H.R. 6 House Rules Resolution - Lobbyist Ethics Amendments

What this bill does

The bill would limit who may be on the House floor and in standing committee rooms where bills are prioritized to authorized staff and legislators. It would also bar people from using a legislator's or spouse's badge to get into those areas, and the sponsor has said the wording on volunteer lobbyists and badges may be revised.

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Every vote

• 8 yes, 0 noHouse Rules Committee: vote, which it did not pass · Feb 12, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Feb 12, 2026 House Rules Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (33 turns)

  1. Committee chair (Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher)57:28

     Thank you, representative. Thank you, committee. All right. We'll move to the third item on our agenda. And that is House resolution six, house rules resolution lobbyist ethics amendments. We have Representative Romero here. Welcome to our committee. The time is yours.

  2. Rep. Angela Romero57:43

     Thank you. I, I miss being on rules committee. Hey, Trevor. Wait, Representative Lee, you listening? So this, this, this bill is pretty simple. And what this bill does, my earring fell out. Sorry, is if somebody is, um, hanging out on the floor, they shouldn't be using anyone's spouses or a legislator's, um, badge. An another important thing that happened last session, and this happened with my caucus, is there was, um, there were individuals that weren't necessarily professional staff that were, from my perspective, particip participating in prioritizing legislation and, um, and on floor action and standing committees. And also people who are not authorized staff participating in spaces that are for professional staff and legislators. So this is just kind of a cleanup of, of who can be in certain rooms when we're on the house floor or when we're prioritizing things in standing committee. And I'm open to questions.

  3. Committee chair (Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher)58:48

     Thank you for that presentation. We'll go to the committee for clarifying questions. Representative Peterson.

  4. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson58:55

     Thank you. Um, so my question is, um, like on lines 1 0 1, 1 0 2, 1 0 3, kind of in that area. So it says, um, while this the house is convened, um, a representative can have one guest who is not a lobbyist and you've added, or a volunteer lobbyist to accompany them to sit on the floor. So my question is, um, you know, we have a lot of people up here who represent nonprofits who do not have to register as lobbyists. And sometimes we bring those folks on the floor, someone from my PTA, someone who's up here for red for ed day. I mean, and they, they fall into this kind of category of volunteer lobbyists. They don't have to register. I, I, I guess I'm a little, I, I'm not sure how I'm gonna know if someone's supposed to be on the floor or not. And also if that's gonna preclude us from inviting folks like that to sit by us for a minute. I don't know if staff is here, but this is, this concern here goes to somebody who's consistently here. Like I have people, I just, I had a student sit with me on the floor. Mm-hmm. But, um, for, for me, a concern is when somebody's consistently here every day. And I don't know if there's a better word that we can use to define that, but, um, really we're here to do the people's business. And of course we're going to have guests here and there, but for someone to be here every day hanging out on the floor when they're not elected, I have major concerns with that. Yeah. So I do, I do have a little bit of concern with that language just because I think it will preclude us from inviting folks like that, which I think is really great for them to be able to see the legislative process agree from that perspective. So, I, I have a question there. And I have to tell you, my favorite part of the bill is line 1 42, where it talks about that the purpose, um, of that representatives get to educate lobbyists. That's my favorite line of the bill. So, anyways, And I don't know if there's another, we, um, we find another word to describe that. 'cause I, again, I, this is not targeted at us bringing in constituents or people deserve from time to time, but we do have people that wander our chamber and, um, have been in spaces that they shouldn't be. And I think this is a place to do the people's business. It's not show, it's not for someone to look and hang out and feel like they're cool because they're part of a process when there are certain spaces they shouldn't be in. So that, that's the point of this bill. Or they're using somebody's, um, somebody's husband's badge or somebody's wife's badge, someone's spouse's badge to get in and out of this facility, and they're hanging out in spaces that are not supposed to be open to the public. Yeah. Thank you. That's my

  5. Committee chair (Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher)1:01:16

     Question. Thank you Representative Peterson. Further clarifying questions from the committee.

