The Oklahoma Ethics Commission voted to adopt the proposed changes to the Constitutional Ethics Rules related to lobbying and campaign finance.

Amendment 2021-01 impacts candidate committees formed for elections held prior to 2015. The changes include establishing a mandatory dissolution date of December 31, 2021; removing the limitation of expenditure of funds for only those purposes listed on the committee’s Statement of Organization; and providing a process for dissolving a candidate committee with debt without filing continuing reports with the Commission.

Amendment 3 to 2021-02 impacts lobbying laws by adding a new category of gifts for books and similar informational materials that do not count against the $500 overall aggregate limit of gifts and requiring this category of gift be reported in the same manner as other gifts are reported.

The commission directed the Executive Director to deliver the changes to the legislature and governor on February 1, 2021, in accordance with Article 29, section 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution.

The amendments will become effective upon adjournment sine die of the regular legislative session on May 28, 2021.