LobbyComply Blog

City Council passed two ethics ordinances on July 14 which are effective immediately. Ordinance 2026-047 prohibits lobbyists and entities in which they hold ownership interests from making direct or in-kind contributions to any candidate or elected official or their authorized political committee or PAC. The ordinance also incorporates state campaign finance limits while prohibiting anyone who is seeking business with the city and anyone who has done business with the city during the preceding four reporting years from donating more than $1,500 per year to city candidates and elected officials, or to any official or employee of the city who is seeking election to any other office. Violators would be barred from doing business with the city for four years. Ordinance 2026-046 requires elected officials, candidates and certain city employees to annually file a disclosure statement which includes any gifts, loans or services they’ve received from those doing business with the city.

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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 15, the Executive Branch Ethics Commission voted to extend the deadline for filing Updated Registration Statements and paying registration fees due to issues with the new online reporting system. This applies to executive branch lobbyists, employers, and real parties in interest. The original deadline of July 31 was extended with no fines being assessed for delayed filing prior to September 30.

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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 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 Hawaii Legislature adjourned sine die on May 8. Lawmakers passed bills related to campaign financing. Pursuant to Senate Bill 2532, political committees will be required to electronically file organizational reports, fundraiser notices, and terminations with the Campaign Spending Commission. Under Senate Bill 2247, executive branch employees who were nominated and confirmed to compensated positions with influence on procurement and contract management are prohibited from attending or participating in political fundraising activities until the employment ends.

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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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The Arkansas Legislature adjourned its special session on May 6. Lawmakers passed legislation cutting the individual income tax rate beginning in 2026 and the corporate tax rate beginning in 2027. This does affect lobbying reporting. A legislative lobbyist activity report will be due June 10 for the period from May 1 to May 31.

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The Arkansas Legislature adjourned its fiscal session sine die on April 29. Lawmakers passed the state budget and appropriations bills as well as a bill increasing the homestead property tax credit. Following the session, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced a special session beginning during the week of May 4 for the purpose of tax cuts. This does affect lobbying reporting. The final monthly legislative lobbyist activity report for the fiscal session is due May 10 and the special session will trigger a legislative lobbyist activity report due June 10.

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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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Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Speaker Jason White determined lawmakers may reconvene on April 15 to consider vetoes by Gov. Tate Reeves. House Joint Resolution 64 permitted the session to reconvene beyond the initial sine die date of April 5, unless both Hosemann and White jointly objected. Vetoed items include spending, voting, and opioid settlement bills. This does affect lobbying reporting. The end-of-session report is due April 25, covering the period of February 26 to April 15.

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The Maryland Legislature adjourned sine die today, April 13. Passed legislation includes a campaign finance bill extending the due date for the annual campaign finance report from the third Wednesday in January to the fourth Wednesday in January. Senate Bill 11 also amends the reporting period of the annual report to cover the period through and including the 14th day before the report is due. The bill will become effective immediately if signed by the governor. Additionally, the state’s budget was easily passed, meaning no special session will be necessary. Any bills that are not sent to the governor’s desk by the end of the session will be considered dead.

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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.

Austin City Council approved an ordinance concerning lobbyist reporting as part of its consent agenda during a meeting on March 12. The ordinance, identified as Item 2, narrows the definition of city official to exclude spouses and requires lobbyists to disclose on their quarterly reports all direct communications with a city official regarding a municipal question. Under the ordinance, city departments and offices are no longer required to keep a record of lobbying communications during a scheduled meeting on a municipal question. The ordinance is effective March 23.

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