The Republican-controlled state Senate, taking a lead from Democratic U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, passed ethics legislation Friday that would change definitions of lobbyists.
The bill concerned some senators who believe the definition is too loose and could allow influential people to lobby without having to disclose it.
The bill passed the House already, but will have go back to it to for review and agreement on the changes.
Legislators decided to change the definition after getting an opinion from the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission that could prevent Georgians from visiting their legislators to express their opinions.
The change proposed by House Bill 232 says in part that anyone who spends more than 10 percent of their time for a business lobbying or only those who spend $1,000 or more lobbying in a year are classified as lobbyists.
Democrats argued that heavy-hitting lawyers could spend days lobbying without having to register under the proposal and other abuses could occur.
Sen. Don Balfour, R-Snellville, pointed out that the definition fits the federal definition of lobbyist as approved under Pelosi when she was speaker of the U.S. House.
The bill passed with bipartisan support 39-13.
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