Compliance
Do Volunteers Have to Register as Lobbyists? It Depends
November 5, 2024 | Nicole Galloway, Denisse Girón, Karen Kulivan
November 1, 2023 | Chase Klingensmith, Bradley Coffey
Key Takeaways:
There are thirteen states with periodic disclosures due this month. If you are registered in one of these states, be sure to file your disclosure reports before each state's deadline to avoid facing a violation and possible fines. In addition to the periodic disclosures due, New Jersey’s annual registration period is opening. If you plan to lobby in New Jersey, or are planning to continue your lobbying activity there, you must complete a registration to remain active and compliant.
State and local contractors in the State of Maryland with aggregate contract values exceeding $200,000 and lobbyist employers paying compensation of $500 or more to a Maryland registered lobbyist are required to file their business contribution reports this month. This hybrid report includes elements of both lobbying and campaign finance and is required to be filed by November 30, 2023. A report/registration is required even if no contributions have been made. See the map below for a full overview of all state compliance deadlines this month.
Lobbying activity in some local municipalities also requires periodic disclosures. In the month of November there are three localities with periodic disclosures due. Depending on the state, lobbying in a municipality can also require a state registration.
State | Localities |
California | City of San Jose County and City of San Francisco |
New York | New York City |
If you are registered to lobby in Canada at the federal level, your Canadian Monthly Federal Report is also due this month.
In November, 20 states have campaign finance disclosure deadlines, in addition to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Check out the map below for the states with important deadlines this month.
Political committees should be aware of their filing schedules. Some jurisdictions (Texas, for example) give the option to report monthly or quarterly. Also be aware that some states require a political committee to report large contributions within a set time frame of receipt. Political committees should be reviewing contributions carefully to ensure they do not miss a required contribution- or expenditure-triggered deadline.
The 2024 state legislative sessions are just around the corner. Don’t miss a critical deadline — learn more about our industry-leading lobbying compliance services. We can also help if you’re running a political committee and unsure of your compliance requirements. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team with questions.
November 5, 2024 | Nicole Galloway, Denisse Girón, Karen Kulivan
November 5, 2024 | Hilary Smith
October 29, 2024 | Chase Klingensmith, Bradley Coffey