Energy Utility Lobbying Ban Act

Key Points

• This bill would stop state energy officials from immediately working as lobbyists for the utility companies they used to regulate. It aims to prevent a revolving door where government workers use their inside connections to help big power companies.
• States would have to pass laws banning former regulators from advocating for utilities on specific cases they worked on while in office. They would also have to ban these officials from any lobbying at their old agency for at least two years after leaving their jobs.
• If a state refuses to set up these rules, the federal government will take away 10 percent of that state's energy program funding. States that fix their rules later can get that money back in the following year.
• The Department of Energy would be responsible for checking every state each year to make sure they are following the new rules. They would also create a public list so people can see which states are complying and which are not.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.