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Center for Ethics in Government

Gifts

Many states restrict the value of gifts legislators can receive. 

50-State Tables

• Gift Restriction Overview
• Giving, Receiving, and Reporting Food
• Hospitality at Outside Meetings

Eye on Ethics Brief: Gift Restrictions, Laws for Legislators April 2002

All states agree that giving and receiving gifts is prohibited if they influence official action. From that point on, states differ in the details. Gift restriction statutes generally can be grouped into three categories: zero tolerance laws, bright line test laws, and states using disclosure and instead of restrictions. The largest number of states, almost half, specifies a monetary limit on gifts to legislators. These states employ a "bright line test," and allow gifts up to a certain value.

 Center for Ethics in Government