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Lobbying Firms

An entity qualifies as a lobbying firm if it meets both of the following thresholds:

  • It is entitled to receive at least $1,000 in compensation for engaging (either directly or through its agents) in lobbying activities during a consecutive three-month period for the purpose of attempting to influence City action on behalf of other persons; and
  • It has a partner, owner, shareholder, officer, or employee who qualifies as a lobbyist.
  • A lobbying firm may be an individual lobbyist who is a sole proprietor.

REQUIREMENTS

Registration

An entity that qualifies as a lobbying firm must register with the Ethics Commission within 10 days after the end of the month in which an individual with the firm qualifies as a lobbyist. A lobbying firm must also register a client when a client receives or becomes entitled to receive $250 or more in a calendar quarter for engaging in lobbying activities related to attempting to influence municipal legislation.

The fee to register a client is $75 if the registration criteria are met in the first three quarters of the year and $56 if the criteria are met in the fourth quarter of the year. All registrations automatically terminate on December 31 of each year but may be terminated earlier.Registration is done electronically through the Lobbying Electronic Filing System (LEFS). Lobbyists must file Form 59 (Application for LEFS ID) to obtain an LEFS identification and password.

Disclosure

For every calendar quarter in which an entity qualifies or is registered as a lobbying firm, the entity must file a disclosure statement. These quarterly reports detail information about the lobbying firm’s lobbyists, City actions lobbied, City departments lobbied, clients, payments received from clients, activity expenses, expenses attributable to lobbying, City campaign contributions, City fundraising activity, campaign contributions and charitable donations behested by a City candidate or officeholder, services to a City committee, and contracts with the City.

Quarterly reports are due by the last day of the month following the end of a calendar quarter and must be filed through LEFS.

Additional disclosure requirements apply, including filing reports within one business day after reaching certain levels of contribution or fundraising activity, filing copies of written communications to neighborhood councils, and filing copies of fundraising solicitations sent to 50 or more people.

Detailed filing requirements can be found under “What Do I File?”.

Record Keeping

A lobbying firm is required to prepare and maintain detailed records needed to show compliance with the lobbying laws. This includes books, papers, receipts, invoices, fundraising information, contracts, and other documents. Records must be maintained for at least four years.

EXEMPTIONS

An entity is exempt from the lobbying laws if any of the following apply:

  • The entity is not being compensated to attempt to influence City action.
  • The entity is merely participating in a City procurement process.
  • The entity is a media outlet and is engaged only in the publishing or broadcasting of news, editorials, or paid advertising.
  • The entity is a 501(c)(3) organization that receives government funding to provide free services directly to indigent persons, and the entity is engaged only in providing those services.

LIMITATIONS

A lobbying firm is prohibited from doing the following:

  • Making a campaign contribution to a City candidate if the lobbyist is registered to lobby the office the candidate seeks or holds.
  • Making or arranging for (or acting as an intermediary in) a gift of any value to a City official who works in an office the lobbyist is registered to lobby. Very limited exceptions apply to the definition of gift.
  • Doing anything with the intent to place a City official under personal obligation to the lobbyist, the lobbyist’s employer or the lobbyist’s client.
  • Attempting to deceive a City official regarding a material fact that is pertinent to a pending City matter.
  • Causing or influencing the introduction of a City matter for the purpose of afterwards being employed to secure its passage or defeat.
  • Causing a communication to be sent to a City official in the name of a nonexistent person or in the name of an existing person without that person’s permission.

SUMMARIES

Alphabetical
Lists

The Ethics Commission generates alphabetical lists of lobbying entities and their clients.

Reports

The Ethics Commission staff summarizes and highlights key data disclosed by lobbying entities in each disclosure period.

  • 2023

  • 2022

  • 2021

  • 2020

  • 2019

  • 2018

  • 2017

  • 2016

  • 2015

  • 2014

  • 2013

WHAT DO I FILE?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For questions regarding specific scenarios, please contact us prior to taking action.

  • Are land use professionals required to register as lobbyists?

    Any individual may qualify as a lobbyist, regardless of occupation, education, training, or professional title.  This includes applicants for entitlements, property owners, permit expediters, and other land use professionals.  It also includes CEOs, attorneys, consultants, architects, and engineers.  For more information, please see our pamphlet on Influencing Land Use Decisions or contact us.

  • Are there limits on lobbying activity?

    There is no limit on properly reported lobbying activity. However, lobbying firms are limited in other types of activity, which are identified under Limitations.

  • How quickly can I view a lobbying firm’s quarterly report?

    A lobbying firm’s quarterly report is publicly available through the Public Data Portal the moment it is filed. The deadlines for filing quarterly reports are April 30 for the first quarter, July 31 for the second quarter, October 31 for the third quarter, and January 31 for the fourth quarter. If these dates fall on a holiday or weekend, the deadline is extended to the next business day.

  • My lobbying firm is authorized to lobby all City agencies and would like to recognize outstanding City officials with an awards luncheon. Is that permitted?

    No. A lobbying firm cannot provide a gift of any value to a City official who works in a department the lobbyist is registered or required to register to lobby. Recognition is permitted in the form of personalized plaques or trophies valued at less than $250, which state law exempts from the definition of “gift”.

  • Several City officials are visiting my lobbying firm’s office to learn more about a client’s project. Can the firm pay for their parking?

