LobbyComply Blog

The Office of the Secretary of State is requesting federal PACs continue to report as they have in the past until the impact of a recent opinion by the Attorney General is clarified. North Dakota Attorney General Letter Opinion 2025-L-01 required federal PACs to report as a state PAC, in addition to the specified statutory provisions simply requiring federal PACs to file a copy of their FEC reports disclosing the state activity. In consultation with the Office of Attorney General, the Office of Secretary of State is implementing a hold on changes to reporting for federally formed PACs until greater clarity can be provided. The opinion has raised a number of questions because federal PACs have a statutory exemption from registration as a state PAC when complying with the FEC copy requirements. 

Do you know if your activities are defined as lobbying? We do. Take a walkthrough demo of our guidebooks today.

It’s November! The 11th month of the year – the fall sounds, smells, tastes, and activities are in full swing, and I am continuing to take full advantage of great opportunities that come my way!

One of the great opportunities that I am referring to is this year’s Public Affairs Council (PAC) STRIDE Social Impact Summit (STRIDE Summit) – which is always a fav! This year’s STRIDE Summit will take place on Thursday, November 13th and will be held virtually, though I have no doubt that the content and speakers will be as rich as the in-person STRIDE Summits have been in the past! If you’re not familiar with the PAC STRIDE Summit, the program focuses primarily on issues related to: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI); Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); Civic Engagement; Corporate Philanthropy and Community/Stakeholder Engagement. If I’m recalling correctly (hey, don’t judge me!), this will be my 3rd PAC STRIDE Summit, and I’m so looking forward to diving in virtually, and not only to see my friends who work in these content spaces, but also the opportunity to soak up all of the timely and relevant information to come!

Will you be attending the PAC STRIDE Summit with me this year? I look forward to seeing you on November 13th! For more information and to register, please click the link – Public Affairs Council (PAC) STRIDE Social Impact Summit (STRIDE Summit)

Keep up with Gamble’s articles and all that ComplianceNow has to offer with our free monthly email newsletter. Sign up here – https://stateandfed.com/e-newsletter/

On July 29, companion bills were introduced in both houses of the U.S. Congress to curtail corporate political action committee (PAC) activity in elections.

Senate Bill 2515 and House Bill 4799, entitled the Ban Corporate PACs Act, would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to eliminate the ability of for-profit corporations to establish and manage a PACs. The bills would also eliminate the ability of for-profit corporations or PACs to solicit contributions from corporate stockholders.

Additionally, the legislation would require existing certain corporate PACs, if no longer permitted to be established under this new law, to be terminated and its funds to be fully disbursed within one year after enactment of the Act.

Do you know if your activities are defined as lobbying? We do. Take a walkthrough demo of our guidebooks today.

On July 1, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission is scheduled to officially launch a modernized, custom-built filing and disclosure system. The system, called Guardian 2.0, will serve as the online platform for all required disclosures by lobbyists and liaisons, candidate committees, political party committees, PACs, special function committees, and certain state officers and employees.

The commission announced all existing data and filings will be securely migrated to the new system. Current users will be prompted to create new login credentials upon their first login with the new system.

The commission also plans to introduce additional tools and user experience enhancements beginning in late 2025 and into early 2026.

On June 27, at 5:00 p.m. CDT, the current disclosure system will be shut down. After that time, no filings or updates can be made in the old/legacy system.

Are you able to track all legislative sessions in the states you do business? Our online guidebooks make it easy, request a demo today!

The governor signed Senate Bill 199, which will remove the requirement for legislative lobbyists to submit semi-monthly reports while the General Assembly is in session. Instead, lobbyists will be required to submit a single report due on the fifth of each month. This requirement matches the reporting requirements for lobbyists who seek to influence local governments, state agencies, and the State Transportation Board. This bill will come into effect on January 1, 2026. Until then all lobbyists are still required to submit reports on the current schedule. Additionally, Senate Bill 199 modifies the PAC reporting due dates to January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 20 of each year until the bank account has been zeroed out and the PAC has been terminated.