Rep. Debbie McCune Davis has introduced a bill in the statehouse requiring lobbyists registered in Arizona to report their compensation.

House Bill 2136 amends the Arizona lobbying law by requiring every lobbyist, including a lobbyist for compensation, authorized lobbyist, authorized public lobbyist, designated lobbyist, and designated public lobbyist, to file a statement of compensation paid to the lobbyist for lobbying activities at the same time quarterly expenditure reports are due. Currently a lobbyist’s salary is not reported.

Photo of the Arizona State Capitol by Jeff Dean on Wikimedia Commons.

Premier Brian Gallant has again questioned a long running delay in implementing a lobbyist registry in the province. The Legislative Assembly in New Brunswick passed the Lobbyists’ Registration Act in May but, in order to take effect, the cabinet must first proclaim the act and promulgate regulations for its operation.

The act is similar to the federal government and other provinces in requiring lobbyists to register publicly, disclose who they represent as well as who they meet with and what topics are discussed.

It has been seven years since Premier Shawn Graham first initiated a push for a law regulating lobbyists.

On December 22, the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices’ proposed rule amendment increasing the threshold amount of payment triggering lobbyist registration to $2,500 for 2015 and 2016 was adopted. The payment threshold is adjusted by an inflation factor determined by the commissioner. The previous threshold amount was $2,450 for the calendar years 2013 and 2014.

The Office of the Secretary State announced lobbying registration and reporting in Vermont is going digital. Beginning with the 2015-2016 biennium, registration and reporting will be accomplished solely through a new online management system.

Lobbyist disclosure reports due on January 25, 2015, covering the period from July 1 to December 31, 2014, will be the last paper filings accepted.

The online system will be available for use no later than January 1, 2015.

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) approved an increase of the state’s biennial lobbyist registration fee from $200 to $300. The additional revenue will help cover the Department of State’s costs of maintaining the lobbyist registration and disclosure database.

The Department of State unsuccessfully sought increases on two prior occasions, to $700 and $400 every two years, but the IRRC believed this latest proposal was more reasonable.

The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General must approve the committee’s decision before it can be implemented for the 2015-2016 legislative session.

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) rejected the Department of State’s proposed increase to the biennial lobbyist registration fee. The proposal called for an increase from $200 to $400 for lobbyists, lobbying firms, and principals.

The Department of State believed the higher fees were needed to offset increased costs associated with the lobbyist registration database and website. The IRRC disapproved the increase following testimony stating it would be too burdensome on smaller companies and the general public, creating a disincentive to engaging in the lawmaking process.

The State Ethics Commission has issued a reminder of changes to the Public Ethics Law taking effect on October 1, 2014. Several of the changes will affect the lobbyist registration process.

Signed paper registrations will no longer be required since the requirement to submit an employer authorization with signature has been replaced by a lobbyist certification with electronic signature. The commission also is working to implement an electronic payment option to allow a completely online registration process.

The Maryland Capitol Police will accept an email confirmation of the online registration for purposes of issuing the lobbyist state identification badge.  Paper registration will continue to be available, but will require the lobbyist to sign forms under oath before a notary and to submit the $100 registration fee by paper check.

Gov. Rick Scott signed Senate Bill 846 into law on Friday, June 20, 2014. The ethics bill takes effect July 1, 2014 and requires lobbyists at Florida’s five water management districts to register and file periodic reports with the Lobbyist Registration Office of the Florida Legislature.

The original version of the bill would have required lobbyist registration for individuals seeking to influence any of the 136 independent special districts statewide. Such independent special districts include water management districts, hospital districts, and any other independent special district that exercises ad valorem taxing authority. The final version, however, only requires lobbyist registration for individuals seeking to influence Florida’s water management districts.

Rep. Kathleen Passidomo considered the original version of the bill too broad, thus revising the bill in committee to only impose lobbyist registration on water management districts. Passidomo has said if registration works smoothly at the water districts, the Legislature may consider requiring more special districts to register lobbyists.

