The South Dakota House is passing a bill that limits gifts public officials can accept from lobbyists.
Currently, no rule prevents lobbyists from giving lawmakers money and gifts, though lawmakers insist that’s not happening.
Representative Larry Rhoden says House Bill 1073 addresses the major part of Initiated Measure 22.
“I would say the vast majority of the campaign ads we saw were focused on the perception—or the reality I guess that there are unlimited gifts allowed in South Dakota.”
The house bill limits gifts from lobbyists to 100 dollars per calendar year and a 75 dollar food and beverage limit per meal.
Anyone who knowingly violates the law is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
The bill now heads to the Senate.