Legislation requiring public disclosure for people and groups spending significant sums to influence town meeting votes is gaining some traction on Beacon Hill.
The bill (H 806) won initial House approval Thursday and would amend the law to cover spending aimed at influencing the outcome of warrant articles taken up at the local government level. The official title of the bill is “An Act relative to dark money in local government.” The bill would apply statewide but is driven in part by spending intended to influence short-term rental and housing decisions on Cape Cod and the Islands.
Under the bill, any person, corporation, association, organization or other group that spends or commits to spend $1,000 or more in the aggregate to influence a warrant article or vote on an article at a town meeting would be required to file detailed reports with the town clerk…