Giving, Receiving and Reporting Food

Ethics: Giving, Receiving and Reporting Coffee *

The Center for Ethics in Government - UPDATED March, 2008

This table is intended to provide general information and does not necessarily address all aspects of this topic. Because the facts of each situation may vary, this information may need to be supplemented by consulting legal advisors. It reflects in summary form statutes in effect as of 12/31/07 or statutes set to take effect shortly thereafter.

Most states place restrictions on the gifts that legislators may receive and lobbyists can give. This table outlines these restrictions, with a focus on exemptions for food and beverage, for the 50 states and gives the statutory reference for that state's gift restriction laws.

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 discernment instead of restrictions.

* Chart does not address the following: disclosure requirements, campaign contributions, honorarium, exemptions other than food and beverage.

State

Statutory
Reference

Zero Tolerance State

Bright Line Test State

Other

Gift
Threshold

Food and beverage exempt

Gift
Threshold

Food and
beverage exempt

Gifts restricted
only if it
"influences official action"

Alabama

Ala. Code §36-25-7
§36-25-1 (31)

Alaska

Alaska Stat. §24.60.080, §24.60.990

$0
for lobbyists, unless the gift is tickets to a charity event.

Exempt only for immediate consumption

$250/ gift
for non-lobbyists.

Exempt only for immediate consumption

Arizona

Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §38-504, §38-542
d: §38-541(5)

d: §41-1231 (j)

$10/ year

Arkansas

Ark. Stat. Ann.
§21-8-801,
§21-8-607

D: §21-8-402

$100/ gift

California

Ca. Govt. Code §86203, §89503

$10/legislator per month

$250/year aggregate

Colorado

Colo. Constitution Art. XXIX

$0 from professional lobbyists

Exempt only if consumed at event at which recipient appears to speak or to answer questions as part of a scheduled program

$50/calendar year

Connecticut

Conn. Gen. Stat.
§1-79

$10/gift;

$50 aggregate
per year

$50 limit on food and beverage given in presence of lobbyist with $150 /year aggregate.

Delaware

Del. Code Ann. Tit. 29§5806, 29§5835

Florida

Fla. Stat.
§112.3148, §112.313(2)(4)

$100/gift

Exempt only under certain circumstances, including as honoraria and for immediate consumption at certain events.

Georgia

Ga. Code
§45-10-3(6)(9),
§21-5-11(c)
d: §21-5-3(12),
d: §21-5-70(1)

$100/gift

Exempt only as honoraria.

Hawaii

Hawaii Rev. Stat.
§84-11

Idaho

Idaho Code
§18-1356(4);
§67-6619

$50/gift

Illinois

Ill. Rev. Stat. Ch 5 ILCS 425/10

Indiana

Ind. Code §4-2-6

Iowa

Iowa Code §68B.22

Nonmonetary items, including food and beverage allowed up to $3/day.

$3/day for nonmonetary items, including food and beverage

Kansas

Kan. Stat. Ann.
§46-237

$40/year

Kentucky

Ky. Rev. Stat. §6.611,
§6.751

Food and beverage allowed up to $100/year per legislator if consumed on premises.

$100/year
per legislator for food and beverages if consumed on premises.

Louisiana

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §42:1102(22)(a),
§42:1115,
§42:1111A

Maine

Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Tit. 25§1012,
25§1014(1)(b),
§605

Note: Gift ban on gifts of $300 or less from a single source applies only to giving something of value for the explicit purpose of influencing legislation, usually interpreted to be a bribe.

Maryland

Md. State. Govt. Code Ann.
§15-505

$20/gift

Exempt only under specified circumstances, meaning occassions where more than one legislator is present.

Massachusetts

Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. Ch.268B

$0 for lobbyists

$50 for non-lobbyists, if gift is deemed a "conflict of interest"

Michigan

Mich. Comp. Laws §15-342,
§4.414

$25/month

Exempt only for immediate consumption

Minnesota

Minn. Stat. §10A.071(2)

$0 for lobbyists

Exempt only if provided for giving a speech or speaking on a panel.

Mississippi

Miss. Code Ann. §25-4-101

Missouri

Mo. Rev. Stat. §105

Montana

Mont. Code Ann. §2-2-101 to 104

$50/gift

Nebraska

Neb. Rev. Stat.
§49-1490,
§49-1423

$50/month

Exempt only for immediate consumption

Nevada

Nev. Rev. Stat. §281.481,
§281.571,
§218.908,
§218.942

$100/year

New Hampshire

N.H. General Court's Ethics Guidelines and Procedural Rules

Although, legislators can accept up to $50/gift
or $250 aggregate in violation of the gift restrictions.

New Jersey

N.J. Rev. Stat. §52:13D-14
§52:15D-24

New Mexico

N.M. Stat. Ann. §10-16B-1

$250/gift
$1,000 aggregate total from lobbyist

New York

N.Y. Public Officers Law §73

Note: Gift ban of anything of more than nominal value unless under circumstances where it is not reasonable to infer an intent to influence a public official.

North Carolina

N.C. Gen. Stat. §120-86,
§120-47.1

North Dakota

N. D. Cent. Code §54-05.1-06

Ohio

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §102.03

$75/year

Exempt under only under certain circumstances.

Oklahoma

Okla. Stat. Tit. 257§20-1-9,
257§1-1-2

$300/year

Oregon

Or. Rev. Stat. §244.040,
§244.020

$100/year;

$100/event;

$250/year in entertainment

Pennsylvania

Pa. Cons. Stat. Tit.1103

Rhode Island

R.I. Gen. Laws
§36-14-5009

$150/gift or

$450/year aggregate

South Carolina

S.C. Code Ann.
§8-13-705,
§8-13-100

$0 for lobbyists

$25/day and $200/year aggregate for lobbyists employers

South Dakota

S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §2-12-10

Tennessee

Tenn. Code Ann.
§3-6-305(b)(1) thru (11)

$50/event per legislator

(see 3-6-305(b)(1) thru(11)

Texas

Tex. Penal Code Ann. §36.07 to §36.10

$500/year

Utah

Utah Code Ann. §67-16-5

$50/gift

Vermont

Vt. Stat. Ann. tit.
§2-11-261,
§2-11-266

Virginia

Va. Code
§30-103(5)
d: §30-101

Note: Gift ban applies only to giving something of value for the explicit purpose of influencing legislation, usually interpreted to be a bribe.

Washington

Wash. Rev. Code
§42.52.150

Exempts food and beverage under certain circumstances up to $50/year.

West Virginia

W. Va. Code
§6B-2-5

$25/gift

Wisconsin

Wos. Stat. §19.42(1),
§19.45, §13.625

Exempt only if provided to the general public.

Wyoming

Wyo. Stat.
§9-13-103
d: §9-13-102(vi)

$250

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