Ann Ravel, Chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission, has assigned a working group to take on issues relating to lobbying disclosure practices. Currently, lobbying disclosure forms allow reporting of huge sums in a catch-all category requiring no detailed reporting to authorities.

State law allows groups hiring lobbyists to report spending related to lobbying, but not meeting the legal definition of lobbying, as a single lump sum in a category listed as “other payments to influence.” Over the past 12 years, lobbying groups have listed in this category over one-quarter of the $2.9 billion spent on lobbying efforts.

The working group is set to include lobbyists, watchdog representatives, and political lawyers.