House to Mandate Electronic LDA Filings

According to a June 27, 2005 letter to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rep. Bob Ney, chairman of the Committee on House Administration, the House will begin accepting only electronic Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings. This electronic requirement will begin with registrations (Form LD-1), reports (Form LD-2) and amendments filed after December 31, 2005.

LDA reports are required to be filed twice a year—on August 14 and on February 14, covering two six-month periods—January 1 to June 30 and July 1 to December 31, respectively. The first regular LDA report to which the electronic requirement of the House will apply is the Form LD-2 due on February 14, 2006. LDA reports are required to be filed with both the House and the Senate, but so far, the Senate has not made electronic reporting mandatory.