    Yes. Nominal and routine office courtesies received by a City official at a lobbying firm’s office are not considered gifts, as long as the courtesies are available to any person who visits that office.

PUBLIC DATA PORTAL

Search Former Website: Campaign | Lobbying

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REQUIREMENTS

Registration

An entity that qualifies as a lobbying firm must register with the Ethics Commission within 10 days after the end of the month in which an individual with the firm qualifies as a lobbyist. A lobbying firm must also register a client when both of the following occur in a calendar quarter:

The fee to register a client is $75 if the registration criteria are met in the first three quarters of the year and $56 if the criteria are met in the fourth quarter of the year. All registrations automatically terminate on December 31 of each year but may be terminated earlier.

Registration is done electronically through the Lobbying Electronic Filing System (LEFS). Lobbyists must file Form 59 (Application for LEFS ID) to obtain an LEFS identification and password.

Disclosure

For every calendar quarter in which an entity qualifies or is registered as a lobbying firm, the entity must file a disclosure statement. These quarterly reports detail information about the lobbying firm’s lobbyists, City actions lobbied, City departments lobbied, clients, payments received from clients, activity expenses, expenses attributable to lobbying, City campaign contributions, City fundraising activity, campaign contributions and charitable donations behested by a City candidate or officeholder, services to a City committee, and contracts with the City.

Quarterly reports are due by the last day of the month following the end of a calendar quarter and must be filed through LEFS.

Additional disclosure requirements apply, including filing reports within one business day after reaching certain levels of contribution or fundraising activity, filing copies of written communications to neighborhood councils, and filing copies of fundraising solicitations sent to 50 or more people.

Detailed filing requirements can be found under “What Do I File?”.

Record Keeping

A lobbying firm is required to prepare and maintain detailed records needed to show compliance with the lobbying laws. This includes books, papers, receipts, invoices, fundraising information, contracts, and other documents. Records must be maintained for at least four years.

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EXEMPTIONS

An entity is exempt from the lobbying laws if any of the following apply:

  • The entity is not being compensated to attempt to influence City action.
  • The entity is merely participating in a City procurement process.
  • The entity is a media outlet and is engaged only in the publishing or broadcasting of news, editorials, or paid advertising.
  • The entity is a 501(c)(3) organization that receives government funding to provide free services directly to indigent persons, and the entity is engaged only in providing those services.
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LIMITATIONS

A lobbying firm is prohibited from doing the following:

  • Making a campaign contribution to a City candidate if the lobbyist is registered to lobby the office the candidate seeks or holds.
  • Making or arranging for (or acting as an intermediary in) a gift of any value to a City official who works in an office the lobbyist is registered to lobby. Very limited exceptions apply to the definition of gift.
  • Doing anything with the intent to place a City official under personal obligation to the lobbyist, the lobbyist’s employer or the lobbyist’s client.
  • Attempting to deceive a City official regarding a material fact that is pertinent to a pending City matter.
  • Causing or influencing the introduction of a City matter for the purpose of afterwards being employed to secure its passage or defeat.
  • Causing a communication to be sent to a City official in the name of a nonexistent person or in the name of an existing person without that person’s permission.
??

SUMMARIES

Alphabetical
Lists

The Ethics Commission generates alphabetical lists of lobbying entities and their clients.

Reports

The Ethics Commission staff summarizes and highlights key data disclosed by lobbying entities in each disclosure period.

  • 2023

  • 2022

  • 2021

  • 2020

  • 2019

  • 2018

  • 2017

  • 2016

  • 2015

  • 2014

  • 2013

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WHAT DO I FILE?

??

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For questions regarding specific scenarios, please contact us prior to taking action.

  • Are land use professionals required to register as lobbyists?

    Any individual may qualify as a lobbyist, regardless of occupation, education, training, or professional title.  This includes applicants for entitlements, property owners, permit expediters, and other land use professionals.  It also includes CEOs, attorneys, consultants, architects, and engineers.  For more information, please see our pamphlet on Influencing Land Use Decisions or contact us.

  • Are there limits on lobbying activity?

    There is no limit on properly reported lobbying activity. However, lobbying firms are limited in other types of activity, which are identified under Limitations.

  • How quickly can I view a lobbying firm’s quarterly report?

    A lobbying firm’s quarterly report is publicly available through the Public Data Portal the moment it is filed. The deadlines for filing quarterly reports are April 30 for the first quarter, July 31 for the second quarter, October 31 for the third quarter, and January 31 for the fourth quarter. If these dates fall on a holiday or weekend, the deadline is extended to the next business day.

  • My lobbying firm is authorized to lobby all City agencies and would like to recognize outstanding City officials with an awards luncheon. Is that permitted?

    No. A lobbying firm cannot provide a gift of any value to a City official who works in a department the lobbyist is registered or required to register to lobby. Recognition is permitted in the form of personalized plaques or trophies valued at less than $250, which state law exempts from the definition of “gift”.

  • Several City officials are visiting my lobbying firm’s office to learn more about a client’s project. Can the firm pay for their parking?

    Yes. Nominal and routine office courtesies received by a City official at a lobbying firm’s office are not considered gifts, as long as the courtesies are available to any person who visits that office.

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PUBLIC DATA PORTAL

Search Former Website: Campaign | Lobbying

RESOURCES
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Ethics Commission