New York COELIG Accepting Comments on Lobbying Fee Rulemaking

The New York Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) is accepting comments on a proposed rulemaking related to the recent statutory increase in lobbyist registration fees. The lobbyist registration fee is increasing from $200 per biennium to $250 per calendar year in COELIG’s regulations. Additionally, lobbyists who fail to complete a registration or pay the annual fee may be subject to civil penalties. COELIG is accepting public comments until September 13.

Stay up to date with all state and federal lobbying laws. Sign up for our online guidebooks and never miss a compliance law change. 

The General Government Budget for 2026-2027 was passed and signed by Gov. Hochul. Included in the budget was an increase to the lobbyist registration fee from $200 to $250. The prorated fee for lobbyist registrations submitted after January 1 of the second calendar year of the biennial period was abolished, making the full $250 fee due with every registration. Additionally, lobbyist training must be completed once every two years and at least once in each biennium, beginning with the next biennium on January 1, 2027.

Stay up to date with all state and federal lobbying laws. Sign up for our online guidebooks and never miss a compliance law change. 

The Delaware General Assembly adjourned on July 1. Lawmakers passed House Bill 344, which clarifies and streamlines the disclosure and enforcement provisions of campaign finance laws. Changes include extending the requirement for political committees to retain records from three years to five years and requiring biennial training for committee treasurers. The bill will be effective July 1, 2027, if approved by Gov. Matt Meyer.

Are you able to track all legislative sessions in the states you do business? We are! Let us show how easy it can be, request a demo of our online guidebooks today. 

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) will hold a public hearing on July 21 regarding the commission’s implementation of Executive Order 19. The order directed state agencies to identify hidden or unnecessary “junk” fees that can be reduced or eliminated. ELEC is accepting written comments on fees connected with campaign finance and lobbying compliance until the day of the hearing.

Stay up to date with all state and federal lobbying laws. Sign up for our online guidebooks and never miss a compliance law change

The Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections Practices proposed routine technical changes to update the commission’s rules after the passage of two campaign finance bills this session. Proposed updates include guidance on the disclosure required for paid communications containing misleading manipulated media of a candidate and a threshold increase for filing independent expenditure disclosure reports. The commission will hold a hearing on June 24 and will accept comments through July 8.

Make sure you understand pay-to-play regulations in your state. See all 50 states and nearly 300 jurisdictions in our online guidebooks. Check them out here.

The Vermont General Assembly adjourned sine die on May 29. Lawmakers passed House Bill 686, which requires lobbying advertising to contain certain disclosures when the General Assembly is not in session. If approved by Gov. Scott, the bill would be effective immediately.

Make sure you understand pay-to-play regulations in your state. See all 50 states and nearly 300 jurisdictions in our online guidebooks. Check them out here.

The Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices proposed commencing a rulemaking at the upcoming meeting on May 27. The purpose is to update the commission’s rules based on newly chaptered laws from this year’s legislative session. Legislative changes to be addressed include disclosure requirements for paid communications containing manipulated images or audio of a candidate, and an increase to the spending threshold for independent expenditure reporting. If the rulemaking is commenced, an invitation to comment is expected to begin on June 1.

Are you able to track all legislative sessions in the states you do business? We are! Let us show how easy it can be, request a demo of our online guidebooks today. 

The Connecticut General Assembly adjourned on May 6. During the session, lawmakers passed House Bill 5532, which makes changes to monetary thresholds under the state code of ethics. Changes include increasing the threshold for filing monthly lobbyist reports, reporting lobbying expenditures, and for registration of lobbyists who are not compensated but make gifts to public officials. The thresholds for certain exempted gifts also increased. Additionally, the threshold for reporting gifts given to public officials by a person doing business or seeking to do business with the state is doubled to $20. If approved by the governor, relevant provisions of the bill will be effective October 1. This does affect lobbying reporting. The final monthly employer activity report required for the regular session is due June 10.

Stay up to date with all state and federal lobbying laws. Sign up for our online guidebooks and never miss a compliance law change.

The second regular session of the 132nd Legislature adjourned sine die after a veto session on April 29. Lawmakers passed two campaign finance bills, Legislative Documents 517 and 2000. Legislative Document 517 requires public communications that use synthetic media to include a disclaimer, and Legislative Document 2000 increased the monetary minimums for filing 24-hour PAC and independent expenditure reports. The general effective date for laws passed without an emergency designation is July 29. This does affect lobbying reporting; a registered lobbyist who anticipates no further lobbying for a client may file a request for a non-session waiver with their final monthly report for the session.

Stay up to date with all state and federal lobbying laws. Sign up for our online guidebooks and never miss a compliance law change.

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) released their annual report for 2025. Last year’s election had unprecedented campaign spending and a new record for disclosure reports filed. Additionally, 6270 lobbyist reports and 2,419 pay-to-play reports were filed. The report contains policy recommendations for lawmakers, including proposing requiring quarterly and 72/24-hour notice reports for independent expenditure committees. The report can be found at https://www.elec.nj.gov/pdffiles/annual_reports/annual2025.pdf.

Never miss a lobbying compliance deadline. Sign up for our online guidebooks today!

Pennsylvania will hold a special election on August 18 for House District 12. Rep. Stephenie Scialabba resigned on March 31 to spend more time with her family. Scialabba was first elected in 2022 and had initially stated she would not run for re-election in November before resigning.

Stay up to date with all state and federal lobbying law. Sign up for our online guidebooks and never miss a compliance law change.

The New Hampshire Secretary of State has announced an online portal for lobbyist registration and reporting is now available. The first report for the year is due April 29. Lobbyist information has been moved to the new online portal, however an account must be set up Here.

Make sure you understand pay-to-play regulations in your state. See all 50 states and nearly 300 jurisdictions in our online guidebooks. Check them out here.

The Maine General Assembly passed a bill increasing the monetary threshold for 24-hour PAC reports and independent expenditure reports. Legislative Document 2000 requires PACs to file 24-hour reports after receiving a contribution of at least $10,000 or making an expenditure of $2,500 or more. Previously, PACs were required to file when receiving a contribution of at least $5,000 or making an expenditure of $1,000 or more. The threshold for PACs to file independent expenditure reports is increased from $250 or more per candidate to $1,000 or more per candidate. The bill became effective upon Gov. Mills’s approval.

Stay up to date with all state and federal lobbying law. Sign up for our online guidebooks and never miss a compliance law change.

The Delaware House of Representatives introduced two bills to overhaul campaign finance reporting on April 9. House Bill 360 requires political committees to file reports quarterly rather than annually and eliminates the report due 30 days before an election.  House Bill 344 extends the political committee requirement to retain records from three years to five years and requires biennial training for committee treasurers.

Make sure you understand pay-to-play regulations in your state. See all 50 states and nearly 300 jurisdictions in our online guidebooks. Check them out here.