Lobbyist ethics

The law expands lobbying safeguards by adding Legislature-specific anti-harassment training and a longer disqualification period for public-corruption convictions.

What the law does ​

• Starting January 1, 2029, requires the Fair Political Practices Commission to provide an on-demand online ethics course for registered lobbyists covering lobbying rules and legislative anti-harassment policies.
• Requires the commission to develop the course with legislative ethics committees, which have final approval over its anti-harassment content.
• Allows the commission to charge a $50 course fee, adjusted for inflation every odd-numbered year, and transfers unused prior course funds to the commission.
• Requires lobbyist certifications to state, under penalty of perjury, that the applicant has not been convicted of a public-corruption crime within the prior 12 years.
• Voids a registered lobbyist’s certification upon a public-corruption conviction and prohibits that person from lobbying for 12 years, including if pardoned.

Who it affects ​

• Registered lobbyists and people applying for lobbyist certification.
• Lobbying firms, lobbyist employers, and lobbying coalitions that register lobbyists.
• The Fair Political Practices Commission and legislative ethics committees.

Context ​

The prior legislative-committee-run lobbyist course ends on January 1, 2029, when the commission-run course begins.