The day before scheduled adjournment, New Brunswick’s Legislative Assembly approved the Lobbyists’ Registration Act, establishing a lobbyist registry for the province.

The Act establishes a registrar of lobbyists and outlines requirements for registration by consultant and in-house lobbyists.

The province attempted to create a registry a number of times over the last several years, but failed because of financial concerns and technical complications.

In late 2013, the New York City Council passed Local Law 129 of 2013, making many changes to current lobbying law in the city and surrounding boroughs. Many of the new law’s provisions are effective today, May 16, 2014.

The definition of lobbying is revised to include attempts to influence legislation not yet introduced, legislation at the state and federal level, and mayoral executive vetoes. It is also revised to include attempts to influence the agenda or calendaring of a meeting of a board or commission. The revised definition excludes architects and engineers as lobbyists under certain parameters, and the law now imposes a $10,000 registration threshold for such individuals should they undertake lobbying activities. The registration threshold for all other lobbyists is $5,000.

Local Law 129 of 2013 requires more detailed disclosure on the statement of registration and on periodic reports. The new law further establishes a first-of-its-kind amnesty program, allowing noncomplying lobbyists to enroll in the program and be exonerated of late filing fees and applicable civil and criminal penalties dating back to December 10, 2006.

Provisions taking effect in the future include a mandatory lobbyist training program and the practice of the city clerk reviewing sources of information such as state lobbyist filings and the Doing Business Database to identify lobbyists required to register who have not done so.

Photo of the New York City Hall courtesy of Momos on Wikimedia Commons.

Just over a month ago, the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust cleared David Beckham of a complaint charging he violated county ethics law by failing to register as a lobbyist. At the time, Beckham’s meetings with Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez were characterized as “meet and greets” regarding potential interest in bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to Miami. Once the plans start to take shape, however, individuals meeting with county officials would need to register as lobbyists, according to the Commission’s report.

Now, with potential sites being discussed, Beckham and his business partner Simon Fuller have registered as county lobbyists ahead of their meeting with county commissioners. But, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners may not be the only government body to need convincing on stadium site approval. One of two potential waterfront stadium sites is under the city of Miami’s jurisdiction, and Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado has cautioned voter approval may be required.

David Beckham’s Lobbyist Registration, courtesy of the Miami Herald.

Photo of David Beckham courtesy of Paulblank on Wikimedia Commons.

After more than two years of debate, the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan passed a bill containing a lobbyist registration scheme. Under the new law, lobbyists, as defined therein, must register and file activity reports online.

There are several notable provisions excepting some individuals from the registration requirement, including officers, directors, or employees, when acting in their official capacity, of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, the Saskatchewan Association of of Rural Municipalities, and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association. The bill also contains revolving door restrictions, prohibiting former public officials from lobbying within one year of leaving office.

The act becomes effective upon proclamation by the Lieutenant Governor. Justice Minister Gordon Wyant estimates no such proclamation will be issued for at least nine months, as the province must still develop protocols to administer and enforce the new law.

Today, the LobbyTracker system used for Rhode Island lobbyist and employer registrations and reports has been updated at the state’s Secretary of State’s online lobbyist information portal.

Among the updates is the allowance for authorized users. An authorized user is someone who is given permission by the primary contact to file reports and register lobbyists on his or her behalf. This person may also serve as the authorized user for more than one entity, firm, or lobbyist.

Additionally, email addresses will now be used for login names. Only one email address is allowed per lobbyist, firm, or entity with the exception of one email address for either a firm and lobbyist, or an entity and lobbyist. An entity and firm may not share an email, nor may several lobbyists share one email address.

All 2013 reports will continue to be filed in the previous LobbyTracker system.

The Saskatchewan government has introduced legislation requiring paid lobbyists to register with the province. The impetus for the legislation is public accountability for the actions of lobbyists.

The proposed law would cover people paid to lobby elected officials on behalf of organizations or groups. It includes a provision for electronic registration.

Saskatchewan is one of the last Canadian provinces to pass legislation for lobbyist registration.