LobbyComply Blog

Greensboro City Council approved an ordinance to increase the gift threshold for nominal gifts from $30 to $50 per gift. Items  valued at less than $50 now fall into the exception to the gift ban for city officials. Resolution 2026-100 also amends and updates the city’s code of ethics and disclosure requirements for city officials. The new gift amount is effective immediately.

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New Hampshire lawmakers passed a bill to increase PAC reporting thresholds. PACs will be required to itemize receipts from contributors who give over $200 in the aggregate in an election cycle and include information on the contributor’s occupation if they give over $1,000. Previously, the thresholds were $50 and $200. The changes were included in Senate Bill 405, which was signed by Gov. Kelly Ayotte. The changes go into effect August 18.

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. 

On July 28, the city of Calgary’s City Council passed a proposal to explore the consideration of a lobbyist registry. The council’s Executive Committee’s “notice of motion” application made to the city council requested the council to direct the chief administrative officer and the council’s ethics advisor to conduct a jurisdictional review and report back its results to the Executive Committee by the end of 2026. The report must explore several options for city council’s consideration, including best practices from comparable Canadian municipalities; possible public disclosures requirements, and any accessibility requirements. The council also passed an amendment requiring any proposed registry  also apply to lobbying the council’s senior administrative staff.

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On August 4, the Wichita City Council will consider increasing the contribution limit to candidates for council from $500 per contributor per election to $2,000. Under state law, a candidate for local office whose jurisdiction has a population of 50,000 or more may not receive more than $2,000 per election per contributor, other than from party committees.  

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The gift limit for food, drink, and refreshments in Louisiana increased from $81 to $84. Lobbyists and non-lobbyists may now give a public servant or public employee any food, drink, or refreshment the total value of which does not exceed $84 for a single event. The $84 limit does not apply to gatherings held in conjunction with a meeting related to a national or regional organization, or to meetings of a statewide organization of governmental officials or employees. The limit is adjusted each year relative to the percentage increase in the consumer price index for the prior year.

Invite them out for coffee or a steak? Make sure you know the gift restrictions of your state or municipality. Request a demo of our online guidebooks today.

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.

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On July 22, The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) will be considering changes to its pay-to-play rule. As part of a regulatory modernization initiative, the MSRB will review Rule G-37, which imposes  pay-to-play rules upon brokers, dealers, municipal securities dealers, or municipal advisors making contributions to officials of state and local government entities. Rule G-37 does this by prohibiting dealers from engaging in municipal securities business and municipal advisors from engaging in municipal advisory business with municipal entities if certain contributions have been made to officials of such municipal entities within the preceding two-year period. It also requires dealers and municipal advisors to disclose certain political contributions and other information. At the meeting, the board will be electing its chair and vice-chair, approving its proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and discussing other rules in addition to the pay-to-play rules, including rules dealing with dealers’ supervisions of personnel and stakeholder engagements on open contractual commitments.

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 Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) release of its semi-annual regulatory agenda for 2026 includes potential reform of its pay-to-play regulations. The Division of Investment Management is considering recommending the SEC propose amendments to rule 17 C.F.R. §275.206(4)-5 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which prohibits certain investment adviser pay-to-play practices, to address identified compliance burdens. The targeted regulation imposes pay-to-play rules upon investment advisers and their covered associates who make contributions to officials of state and local government entities. The rules mandate investment advisers cannot provide investment advisory services for compensation to a government entity within two years after a contribution to an official of the government entity is made by the investment adviser or any covered associate of the investment adviser. Specific recommendations for amendments to the regulation are not included in the SEC’s agenda.

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. 

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. called for a special session on July 21. Senators will consider a revised horse racing agreement between the U.S. Virgin Islands and Southland Gaming Virgin Islands LLC. Stakeholders in government and the horse racing industry produced the revised agreement during several meetings held to shape the future of the sport in the territory.

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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.

