JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A bill that would delay when lawmakers and other state elected officials can lobby after leaving office is advancing in the Missouri House.

A House committee voted 7-1 in favor of a bill that would require officials to wait one legislative session before becoming lobbyists.

Lawmakers and other elected officials now can immediately become lobbyists after leaving office.
The bill was among several passed by the committee and is one of the first to move forward in the 2016 legislative session.

Republican House Speaker Todd Richardson has said ethics is a priority this session. The push follows the resignations in 2015 of two former lawmakers accused of inappropriate behavior toward interns.

The legislation now heads to the full House. It could come up for a full House vote this week.