  6. Unknown committee member1:01:21speaker not certain

     So, um, you mentioned, I I have a couple questions. You mentioned that the vi volunteer lobbyists would be limited to those that are on the floor a lot of the time. Is there somewhere in the bill that, that designates that or makes that clear?

  7. Rep. Angela Romero1:01:36

     And maybe that I have to go back with our drafting attorneys to clarify that a little bit more, but that, that's my goal is not to penalize anyone like who is coming to visit because they're here for the PTAI, I just do have great concern about people being on the floor every day when they're, they're not elected or they're not the spouse or they're not a family member of, uh, a legislator. Okay. We Had, we had some struggles last year with our, our caucus where somebody was interfering with even how we were prioritizing our bills. And that just is very disrespectful.

  8. Unknown committee member1:02:14speaker not certain

     Okay. Um, my other question, you've talked a lot about the, the use of the badge. Is there, is there somewhere in here that talks about the badge usage?

  9. Rep. Angela Romero1:02:23

     Yeah, there is. It should be in there. I was just trying to find, maybe I should have been a little more prepared today. 2 39, I think it's towards the end of the bill. 38, 2 39. Yep.

  10. Unknown committee member1:02:40speaker not certain

      Okay. Yeah. 2 39. So This would say that a volunteer lobbyist or a lobbyist or a government official cannot use a representative's identification badge with that. Correct. But then it says, without explicit permission. So in your, in your mind is that would allow them to use the identifi identification badge without explicit permission?

  11. Rep. Angela Romero1:03:05

      I'd actually, and maybe I, this is me. It should have looked deeper into the built, my, my concern is just somebody having access to a badge and just wandering around.

  12. Unknown committee member1:03:14speaker not certain

      Yeah. That's almost the halls of the legislature. Yeah. I wonder, do you know, are there other, um, rules or maybe just security procedures that maybe this might actually do the opposite of what you're hoping that currently says you cannot use an identification badge, someone else's identification badge, and now we're saying you can if you have permission. Yeah. That would contradict what I'm trying to do. Yeah.

  13. Rep. Angela Romero1:03:37

      So maybe we need, and maybe what we need to do is work on some wording, and I can come back and present to, to all of you. But again, my, my main concern, to be honest with you, is, um, the process and spaces that should be sacred to legislators and to staff we've hired, um, through a, a proper vetting process, and that there's not an individual or a person who has influence in interfering with that process and, and, and creating chaos within our chamber. Yeah.

  14. Unknown committee member1:04:06speaker not certain

      And I, and I, I agree with you. I, I think the, the motives behind the bill make a lot of sense.

  15. Rep. Angela Romero1:04:11

      I'm just wondering with the language. So, And I can, I can work with staff on language and bring this back. I, I'd hope to pass this resolution before, um, during this legislative session. Sure. So I can work with some of the members here and, and, and work on that language Representative

  16. Committee chair (Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher)1:04:25

      Wilcox. Oh, Let's go to public first. Okay. Um, not seeing any other clarifying questions. We'll go to members of the public. Is there anyone from the public that wishes to speak to this bill? Don't see anyone in person. Anyone online, uh, Stewart. Okay. We have Mr. Stewart, again, who'd like to, um, share his thoughts. Mr. Stewart. Uh, we'll promote you and you have two minutes.

  17. Seth Stewart, American Fork (representing self)1:04:49

      Wonderful. Thank you. Yeah, Seth Stewart from American Fork representing myself. Um, I, I do have a question around this because, uh, my understanding is that the legislative, uh, floor time is meant to be a, a public body meeting. And unless I mistake, there's Utah Code 52 4 1 0 3, which she finds that a, a public body has to, uh, meet in an environment that is open to the public and visible that has that transparency and so on. I'm just wondering, uh, concerned really that this could have a chilling effect on that, that in a manner that's unrelated to legislative proceedings. Um, I, I grant that, you know, with the badge concern, of course there are, uh, aspects, there are places and so on in the Capitol building that, uh, are not open to public access without, uh, authorization such as, for example, the, you know, uh, private offices of legislators and so on. Um, but, um, you know, uh, maybe I'm just getting a little bit of deja vu here from January 6th or something like that. People wandering around in places they allegedly shouldn't be. Um, but again, just concerned about the chilling effect this could have on public gathering. And, uh, just a further question here is that, cant interference with the legislative process already be handled adequately through existing rules? 'cause I think that would be the case, Seth.