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On July 7, the gift limit for lobbyists imposed by Canada’s federal Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct increased from $40 for gifts and hospitality for an official they lobby or expect to lobby to $43. The new gift limit has an annual maximum amount of $215, per calendar year, from one lobbying source. The previous aggregate limit was $200. The intention of the limits is to avoid the creation of a sense of obligation on the part of the official. Both increases were announced by the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada, which considers Statistics Canada’s consumer price index. The commissioner, on an annual basis, has the option to take inflation into account in adjusting the individual and annual gift limit amounts.

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As America 250 celebrations bring increased engagement between the public and government, many organizations are asking the same question: what are the federal gift rules that apply to hosting federal officials?

Federal gift rules exist to prevent conflicts of interest and protect public confidence in government. While the House, Senate, and Executive Branch operate under different ethics frameworks, each sets limits on what officials may accept from outside sources. Understanding these distinctions is essential for any organization planning events or interactions that involve federal executive or legislative branch employees.

House and Senate Gift Rules

House and Senate gift rules are similar in structure but are not identical in application. Both generally prohibit Members, officers, and employees from accepting gifts unless a specific exception applies. Key exceptions include the following:

• Nominal-value items. Certain low-value items may be accepted under both House and Senate gift rules. While the chambers use slightly different terminology and exceptions, both generally permit items of nominal value (about $10 or less).
• Food and beverages. Modest food and refreshments may be permitted in specific circumstances, such as receptions or events where they are not provided as an improper benefit to the official.
• Widely attended gatherings. Free attendance at certain widely attended events may be allowed when the applicable requirements are satisfied, including that the event is open to a broad group and attendance is appropriate to the official’s duties.

Executive Branch Gift Rules

Executive Branch employees are governed by the Standards of Ethical Conduct issued by the Office of Government Ethics. Employees generally may not accept gifts from prohibited sources or gifts offered because of their official position. Common exceptions include the following:

• Gifts of $20 or less. Employees may generally accept unsolicited gifts valued at $20 or less per occasion, subject to an annual aggregate limit from the same source.
• Modest food and refreshments. Certain modest items, such as coffee, soft drinks, or similar refreshments offered outside of a meal setting, are excluded from the definition of a gift under federal regulations.
• Widely attended events. Employees may accept free attendance at certain widely attended events when the attendance is authorized and when the event satisfies regulatory requirements, including broad participation and an opportunity for an exchange of ideas.

When to Seek Guidance

Navigating federal gift rules is rarely straightforward. Exceptions are fact-specific, and a seemingly minor detail can determine whether a gift, meal, or event invitation is permissible. If you are unsure whether a planned interaction complies with the applicable rules, contact us. We can evaluate the circumstances, work through the relevant requirements, and help ensure your approach is fully compliant.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission announced the updated 2026 Ethics Rules are available. Campaign finance updates include increasing the limit for cash contributions from $50 to $200. In lobbying regulations, the rule permitting infrequent gifts from legislative lobbyists on occasions of personal significance has been repealed. The governor, legislators, or any employee of the governor or the Legislature may now accept gifts of traditional business expenses from legislative lobbyists and lobbyist principals. Meals and other traditional business expenses, as well as non-meal food and beverage, are reported when the cumulative yearly total exceeds $20. Lobbyist principals of legislative lobbyists may now provide food and beverage for legislative sessions.

Invite them out for coffee or a steak? Make sure you know the gift restrictions of your state or municipality. Request a demo of our online guidebooks today. 

Before adjourning the 94th Legislature last week, lawmakers passed an omnibus bill amending campaign finance and lobbying reporting. House File 4239 modifies requirements for disclaimers on campaign advertisements. The bill removes the requirement of including the official’s address when reporting a gift and instead requires the lobbyist to include the official’s name, title, the government jurisdiction, and the date of the gift. The bill eliminates the requirement to report certain costs associated grassroots lobbying but requires a disclaimer on grassroots lobbying material, identifying the individual or association responsible for the content and allows for a penalty of $3,000 if the disclaimer is not included. Gov. Walz signed the bill on May 18, making the lobbying changes effective immediately.

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