Compliance
Do Volunteers Have to Register as Lobbyists? It Depends
November 5, 2024 | Nicole Galloway, Denisse Girón, Karen Kulivan
October 29, 2024 | Chase Klingensmith, Bradley Coffey
Key Takeaways:
Although the holiday season is about to kick off, compliance deadlines still loom. In November, 12 states and 4 localities will have disclosure reports due. Even with many legislative seasons having adjourned for the year, keep in mind that many jurisdictions still require reporting even after sine die.
The following localities also have disclosure reports due in November.
State | Localities |
California | City and County of San Francisco |
City of San Jose* | |
New York | New York City |
New Jersey | Jersey City |
*The City of San Jose requires weekly disclosure reporting.
Lobbying in a locality can trigger registration and reporting requirements as well. In states like New York, lobbying any locality or municipality will require a state registration and state bi-monthly disclosure reports, even if you do not lobby at the state level. Make sure if you lobby in New York you are registered with the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) as well to avoid hefty fines.
In states such as Georgia and Louisiana lobbying is regulated by the branches lobbied (e.g., executive, legislative, judicial, local). Georgia’s branches, or lobbying types, are slightly different and go by State, State Agency, State Transportation Board, Vendor, and Local. Some states, like Louisiana, allow for all branches lobbied to be disclosed in one report, but most states require a separate filing for each branch. Be sure you know which branches you are registered in so you do not miss a report.
Registrations in Indiana, Maryland, and New Jersey have also expired and will need to be renewed if lobbying activity is planned to continue.
In November, 27 states have campaign finance disclosure deadlines. If a political committee is registered in one of these states and is required to file disclosure reports, they must do so in November. 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.
Keeping up with rules, deadlines, and often confusing requirements is a daunting prospect for teams of all sizes. Let us manage your federal, state, and local registration and reporting responsibilities, or manage your Campaign Finance program. Read more about our Compliance Services here, or get in touch here.
November 5, 2024 | Nicole Galloway, Denisse Girón, Karen Kulivan
November 5, 2024 | Hilary Smith
October 22, 2024 | Dylan Busler