# Idaho H 0398: LOBBYISTS – Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to establish provisions governing lobbying and lobbyists. Idaho H 0398, LOBBYISTS – Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to establish provisions governing lobbying and lobbyists., is a 2025 regular legislative session House bill sponsored by STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE; status signed, last action 2025-04-04 (Reported Signed by Governor on April 3, 2025 Session Law Chapter 280 Effective: 07/01/2025) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-H0398-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Idaho H 0398 - State: Idaho - Session: 2025 regular legislative session - Title: LOBBYISTS – Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to establish provisions governing lobbying and lobbyists. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-03-11 - Last action: 2025-04-04, Reported Signed by Governor on April 3, 2025 Session Law Chapter 280 Effective: 07/01/2025 - Sponsor: STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - Cosponsors: 2 - Subjects: LOBBYISTS - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (81 yes, 22 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Lobbying violations bring fees and penalties: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, late lobbying reports trigger a $50 daily fee starting 48 hours after the deadline. Fees continue until filing and go to Idaho's general fund. The Secretary of State must give notice by phone or electronic means within 24 hours after the missed deadline. Specified violations… - Lobbyists must certify filings and keep records: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, required lobbying statements must be signed and certified as true and correct. Electronic signatures follow Idaho's electronic transactions law. People required to register must keep supporting financial records for at least three years after filing each report. Those record… - Lobbyists must register and pay fees: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, covered lobbyists must register before lobbying or within 30 days of hiring or designation, whichever comes first. Registration costs $10, with another $10 for each separate notice identifying a person paying for lobbying. A single-statement exception applies to contributors… - Broader lobbying rules with specific exemptions: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, Idaho's lobbying rules cover direct and indirect efforts to influence legislation and executive decisions. This includes rules, rates, bids, contracts, bond issues, and some relationship-building and entertainment. Specified legal work, post-award negotiations, and official… - Lobbyists face deception and conflict limits: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, people required to register cannot lobby before registering or knowingly deceive lawmakers about legislation. They cannot arrange a bill or amendment's introduction to secure later work defeating it. Representing opposing interests requires prior informed client consent, and… - Lobbyists face monthly and rapid reporting: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, registered lobbyists must report the prior month's activities within 15 days after each month begins. Reports list spending by category and legislative or executive matters supported or opposed. Certain single-event spending involving officials or their household members mus… - Public gets searchable lobbying funding disclosures: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, the Secretary of State must provide online filing and a publicly searchable lobbying-report database. An individual hardship waiver allows another filing format; the office must add that report online within three days. Public messages reportable as lobbying expenses must cl… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - Cosponsor: Kelly Arthur Anthon (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Bruce D. Skaug (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-02 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 27 | 8 | | | 2025-03-25 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 54 | 14 | | ## Actions (17) - 2025-04-04: Reported Signed by Governor on April 3, 2025 Session Law Chapter 280 Effective: 07/01/2025 - 2025-04-03: Delivered to Governor at 1:17 p.m. on April 3, 2025 - 2025-04-03: Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor (Senate) - 2025-04-03: Signed by President; returned to House (Senate) - 2025-04-03: Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker (Senate) - 2025-04-02: Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate (House) - 2025-04-02: Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling (House) - 2025-04-02: Read third time in full – PASSED - 27-8-0 (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Read second time; filed for Third Reading (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading (Senate) - 2025-03-26: Introduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs (Senate) - 2025-03-26: Received from the House passed; filed for first reading (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Rules Suspended: Ayes 60 Nays 2 Abs/Excd 8, read in full as required – PASSED - 54-14-2 (House) - 2025-03-25: Read second time; Filed for Third Reading (House) - 2025-03-24: Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading (House) - 2025-03-12: Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs (House) - 2025-03-11: Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing (House) ## Bill text - Bill Text: [PDF](https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/H0398.pdf) ## Related bills - H 0253: PUBLIC RECORDS – Amends existing law to provide additional time to respond to requests for public records from nonresidents and to allow a different fee schedu… (signed) - S 1181: PUBLIC DEFENSE – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Office of the State Public Defender and indigent public defense in this state. (signed) - H 0148: CONSTITUTIONAL DEFENSE COUNCIL – Adds to existing law to provide assistance to individuals litigating against the federal government. (signed) - S 1066: IDENTITY THEFT – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding disclosure of breach of personally identifiable information and to require that agencies, i… (failed) - S 1219: APPROPRIATIONS – STATE TAX COMMISSION – Relates to the appropriation to the State Tax Commission for fiscal year 2026. (signed) - S 1142: EDUCATION – Amends and repeals existing law to transfer funds from the Empowering Parents Grant Program Fund to the General Fund and to repeal the Empowering P… (signed) ## Sources - [Bill Text (PDF)](https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/H0398.pdf) ## Related - [H 0253: PUBLIC RECORDS – Amends existing law to provide additional time to respond to r…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-H0253-2025) - [S 1181: PUBLIC DEFENSE – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Office…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1181-2025) - [H 0148: CONSTITUTIONAL DEFENSE COUNCIL – Adds to existing law to provide assistance to…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-H0148-2025) - [S 1066: IDENTITY THEFT – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding disclosure…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1066-2025) - [S 1219: APPROPRIATIONS – STATE TAX COMMISSION – Relates to the appropriation to the Sta…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1219-2025) - [S 1142: EDUCATION – Amends and repeals existing law to transfer funds from the Empoweri…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-S1142-2025) - [Idaho bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/idaho/bills) - [Idaho state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/idaho) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ID-H0398-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).