HB2964 Summary

• Expands gift ban to apply to relatives of state officials and employees, including spouses, civil union partners, and extended family members such as aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws.

• Places caps on exempt gifts: limits educational materials and mission travel to $111 per day (excluding coach-class air/rail/boat fare), and limits travel expenses for state business meetings to the same daily cap.

• Eliminates exemptions for gifts based on personal friendship, bequests and inheritances, and gifts of food valued up to $75.

• Requires disclosure of all accepted exempt gifts within 15 days to the Secretary of State, including gift details, source information, date received, and fair market value; authorizes Secretary of State to establish an internet-based reporting system.

• Increases penalties for intentional gift ban violations from a business offense ($1,001-$5,000 fine) to a Class 4 felony with fines of at least $1,001 or five times the value of items received, whichever is greater.