LobbyComply Blog

We are pleased to congratulate Renae Bomba, Esq., Manager of Compliance Services at State and Federal Communications, on her 10-year anniversary with the company.

Renae began her career at State and Federal Communications in 2016 as a Research Associate. She advanced to Compliance Associate in 2017 and was promoted to Manager of Compliance Services in 2020. Throughout her tenure, Renae has been driven by a commitment to helping clients remain compliant while making their work easier and more efficient.

The Compliance team provides essential guidance to consulting clients on registrations, reporting requirements, and terminations, working closely with them to ensure compliance with lobbying and campaign contribution laws. Clear and consistent communication is critical, as state and local regulations are constantly evolving. State and Federal Communications’ continued investment in technology has also played an important role in supporting the growing and changing needs of clients.

“In the Compliance Department, you work with and learn the different filing systems and rules” Renae explained. “You talk with clients, help them to the best of your ability, and gather all the information needed to file reports correctly.”

Renae is a trusted expert within the Compliance Department, known for her deep familiarity with compliance systems and processes. She values her strong relationships with existing clients and enjoys guiding new clients as they integrate into State and Federal Communications’ systems and workflows.

When regulatory quirks or nuances create challenges during the filing process, Renae works directly with state agencies and organizations to advocate for clients and identify what may need to be fixed, clarified, or improved. Much of this work involves managing risk and understanding how differences in state rules—and changes to those rules—can impact clients.

The team at State and Federal Communications, Inc. is made up of experienced professionals you can trust. Learn more about how we support your compliance needs at https://stateandfed.com/services/.

Your Question: Where do I need to register after I lobbied in a state?

Our Expertise: Deciding whether and where you need to register is already a herculean task, as you must navigate the labyrinthine world of state compliance laws. Along the way, you may encountera divergence in the path: one route leads to state registration, another to local registration, and a third requires both.
Thankfully, we at State and Federal Communications are here to offer you a ball of thread to assist with navigating the myriad paths that make up state and local compliance.

The first step in determining where registration is required is identifying who or what you are lobbying. Local lobbying generally targets city councils, county boards, and municipal authorities, while state lobbying targets state legislatures, governors, and state agencies. One potential hazard is misunderstanding which level of government oversees the entity you are lobbying.

For example, is the water authority owned by the city, county, or state? Is a local college part of the state university system? Lobbying these peripheral governmental entities may require registration with the entity itself, the local municipality, the county, or the state, depending on its governance.

Once you understand the scope of your lobbying, the next step is to review the law and verify the registration threshold. Some localities have their own reporting systems, while some states include local-level lobbying in their registration threshold. This analysis is done by delving into the registration threshold, then focusing on the definition of lobbying. If the definition concentrates on “state legislatures or agencies,” local lobbying is excluded.

Next, check to see if the local municipality you are lobbying has its own lobbying law and determine whether local registration is required. Finally, if applicable, confirm that the entity itself does not require registration.

Want to keep up with all the newest happenings in lobbying, campaign finance, and procurement lobbying compliance? Sign up for our Compliance Now newsletter and never miss a beat – https://stateandfed.com/e-newsletter/

Question: I’m a registered lobbyist in multiple states—how long do I need to keep my notes, meeting records, and receipts? Is it okay to get rid of them after the report is filed?

Answer: No. The best practice is to maintain your records for the full period required by each jurisdiction where you are registered. You should also be aware of whether any of those jurisdictions conduct regular or random audits, as you may need to produce your records during that process.

Most jurisdictions set a specific retention period for lobbying records. If you are registered in multiple states, it’s usually simplest—and safest—to follow the longest retention period among them. For example, if you are registered in both Washington and Idaho, you may choose to keep all records for five years, which matches Washington’s requirement, rather than maintaining separate timelines (three years for Idaho and five for Washington).

Registering as a lobbyist brings reporting obligations, but it also creates responsibilities for proper record maintenance, and it may subject your records to audit. Maintaining complete and accurate records helps substantiate the information included in your reports and reduces risks during an audit or investigation. Make sure to keep all required documents for the full period mandated by each jurisdiction to avoid future compliance issues.

Some states conduct regular audits. In 2025, Connecticut randomly selected 30 client lobbyist names for audit. Florida’s Legislative Auditing Committee selects a random sample of 3% of all lobbying firms each year for compensation report audits. Tennessee audits the registration statements, amendments, and lobbying reports of up to 4% of lobbyists annually.

Keeping your records organized and preserved for the required period ensures you are prepared if you are ever selected for an audit.

More information about procurement lobbying requirements can easily be found on our website in the Document Retention and Audits section of the Lobbying Compliance Guidebook. Not a subscriber yet, sign up for your free demo today.