LobbyComply Blog

Q: My company is a registered lobbyist employer in California. We are sponsoring an invitation-only reception and want to invite state officials. Are there any gift laws or other requirements we need to worry about?

A: The California gift laws allow lobbyist employers to provide gifts to an official with an aggregate total value of $630 or less each year. The gift would be reportable as an activity expense on your quarterly lobbyist employer report. Lobbyist employers must also comply with notification rules when an official receives a gift aggregating $50 or more in a calendar year.

Where notifications are required, lobbying entities must include a notice in all written or printed invitations to events at which an official will receive a reportable gift. The notice must state attendance at the event by a public official will constitute acceptance of a reportable gift. The lobbying entity must also send the official a written notice of the gift’s value after the event. The notice must be sent to an official who received a gift within 30 days following the end of the calendar quarter in which the gift was provided.

For valuation purposes, the amount of the gift to each official is the official’s pro rata share of the total cost of the food, catering services, and entertainment, plus any item provided at the event. Only those officials who attended the event should be disclosed. To determine which officials to include on the lobbyist employer report, it is a good idea to have a sign-in sheet or guest book to track attendance. Immediate family members of officials must also be disclosed if the family member attended the event.

For more information, please visit the California lobbying entry in our guidebooks. Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions. Not a guidebook subscriber yet? Request your free demo today and keep up with all lobbying, procurement lobbying, and campaign finance compliance.

October 22nd observes, among other things, Unity Day. This day was started in October 2011 by the Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center and happens to be the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month (also observed in October). Unity Day was originally founded to show support for students who have been bullied and for bullying prevention. It is a day to come together and “send a visible message of building community through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.” You can imagine that when I found out about Unity Day, I for one was thrilled that such a day existed, especially given the strange and un-empathetic times in which we are currently living!

Since its inception, Unity Day has been observed here in the United States and around the world. Those observing are asked to wear and share the color orange, chosen for its vibrancy and considered “a conversation starter.” Although initially founded to show support for students, adults can very well take lessons from Unity Day’s campaign – a great way to foster inclusion, togetherness, and compassion! Interested in knowing how you can get involved and observe Unity Day? Here are some great resources below:

Why Unity Day?

How You Can Get Involved

Order Unity Day Items

Any chance for me to make the world a better place, I’m definitely all for it! – Let’s all recognize Unity Day on October 22nd and spread the word!

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In today’s fast-paced world, longevity in a single organization is increasingly rare. That is why it is both an honor and a privilege to celebrate the great staff who have dedicated years to State and Federal Communications. The unwavering commitment, loyalty, and professionalism have left a lasting mark on our team and culture.

Since joining the staff, everyone has embodied the values that define who we are, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and service. From the early days in their roles to their current position this group has grown alongside the company, witnessing its milestones and playing a key role in many of them.

I receive many calls and emails describing our staff as people who lead by example, with a calm presence, a wealth of institutional knowledge, and a readiness to mentor others. Whether it is navigating challenging projects, training new staff, or simply offering a kind word of encouragement, the presence of the team has been a constant source of strength.

Longevity like this does not just happen, it is the result of passion, perseverance, and a deep-rooted belief in the work being done. It also speaks to the kind of workplace culture that values people as much as performance.

We will recognize our entire staff in September. Until then we extend our deepest gratitude for the decades of excellence and dedication. Hail to a legacy which inspires us all—and to the years still ahead.

Thank you.
Elizabeth Z. Bartz
@elizabethbartz

State and Federal Communications is 31 years old and, I believe, this is our third values statement. We are in the middle of our EOS program—Entrepreneurial Operating System—where we dissect how the company operates. One of our first major assignments is to create our Core Values.

This was not an easy assignment. We had a lot of suggestions and worked it down to what we have now.

1. Clients First—This is #1. We listen to every suggestion made by you to see if we can incorporate updates to our website and compliance system.
2. Commitment to Excellence is very important to us. You subscribe to find out what you can and cannot do. Our work is done because of our real research and not AI.
3. Solutions Oriented means we want to help you with your government relations work and not just hide under the wire. Again, this is done because everyone in our compliance department knows how to do research and obtain correct information.

We will introduce our updated website next month and know you will love it.

a. More Intuitive Search Features – We have redesigned our State and Federal Communications website (www.stateandfed.com) to give you better user experience. The website is more intuitive and user-friendly, and we have also significantly upgraded our search functionality. You will also be able to bookmark specific pages rather than just states and jurisdictions.

b. Upgraded Security – We have invested in upgrading State and Federal Communications security infrastructure to SOC 2 compliant servers to ensure the highest level of protection for our users. This gives you the confidence that we have provided the needed security for you — our customers, partners, and stakeholders – as you navigate our website at www.stateandfed.com.

c. Ease of Use – Tracks recently viewed pages – The State and Federal Communications website is now easier to navigate and use, and we have added a convenient “recently viewed” feature to help quickly return to pages already visited.

d. Tracks Most Current Changes – The State and Federal Communications website is constantly updated to reflect the most current changes, which are available with one click.

e. Increased Speed in Navigation – We have optimized the State and Federal Communications website for faster and more responsive navigation, optimizing the use of your time and making your work more efficient.

Stay tuned. We will be conducting in person training on our site in DC and provide everyone the opportunity to take a tour of our website.

In the meantime, rest well … We have this under control.

Thank you.
Elizabeth Z. Bartz
@elizabethbartz

On January 20, 2025, the 47th President of the United States was sworn into office…And, there has not been a quiet day since.

I am not taking this political at all. You can agree or not agree. Regardless of your side, it is time to step up and make sure you have facts before spouting opinions.

On my personal Facebook page, I usually write, “My page, my opinion.” I have my beliefs and have no problem conveying them to my community. If anyone does not agree they can certainly have their own post.

But, people, there are changes being made and, just this week, it seemed to affect many people. On Wednesday, I received emails from the Greater Akron Chamber and the Akron Urban League concerned about the federal grants they both might not receive.

It will involve all of us opening our pocketbooks to help organizations we support just a little more. More than ever, public universities will ask for your support to help provide scholarships to students if work-study programs are cut. If the order includes the Older Americans Act, it “would  halt service to millions of vulnerable seniors who have no other means of purchasing or preparing meals,” Meals on Wheels said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. “The lack of clarity is creating chaos for Meals on Wheels providers not knowing whether they should be serving meals today.”

It is a lot to comprehend, but we can get through this, as we always do. I can do without ordering more clothes, which would make my husband incredibly happy, if it helped to make contributions to nonprofit organizations in need of assistance.

Let us step up and help our brothers and sisters where needed. This is our way of showing the country we can get through all the changes being made not only on a federal level but also in all our states.

Thank you.
Elizabeth Z. Bartz
@elizabethbartz