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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During the last County Commission meeting, an ordinance was passed to raise the fee for lobbyist registration from a one-time $25 fee to an annual $200 fee per principal. The county believes the prior fee no longer covers the administrative costs associated with maintaining and administering the Central Lobbyist Registry. The fee can be adjusted at any time but at least every five years to align with the consumer price index. The annual $200 registration fee is scheduled to begin October 1.

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On June 11, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas disclosed he is working with the city council to establish a registry of lobbyists for the city. The registry would be separate from a proposed provincial code of conduct applicable to local municipal councils announced earlier this year by Alberta’s Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams. The ministry issued a statement to Globalnews.ca that Calgary “is free to advance its own lobbying registry” independent of the province.

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The Canadian federal Commissioner of Lobbying Nancy Bélanger has submitted her annual report to the Parliament of Canada for 2025-26. The report, which covers registrations, lobbyist activity reports, compliance, and other issues concerning the commissioner’s office, also highlights the implementation of a new registration threshold and the start of the statutory review of the Lobbying Act. A new interpretation bulletin was issued in July of 2025, lowering the registration threshold for organizations and corporations. That threshold became effective on January 19, 2026. The report details the October 10, 2025, briefing session about the current lobbying law, which Commissioner Bélanger had with the Parliament through its Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI). It also details the statutory review of the Lobbying Act begun on March 9, 2026, by the ETHI with Commissioner Bélanger as the first witness. Belanger discussed her 21 recommendations for modernizing and improving the federal lobbying law. This annual report is required to be filed within three months after the end of each fiscal year by the commissioner about the administration of the Lobbying Act during that fiscal year. 

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Does California State Lobbyist Registration Cover Local Lobbying?

No. California’s state lobbyist registration does not cover lobbying directed at local jurisdictions. Before engaging with any county or local official, you must determine whether that jurisdiction has its own lobbying ordinance.

State Registration and Local Lobbying in California

California’s state lobbying law governs activity directed at state officials and state government entities. It does not extend to lobbying at the local level. That means a registered state lobbyist may still need to register separately with individual cities, counties, or local governmental bodies before making contact with their officials.

The scope of local lobbying requirements varies widely. In some cases, a locality, its county, and governmental entities within that county each maintain their own independent lobbying ordinances.

The Los Angeles area is a clear example of this complexity. Each of the following has its own lobbying requirements:

• City of Los Angeles
• County of Los Angeles
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LAMTA)
• Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)

There is no unified registration that covers all of these entities. Each must be evaluated and addressed separately.

How to Approach Local Lobbying Compliance in California

Because no single registration covers local jurisdictions in California, the starting point for any local lobbying effort is identifying two things before outreach begins:

1. The officials you intend to contact, and
2. The governmental entities those officials represent.

From there, you can determine which local ordinances apply and what registration, reporting, or disclosure obligations must be met.

For organizations operating across multiple California jurisdictions, this process can be complex. State and Federal Communications provides lobbying compliance consulting to help government affairs professionals navigate these requirements efficiently.

California Gift Laws and Local Jurisdictions

Gift law compliance adds another layer of consideration for California lobbyists operating at the local level.

California’s state gift laws differ in scope from its lobbying laws. While state lobbying laws do not apply to local jurisdictions, state gift laws do apply at the local level. This means lobbyists engaging with local officials in California must still comply with state gift rules even if they are not required to register with the state .

However, local governments in California are free to adopt their own gift rules, and those local rules may be more stringent than state law. The City of Los Angeles is one example where local gift rules are more stringent than state requirements.

Best practice: always review applicable local gift ordinances before providing any gifts or hospitality to public officials, even if you believe the gift would be permitted by the state gift law.

Where to Find California Local Lobbying Guidance

Navigating local California lobbying requirements requires jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction analysis. State and Federal Communications maintains detailed guidance through its online compliance guidebooks, which cover local lobbying ordinances and gift rules across California jurisdictions.

For hands-on support, the firm’s lobbying compliance consulting services can help ensure your organization meets all applicable local requirements before engaging public officials.

