Lobbyists have spent less money on Georgia's state senators in the first month after a new rule imposed limits.

Still, it remains unclear whether the rule alone is responsible for the decrease.

An analysis of financial reports by The Associated Press shows that lobbyists spent roughly $91,300 on Senate lawmakers in the month since the rule passed January 14. That's a decrease of about 35 percent from the same period a year earlier.

The Senate adopted the rule this year to prohibit members from receiving lobbyist gifts worth more than $100. But the rule left several loopholes, including junkets tied to lawmakers' official duties and events where all state legislators or members of committees or caucuses are invited.

Tags: lawmakers, Georgia Senate, lobbyists