BOISE – A sweeping lobbying-reform bill from House Speaker Bruce Newcomb was unanimously approved for introduction by a House committee Monday.

The bipartisan bill would require lobbyists who talk to the governor, state agency officials or any other executive officials to register with the secretary of state’s office and report their conversations just like those who talk to senators and representatives.

“It’s just reinforcing what some people thought was law,” said Newcomb, R-Burley. “Everybody in Idaho, they thought that the same sunshine that’s on the legislative branch was probably on the exec branch.”

The bill comes nearly three weeks after Phil Reberger, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s former chief of staff, registered as a lobbyist after the secretary of state’s office opened an investigation into whether he was working as one for Unisys Corp. without being registered.

The Virginia-based company was recently awarded a contract with the state to begin managing state Medicaid claims in 2008.

“What’s going on in D.C.” prompted the bill, Newcomb said, referring to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who recently pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy charges.

Newcomb’s bill does what SB 1365, approved by a Senate committee last week, does but takes it further.

SB 1365 defines lobbying to include conversations with all elected officials, but “this goes way beyond,” Newcomb said, to include all elected officials plus members of state agencies, commissions and boards.

Sen. Kate Kelly, D-Boise and a co-sponsor of both bills, said she’s thrilled to see an effort from Republican leadership to change lobbying laws.

“It’s the first time in many, many years that we’ve been able to even get some good solid discussion on these important issues,” Kelly said. “We’re very encouraged and happy by the developments over in the House.”

Newcomb’s bill is sponsored by Republican and Democratic leaders from both chambers.

Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joe Stegner, of Lewiston, said the Senate may send SB 1365, which is up for a vote by the full Senate, back to a committee to avoid duplicating legislation, but he stressed that a decision had yet to be made.