means the specific individual or organization on whose behalf or at whose request or behest lobbying is conducted; 
•	"beneficiary" means the individual or individuals who directly benefited or otherwise gained from an expenditure; 
•	"contractual client" means the individual or organization that retains the services of a lobbyist for the benefit of itself or another; 
•	"legislation" means a bill, resolution, amendment, nomination or other matter pending in either house of the legislature; any matter that is or may be the subject of action by either house or by a legislative committee, including the introduction, consideration, passage, defeat, approval or veto of the matter; or any matter pending in a constitutional convention or that may be the subject of action; and
•	"payee" means the vendor, service provider or entity to whom payment was made for an expenditure.

In Section 2-11-6 NMSA 1978, the requirements regarding expenditure reports are established.

For each individual expenditure of fifty dollars ($50.00) or more made or incurred by the lobbyist during the covered reporting period, expenditure reports must include: 

•	(a) the date on which the expenditure was made; 
•	(b) the payee of the expenditure; 
•	(c) the beneficiary of the expenditure; 
•	(d) the contractual client; (e) the beneficial client; and
•	(f) the purpose of the expenditure, including: 

o	 identification of the legislation, including specific bill numbers where applicable, connected to the expenditure; 
o	identification of the stance taken in connection with the specific lobbying effort tied to the expenditure, including supporting, opposing, amending or monitoring; 
o	if the lobbying expenditure is not related to specific legislation, a statement to that effect and a description of the reason for the lobbying activity; and 
o	the amount spent and a description of the expenditure.

 

Current Law:

 Current law only requires expenditure reports of one hundred dollars ($100.00) or more and only require reports to include three general categories for reporting, including: (a) meals and beverages; (b) other entertainment expenditures; and (c) other expenditures. 

Amendments:

 Amended February 24, 2025 in SRC

SRCa/SB 248a: The Senate Rules Committee amendment to Senate Bill 248 makes the following changes:

1. On page 1, line 21, strike "individual or organization" and insert in lieu thereof "person". 
2. On page 1, lines 23 and 24, strike "individual or individuals" and insert in lieu thereof "person or persons". 
3. On page 2, lines 5 and 6, strike "individual or organization that" and insert in lieu thereof "person who". 
4. On page 2, lines 6 and 7, strike "for the benefit of itself or another". 
5. On page 2, line 17, strike "or may be". 
6. On page 2, line 21, after "convention", strike the remainder of the line and strike line 22 through "convention". 
7. On page 3, line 8, strike "any individual" and insert in lieu thereof "a person". 
8. On page 3, line 14, strike "an individual" and insert in lieu thereof "a person". 
9. On page 3, line 15, strike "individual's" and insert in lieu thereof "person's". 
10. On page 4, line 15, strike "an individual" and insert in lieu thereof "a person". 
11. On page 4, line 18, strike "individual" and insert in lieu thereof "person". 
12. On page 5, line 5, after "the", strike the remainder of the line and on line 6, strike "entity" and insert in lieu thereof "person". 1
13. On page 5, line 7, strike "an individual" and insert in lieu thereof "a person". 
14. On page 7, line 25, strike "or" and insert in lieu thereof "and". 
15. On page 9, line 11, strike "individual" and insert in lieu thereof "person". 
16. On page 11, line 7, strike "an individual" and insert in lieu thereof "a person".