Key Takeaways:
- April has 30 state and 19 local lobbying disclosure deadlines, as well as deadlines for the U.S. Federal Quarterly and Canada Federal Monthly reports.
- There are also some important state-specific lobbying reporting requirements in California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, and Oklahoma.
- In the area of campaign finance, 36 states have campaign finance disclosure deadlines, plus the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
State and Federal Lobbying Compliance Deadlines in April
Legislatures in full swing in April, which means so are periodic disclosure reports! April has 30 state and 19 local disclosure deadlines, as well as deadlines for the U.S. Federal Quarterly and Canada Federal Monthly reports.
Don’t Get Tripped Up by These State-Specific Quirks
Additionally if you are registered in Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, or Oklahoma, be aware that these states require branch-specific lobby reporting and you may be required to complete more than one report (e.g. executive, legislative, judicial, local, etc.).
For those in California, if you are not a registered lobbyist employer and are making payments totaling more than $5,000 per quarter to influence legislative or administrative action (more commonly referred to as a $5,000 Filer), a Form 645 is due. If you are already a registered employer, payments should be included in the regular quarterly employer disclosure report.
For lobbyists in Colorado, until the Legislature’s scheduled adjournment on May 8, lobbyists are required to submit 72-hour notices if adding, changing, or ending a position on a new or existing bill, legislation, standard, rule, or rate. Changes in monitoring are also subject to 72-hour reporting guidelines. If you are a MultiState client, remember to email our team within 24 hours of your change in position on any of the mentioned items.
Localities with Periodic Disclosures Due in April
These localities have deadlines in April:
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 Commision on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) as well to avoid hefty fines.
Campaign Finance Deadlines in April 2024
In April, 36 states have campaign finance disclosure deadlines, plus the Federal Election Commission (FEC). If a political committee is registered in one of these states and is required to file disclosure reports, they must do so in April. 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.
Get Help with Lobbying and PAC Compliance
Don’t miss a critical deadline in the 2024 state legislative session season — 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.