By Laura Davis

Virginia state legislators don’t have to worry about being nice instead of naughty so Santa will bring them gifts - lobbyists give them gifts all year long.

Christmas seems to come more than once a year for these legislators, who receive tickets to football games, dinner invitations to restaurants and many other gifts from lobbyists and supporters each year. Legislators received almost $118,000 in gifts last year.

Virginia, one of 19 states that have no limits on gift-giving to state legislators, does require legislators to annually report what they receive and who gave it to them.

"We must disclose any and all gifts that we receive. It’s something I support, and it’s a good law – a good requirement," said Delegate S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk. Jones has sponsored several campaign finance reform bills.

Delegates and senators, Jones said, must report any gifts valued at more than $50.

"There has been the requirement for several years, and the threshold has been lowered," Jones said, noting that at one time, the rules only required legislators to report gifts worth more than $100.

Even gifts that benefit legislators’ families must be included in the report and made available to the public, he said.

Steve Calos, executive director of Common Cause of Virginia, said Virginia’s reporting laws are "actually pretty good."

So Virginia has no gift limits, but what about other states?

"Almost all states have limits, and some states have more than others," said Jennifer Kilstrup, research analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures, or NCSL.

According to NCSL research, states with more restrictive gift laws include Tennessee, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kentucky.

For example, Kentucky legislators are limited to receiving $100 per year for food and beverage. Exceptions to the limit include promotional, informational and educational materials, as well as attendance, beverage and food at certain qualified events.

While some gift-limiting laws are complex and difficult to understand, Kilstrup said, others, such as California, are more simple.

"The limits are spelled out very clearly," she said.

Californian lobbyists can give only $10 each month to a candidate, elected officer, agency official or legislative official.

Other states’ gift rules are clearly spelled out

Legislators are prohibited from receiving gifts from lobbyists in some states, including Maryland, Rhode Island and West Virginia. But these states do have exceptions.

For instance, in West Virginia, lobbyists can give meals, beverages and gifts of $25 or less to legislators. Legislators can also accept awards or ceremonial gifts of insignificant value.

The National Conference of State Legislatures has links to ethics codes in every state.

Also see: Laura Davis' story on campaign finance