Second Quarter Update
Lobbying
Regulations adopted by the Commission
The following are regulatory changes approved by the Commission during the past quarter concerning lobbying. To receive updates for all regulations before the Commission, please sign up for our mailing list here.
None.
Advice Letters
The following are advice letters issued by the Commission’s Legal Division during the past quarter concerning lobbying. To receive the monthly report with all advice letters issued, please sign up for our mailing list here.
None.
Commission Opinions
None
Enforcement Matters
The following are summaries of significant enforcement actions approved by the Commission in the past quarter involving violations of the Act’s lobbying laws. To receive a monthly report of all enforcement actions, please sign up for our mailing list here.
None.
Legislation
SB 459 (Allen) – Lobbying transparency.
Status: Heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on 5/20/21 (Passed 5-1); Passed in the Senate on 6/1/21 (33-3)
Coauthors: Senators Glazer and Newman; Assembly Member Mullin
Summary: SB 459 would require lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers to include information in their periodic reports that identifies each bill or administrative action subject to lobbying activity, and the respective position advocated for, during that period. This bill would require a lobbying firm or lobbyist employer to file a monthly report for any calendar month in which the total amount of payments subject to reporting exceeds $15,000, and would require a lobbying firm or lobbyist employer to file monthly reports for 12 months following any calendar quarter in which the total amount of payments subject to reporting exceeds $45,000. The bill would require certain persons to file specified reports following a calendar quarter in which that person incurs cumulative costs equal to or exceeding $5,000 for issue lobbying advertisements, as defined. The bill would take effect January 1, 2023.
Cost Estimate: FPPC – Legal: 1 new position (PRC or SSA); Enforcement: 2 new positions (PRC and Attorney); SOS – $251,000 initial; $121,000 annually
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