The Denver, Colorado City Council is set to consider sweeping reforms to the city’s lobbying code. Bill 26-0686 would require lobbyists to report grassroots lobbying expenditures in addition to legislative and administrative lobbying activities. The bill includes definitional changes, updated registration requirements, and additional disclosure requirements for lobbyists’ activity reports. The council next considers the legislation on June 8.

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The Colorado Legislature adjourned sine die on May 13. Lawmakers passed House Bill 1422, a bill addressing security measures for certain governmental entities and modifying registration requirements for political committees. The bill specifies the address of the principal place of operations listed by a political committee or small donor committee on its registration statement may be either a street address or a mailing address. If the bill is approved by Gov. Jared Polis, this provision will take effect immediately. Legislators also passed Senate Bill 147, a bill which would require legislative liaisons, judicial lobbyists, and governor’s lobbyists to register and file disclosure statements similar to professional lobbyists. Polis has not yet acted on this bill, but his office has signaled disfavor. If approved, the bill would take effect August 12.

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New Brunswick, Canada may soon be overhauling its provincial lobbying law. On May 12, legislation was introduced into parliament to amend the current Lobbyists’ Registration Act. Bill No. 44 would mandate monthly reporting and additional disclosures not currently required, including with whom a lobbyist met, when they met, and where they met. The Office of the Integrity Commissioner would have the authority to investigate violations and to impose financial penalties. The commissioner would also create a code of conduct for lobbyists. The code, with which lobbyists must comply, will detail the expected ethical standards, behaviors, and responsibilities of lobbyists.

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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.

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Nebraska LB 1075: Lobbying and Campaign Finance Law Updates

Nebraska Legislative Bill 1075, signed by Gov. Jim Pillen on April 15, 2026, amends several provisions of the state’s lobbying and campaign finance laws. The bill applies late fees to lobbyist principals, tightens restrictions on foreign national contributions, updates political committee reporting requirements, and increases several fee amounts. The bill took effect upon signature.

What Does Nebraska LB 1075 Change?

LB 1075 addresses Nebraska lobbying and campaign finance compliance. Here is a breakdown of each change.

Lobbying Late Filing Fees Now Apply to Principals

Prior Nebraska law required both lobbyists and principals to submit periodic and special lobbying disclosure reports, but late filing fees applied only to lobbyists. LB 1075 closes that gap by extending late filing fees to principals as well.

The updated fee schedule is as follows:

Report Type	Previous Fee	New Fee
Quarterly statements	$25	$50
Disclosure reports (during session)	$100	$200

Stricter Foreign National Restrictions on Ballot Question Committees

LB 1075 imposes new certification and affirmation requirements on ballot question committees regarding foreign national influence.

Registration statements must now certify that no preliminary activity was funded by foreign nationals. Covered preliminary activities include:

• Conducting focus groups
• Drafting proposed language
• Making phone calls

Campaign statements filed by ballot question committees must include an affirmation that:

• No donor is a foreign national, and
• No donor has intentionally received, solicited, or accepted contributions or expenditures from foreign nationals exceeding $100,000 in aggregate in the four-year period before the contribution

Penalties: A ballot question committee that solicits, accepts, or receives a prohibited foreign national contribution, directly or indirectly, will be subject to a fine equal to the amount of the contribution or $100,000, whichever is greater.

Political Committee Contribution Reporting Updates

LB 1075 makes two practical changes to how political committees submit campaign statements and late contribution reports.

Address requirements: Committees may now list either a street address or a post office box number for named contributors. If the contributor is a committee itself, a street address is still required.

Filing methods: Late contribution reports may no longer be submitted by telegraph.

H2- Committee Fee Increases

LB 1075 adjusts several committee-related fees:

Fee Type	Previous Amount	New Amount
Committee registration	$100	$150
Delinquent registration filing fee (standard)	$25	$50
Delinquent registration filing fee (committees formed within 30 days before an election)	$100	$200
updates and delinquent report filing	$25	$50
Delinquent late  contribution reports	$100	$200

Staying Compliant with Nebraska LB 1075

The changes introduced by LB 1075 affect lobbyists, principals, and political committees operating in Nebraska. Organizations should review current filing practices, fee schedules, and any ballot question committee activity to ensure compliance.

