But the U.'s lobbyist disclosure form, filed Monday, doesn't say who accepted the freebies.

That will likely change next year under a bill approved by the Legislature, which would eliminate the disclosure limit for sports tickets, but would keep secret the names of public officials who accept tens of thousands of dollars worth of meals.

Under the new provision, which still awaits the signature of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., lobbyists would have to name any official - from legislators to university trustees - who accepts free tickets.

The bill, sponsored by Syracuse GOP Sen. Sheldon Killpack, is the first major ethics bill in years. It also would require lobbyists to issue gift reports four times a year and ban them from lobbying on both sides of the same issue.

U. lobbyist Kim Wirthlin expects the bill to affect who accepts a free ticket from the state's largest university.

"We have seen over the years that there are legislators who are very careful about the appearance of influence," she said.

Under current law, lobbyists are not required to name public officials who accept tickets, gifts or meals that cost less than $50, and that includes every ticket the U. handed out. The U.'s total gifts to public officials topped $3,100, with every individual gift costing less than $50.

Killpack aimed the new ticket provision at Utah Jazz tickets because lawmakers have been constantly criticized for sitting in expensive seats with lobbyists. But with most lower-bowl tickets already costing more than $50, the provision will probably have little impact. Four senators accepted front-row tickets this year, costing $500 apiece, from lobbyist Spencer Stokes, who represents a number of clients, including EnergySolutions and Salt Lake County government. Two paid for the tickets. Two accepted the gift. In total, Stokes spent $7,200 on lawmakers.

Stan Lockhart, a lobbyist for Micron, a Lehi-based technology company, also offers tickets to legislators, according to his report, which spans the annual legislative session. Three lawmakers - Kerry Gibson of Ogden, Lyle Hillyard of Logan, and Ross Romero of Salt Lake City - accepted $80 tickets.

Sports tickets make up only a small portion of the money lobbyists spend on public officials; most cover the cost of meals, said Alan Dayton, lobbyist with Intermountain Healthcare.

"You just get more time to talk and that is the only reason you take them to lunch or dinner," he said.

Dayton spent nearly $2,000 on lawmakers since the start of the year, most of it on meals.

But a few of the gifts Dayton provided this year would be disclosed under Killpack's bill, which would require lobbyists to name lawmakers who accept tangible gifts costing more than $10.

So the person who received the "framed picture of an angel," costing $12.67, would then be part of the public record. Same goes for the new owner of a $15 "Shakespeare action figure and whistle."

But one tangible gift that Dayton handed out would fall just short of the limit - a "foam bazooka gun."

That cost $9.99.

mcanham@sltrib.com