Expansion of District of Columbia Lobbying Laws
The District of Columbia recently expanded the scope of its lobbying law to cover procurement lobbying activities. Effective Jan. 1, the definition of “administrative decisions” covered by the lobbying law includes action by an Executive agency or Executive branch official to “make a[] contract, grant, reprogramming, or procurement of goods or services.” D.C. Code Ann. § 1-1161.01.
The District also altered its lobbyist filing schedule and some of its reporting requirements. Formerly semi-annual, reports must now be filed quarterly by the 15th of January, April, July, and October, covering activity in the preceding quarter. The reports must also now include, among other things, “a precise description of the subject matter” of all lobbying communications, including the titles of bills, contracts, or other government actions. All filers will need to obtain new electronic filing credentials from the DC Board of Ethics and Government Accountability.