For jurisdiction-specific guidance, State and Federal Communications maintains regularly updated online compliance guidebooks covering Nebraska and other states. Hands-on support is also available through the firm’s lobbying compliance consulting services.

FAQ’s

The 2026 regular session of the General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 15, after lawmakers with a Republican supermajority voted to override over two dozen vetoes by Gov. Beshear, including bills on election laws, Medicaid, and budget matters. Passed bills include House Bill 757, codifying lobbyist registration fees for lobbyist employers and each real party in interest at $750. Lawmakers also voted to override the veto to pass House Bill 607 dissolving the Louisville Ethics Commission at the end of 2026, replacing all its members, and setting up a new appointment process. The bill also modifies procedures for redistricting.

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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.

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The Hawaii Legislature has fundamentally changed the landscape for government contractors by enacting House Bill 412. Effective January 1, 2027, this law expands the definition of “lobbying” to include certain procurement activities. If your organization pursues state contracts, these changes may require you to register as a lobbyist even if you have never considered your activities to be traditional lobbying.

Understanding the New Definition of Lobbying

Previously, Hawaii law defined lobbying primarily as communicating with officials to influence legislative or executive action or ballot issues. Under the new provisions of HB 412, lobbying now includes:

• Financial Disclosure Personnel: Communications with any person required to file financial disclosure statements with the state regarding the following procurement matters.
  • Contract Solicitation and Awards: Any communication regarding the solicitation or award of a contract by proposal before an administrative agency.
  • Vendor Relationships: Discussions concerning potential future vendor relationships with an administrative agency.

It is important to note that the law specifically excludes communications that are initiated by a legislator or a state employee.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The state has introduced significant penalties to ensure adherence to these transparency requirements. Any contract or action entered into by the state that is found to be in violation of lobbying laws may be voidable within 60 days after a violation is determined. The Attorney General, in coordination with the affected purchasing agency, holds the authority to enforce these penalties.

Determining If You Must Register

Not every vendor interaction will trigger a registration requirement. Registration is typically based on specific thresholds, including:

• The amount of compensation received for lobbying activities.
• The total time spent lobbying during a specific reporting period or calendar year.
• The total expenditures made toward lobbying efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do these procurement lobbying changes actually take effect? While the bill was enacted on May 16, 2025, the expanded definition, specifically targeting procurement and vendor relationships, does not take effect until January 1, 2027. This provides organizations a window to assess their current business development strategies and internal compliance protocols.

Does this mean every sales meeting with a state agency is now “lobbying”? Not necessarily. The law focuses on communications concerning the “solicitation or award of a contract by proposal” or “potential future vendor relationships”. Standard administrative inquiries or communications initiated by the state employee are generally excluded. However, because the line between “sales” and “influence” is now thinner, a formal assessment of your activities is highly recommended.

How can I stay updated on these and other state compliance changes? Rules regarding procurement and lobbying are subject to frequent shifts. For in-house teams who need a reliable reference, our Guidebooks provide up-to-date regional data and statutory summaries. If your organization requires a more tailored approach to navigate these new Hawaii requirements, our Consulting team offers hands-on assistance to ensure your procurement efforts remain compliant and your contracts secure.

On April 7, the North Bay City Council will discuss the possible implementation of a formal registry of lobbyists. The interest in a potential authorization of a registry was driven by Integrity Commissioner Guy Giorno’s letter to council written last fall concerning some of the mayor’s expenses, according to the North Bay Nugget. While an existing council code of conduct already limits gifts from lobbyists, Giorno emphasized the city has no method for determining whether lobbying of public officials is even occurring. The code of conduct defines a lobbyist as a person communicating with a councilmember for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence them respecting an issue that is or may be pending before council or one of its standing Committees.

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