LobbyComply Blog

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission released an interim campaign finance reporting tool that allows local government campaigns and committees to upload campaign finance reports and forms while the commission integrates local government filing into the Guardian system. When full integration is complete, all local government political committees will need to register, pay any registration fees, and file all reports in the Guardian online system. The interim reporting tool is located at https://localcampaignfilings.ok.gov/filer.

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At its meeting on December 19, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission agreed to reinstate and reactivate the deactivated Guardian lobbyist and campaign finance online disclosure system. The commission also agreed to terminate its contract with RFD & Associates, Inc., the contractor responsible for the Guardian 2.0 filing system, and to authorize the Office of Attorney General to pursue remedies for potential legal claims. Lobbyist renewal registrations and campaign finance reporting have been inactive or unable to be submitted online since the launch of Guardian 2.0 in beta earlier this fall. Contacting commission staff is recommended during this transition to ensure registration and reporting compliance at ethics@ethics.ok.gov.

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Gov. J. Kevin Stitt ordered a special election to fill the vacancy in House District 92 after Rep. Forrest Bennett resigned to become President of the Oklahoma AFL-CIO. A special primary election will be held on June 16, 2026 and a special runoff election is scheduled for August 25, 2026, if necessary. The special general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, but will be moved up if the primary or runoff election is not needed. The full term for House District 92 is also up for election on the regular 2026 election calendar, and candidates may run on both ballots.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission approved advancing two rulemaking amendments proposed at the November 13 meeting. Requested revisions to Rule 5.16 would allow a lobbyist principal to provide meals to either chamber of the Legislature during session, rather than only to a committee or subcommittee. Amendments to Rules 5.2 and 5.6, and a repeal of Rule 5.8, would potentially loosen gift restrictions to allow for expenditures on traditional business expenses, such as meals and events, while doing away with the requirement that gifts from lobbyists come only at infrequently occurring occasions of personal significance to the recipient. The commission will also consider issuing a guidance letter on Rule 5.14 to clarify only the actual cost of the food and beverage at an event to which all members of the Legislature are invited needs to be reported. The Ethics Commission will consider the drafted revisions, and public comment, at a hearing on December 19.

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On October 28, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission launched the beta phase of Guardian 2.0, the new online lobbyist and campaign finance disclosure system. During the beta phase, filers may access the system and enter contributions and expenditures as they prepare their required reports.  For the initial phased release, official report submission is temporarily disabled to ensure the accuracy of campaign finance data before it becomes public. Users will have the opportunity to provide direct feedback on the new platform via a dedicated email address, GuardianSupport@ethics.ok.gov. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission will not penalize users for issues tied to system limitations or problems. The deadline for PAC third-quarter reports which became due on October 31 is considered extended a minimum of 30 days or longer, if necessary. Affected entities are being given priority access and support through Oklahoma Ethics Commission.

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The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has again delayed the launch of Guardian 2.0, the state’s next-generation online campaign finance and lobbyist reporting system. Until a new launch date is announced, the commission is assuring registrants that no filer will be penalized if affected by the system rollout delay. Reporting periods could be extended and late fees may be broadly waived. Registrants are being encouraged to work directly with commission staff during the transitionary period. In the interim, no filings or updates can be made in the old/legacy system.

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Gov. J. Kevin Stitt ordered a special election to fill the upcoming vacancy in House District 35. Rep. Ty Burns resigned, effective October 1, following an August 28 guilty plea on charges of domestic abuse and assault. A special primary election will be held on December 9 and a special runoff election is scheduled for January 13, 2026, if necessary. The special general election is scheduled for February 10, 2026, but will be moved up if the primary or runoff election is not needed.

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Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton approved an interim study request for the Judiciary Committee to review establishing a state Foreign Agent Registration Act. The aim of the act would be to provide public transparency around political and propaganda activities conducted by agents of foreign countries of concern, which may overlap with lobbying activities. Study schedules and meeting notices will be posted on the Senate website at oksenate.gov and must be completed by October 31.

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The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has delayed the launch of Guardian 2.0, the state’s next-generation online campaign finance and lobbyist reporting system. The original launch date has been pushed from July 1 to early September. The timeline shift allows for final data conversion and system readiness following a six-month development effort. The current Guardian system will remain fully operational through August.

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On June 6, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission announced their updated 2025 Ethics Rules had become available.

Some of the changes in the updates include increasing the meal expenditure limit for lobbyists or legislative liaisons from $500 to $750; eliminating the requirement of attendance at events by lobbyists, liaisons, or lobbyist principals when associated with a permissible gift; and increasing the permissible anonymous political contribution from $50 to $200. Additionally, the rules clarify that political contributions are prohibited by or from foreign nationals in connection with any state or local campaign. This prohibition includes advances of personal funds; contributions or donations made to political party committees and organizations; state or local party committees for the purchase or construction of an office building fund; and contributions or disbursements to make electioneering communications.

The rules also include a modified blackout period for campaign finance complaints and an incorporation of Senate Bill 890, which moves all political subdivision campaign finance reporting and compliance requirements to the Ethics Commission beginning on November 1, 2025.

The 2025 Annotated Ethics Rules and the 2025 Ethics Laws document, which is a compilation by the commission of the state’s constitutional provisions, statutes, and ethics Rules, are usually updated annually in July. This year, both documents were updated and became effective on June 1. The rules have the full weight of law in Oklahoma as they are adopted and published in accordance with state law.

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The First Regular Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature adjourned sine die on May 30. During the session, a bill passed amending the provisions of the Local Government Campaign Finance and Financial Disclosure Act to place municipal political committee campaign expenditures and contributions under the authority of the Ethics Commission. Another passed bill amends the law to allow county purchasing agents to select the next lowest and best bidder from the list of qualified bidders if the original bidder is unable to provide service. Bidders will be considered at or below the amount they originally bid. A separate bill passed amending the law to eliminate the requirement for a vendor to be authorized by a state contract in order to work with a board of county commissioners to establish an online bidding process.

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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.

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State Representative Jason Lowe resigned on April 7 to become an Oklahoma County commissioner. Gov. Stitt called a special election to replace Lowe with a potential primary election on June 10. A primary runoff is scheduled for August 12 and the general election on September 9. If a runoff is not necessary, the general election will be on August 12.

Campaign Finance

Oregon: “The City’s Public Campaign Financing Program Allowed Candidates with Little Support to Snag Taxpayer Dollars” by Sophie Peel for Willamette Week

Ethics

California: “Assessor Reports $1M Behested Payment, Biggest Charitable Donation Made at a Local Elected Official’s Request” by Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) for MSN

National: “Trump Transition Team Ethics Pledge Appears to Exclude President-Elect” by Betsy Klein, Steve Contorno, and Arlette Saenz (CNN) for MSN

Florida: “Tickets to Master’s Tournament Trigger Feud in Hillsborough County Politics” by Jack Evans and Justin Garcia (Tampa Bay Times) for MSN

Indiana: “Nonprofit Braun Transition Group Follows Former Governors’ Model” by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz (Indiana Capital Chronicle) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

National: “Supreme Court to Examine Power of Congress to Delegate Authority” by Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “As His Power Grows, D.C. Wonders: How do you lobby a man like Elon Musk?” by Cat Zakrzewski, Faiz Siddiqui, and Pranshu Verma (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “N.Y. Ethics Commission Faces New Constitutional Challenge” by Brendan Lyons for Albany Times Union