Compliance
Do Volunteers Have to Register as Lobbyists? It Depends
November 5, 2024 | Nicole Galloway, Denisse Girón, Karen Kulivan
April 29, 2024 | Chase Klingensmith, Bradley Coffey
Key Takeaways:
May is going to be another busy month in the lobbying compliance space. Twenty-eight states, eight localities, and the Canadian Federal government all have periodic disclosure reports due this month. Check out the map below so you do not miss any reports.
It's important to note that some states require more than one report to be filed this month. Georgia, Louisiana, and Ohio require branch specific reports (e.g. executive, legislative, judicial, local, etc.). If you are registered in any of these states do not forget you may have to file additional reports to remain in compliance.
The following localities also have disclosure reports due in May:
State | Localities |
California | City of San Jose* City and County of San Francisco |
New Jersey | Jersey City |
New York | City of New York Suffolk County |
Ohio | City of Columbus |
Washington | City of Seattle |
Canada | Alberta |
*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.
At the end of April, lobbyist registrations in two states expired. Registration renewals for the next lobbying year are currently underway, so you should pay very close attention to your jurisdictions to avoid missing a critical renewal deadline. The map below shows which states had expiring registrations in April 2024.
In May, 24 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 May. 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.
Don’t miss a critical deadline as we get deeper into the primary 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.
November 5, 2024 | Nicole Galloway, Denisse Girón, Karen Kulivan
November 5, 2024 | Hilary Smith
October 29, 2024 | Chase Klingensmith, Bradley Coffey