Utah Expands Lobby Law

Utah Governor Spencer Cox recently signed HB 90, which, most notably, expands covered lobbying activity to local and education actions and officials.  Additionally, the law created a requirement that lobbyists must indicate they are lobbying on behalf of a foreign government.  The law became effective on May 4, 2022.

Under the new law, lobbying a local official or education official is now covered under state law and may trigger lobbyist registration at the state level.  Newly covered activity includes attempting to influence a local or education action.  In addition to state officials, covered officials under the law now include elected members of local governments, appointed individuals in certain decision-making roles, members of boards of education, appointed education officials and certain employees, and immediate family members of a covered person.

The law also requires that a foreign agent, which includes an individual who lobbies on behalf of a foreign government, register as such with the state prior to engaging in lobbying activity.