  18. Unknown speaker1:05:59speaker not certain

      That seems primary thing. This is, excuse Me, Seth. Sorry. There was a point of order raised representative. Say your point,

  19. Unknown speaker1:06:04speaker not certain

      Point of order. I don't think he can ask me a question.

  20. Committee chair (Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher)1:06:06

      Uh, that's true. But he can use his two minutes to ask any questions he wants. Yes. You don't have to respond to those. So, Seth, sorry about that interruption. Go ahead.

  21. Seth Stewart, American Fork (representing self)1:06:14

      You're good. Um, yeah, just, um, yeah, I have that concern. Um, uh, as a member of the public, I would like an answer to that just because it, it does, um, it, it would seem to have the effect of targeting people who are there with an innocuous, uh, purpose and potentially chill political or the public visibility into the political process and so on. So just, um, I would like an answer to that. And I recognize that you don't obligate yourself to answer it. So thank you very much.

  22. Committee chair (Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher)1:06:43

      Thank you Mr. Stewart. We appreciate your participation, uh, not seeing any other public comment. We'll go, uh, we'll close public comment and go back to the committee for any, uh, action or discussion.

  23. Committee chair (Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher)1:06:54

      Representative Wilcox.

  24. Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox1:06:56

      Thank you, Mr. Chair. Make a motion to hold.

  25. Committee chair (Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher)1:06:59

      Okay. The motion that is, uh, um, that is in order. Would you like to speak to that?

  26. Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox1:07:05

      Sure. I, I think the sponsor's laid out. That's probably the best path at this point. We've heard some concerns

  27. Committee chair (Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher)1:07:11

      and she knows what she wants to work on, so. Okay. It Was fun. We'll go to the sponsor.

  28. Rep. Angela Romero1:07:16

      And again, there, um, sorry, I wanted to have this conversation 'cause I think it's open and, and that's why I'm having this conversation and I'm being very transparent. And we would never want to take away the people's right to the people's house. That's the whole, the whole point. But there are situations where, um, we are working on legislation and prioritizing bills, and that should be between the professional staff and the legislators. And there shouldn't be someone interfering on how that process goes. Or, um, having access to private spaces, which, um, are private offices in the legislature.

  29. Committee chair (Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher)1:07:53

      All right. Back to the committee for any comments or motions on the motion to hold. Representative Burton,

  30. Rep. Burton (not on roster)1:08:01

      Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanna make a comment. I like this bill and, and I just think needs little work. I think you're onto something. It's a, there, I've seen this. I think all of us have seen this. And so I think it's something that needs to be addressed. And just with a Little tweaking, I think this'll be a good bill.

  31. Committee chair (Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher)1:08:16

      Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you Representative Burton. Further discussion to the motion to hold, not seeing any discussion. We'll go back to the bill sponsor for summation.

  32. Rep. Angela Romero1:08:27

      Again, this is not to, um, hide behind doors, um, from the public. This is to make sure that we're doing the people's work on behalf of the public and ensuring that there's not an outside force interfering with the process and respecting the process.

  33. Committee chair (Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher)1:08:43

      Representative Wilcox for summation, I waive. Thanks. Summation has been waived. We'll go ahead with a vote on the motion to hold House resolution six house rules resolution lobbyist ethics amendments. Uh, we'll do a roll call Vote. Representative Peterson? Yes. Representative Burton. Yes. Representative Hollins? Yes. Representative Lee? Yes. Representative Matthews? Yes. Representative Roberts. Yeah. Representative Wilcox. Yep. Chair Tuscher? Yes. Okay. Sorry, I missed you. I'll be back. Yeah, that is unanimous. All right, representative. We'd be happy to, um, to schedule another meeting, hear the bill. So if once another meeting, I'll get Representative Peterson and representative yourself and Staff Try to find the right language. Okay. Let us know. Thank you. All right.