Essential Ethics

Latest Developments: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a series of bills that require the Governor, other statewide officers, legislators, and candidates for those offices, to file annual financial disclosure reports. One of the four bills, SB…

Latest Developments:  The Michigan Bureau of Elections issued its annual update of thresholds under the state’s Lobby Registration Act. Among other things, lobby registration in required when compensation exceeds $775 in any 12-month period (up from $725), lobbyist employers must…

Latest Developments: The Center for Political Accountability released the 2023 CPA-Zicklin Index of Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability, which analyzes disclosure and accountability of corporate political spending. The 59-page report includes lists of the top 100 trendsetters, the most improved,…

Latest Developments: The United States Department of Justice posted several opinions relating to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, including an opinion regarding whether a foreign company that acts as a foreign trade association must register under FARA (FARA…

Latest Developments: The California Fair Political Practices Commission adopted a regulation (Item 7, Regulation 18318) to permit its Executive Director to enter into settlement agreements in satisfaction of monetary penalties if certain conditions are met. Campaign Legal Center…

Latest Developments: California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office issued Opinion No. 23-101, declaring that “the disclosure, recusal, and cure provisions of Senate Bill No. 1439 (amending Government Code section 84308) do not apply retroactively to political contributions made before January…

Latest Developments: California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 29, which authorizes the Fair Political Practices Commission to establish and administer an education program as an alternative to an administrative proceeding for low-level violators, much like traffic school. The eligibility requirements…

Latest Developments: North Carolina House Bill 259 became law without the Governor’s signature. The 635-page law is primarily an appropriations bill but contains two important changes for lobbyists. First, it doubles registration fees for lobbyists and lobbyist employers from $250…

Latest Developments: The Indiana Supreme Court, in Indiana Right to Life Victory Fund v. Morales, upheld the state’s ban on corporate contributions to Super PACs earmarked for independent campaign-related expenditures. Procedurally, the court answered a certified question…

Latest Developments: The U.S. Department of Justice announced that a former U.S. Ambassador was sentenced to 36 months’ probation and fined $93,350 for lobbying in violation of revolving door restrictions and failure to disclose gifts received while in office. The…