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What is the definition of a lobbyist?
Iowa Code 68B.13 defines a "lobbyist"
as an individual who, by acting directly, does any
of the following:
1. Receives compensation to encourage the passage,
defeat, approval, veto or modification of legislation,
a rule, or an executive order by the members of the
general assembly, a state agency, or any statewide
elected official.
2.
Is a designated representative of an organization
which has as one of its purposes the encouragement
of the passage, defeat, approval, veto or modification
of legislation, a rule, or an executive order before
the general assembly, a state agency, or any statewide
elected official.
3.
Represents the position of a federal, state, or local
government agency, in which the person serves or is
employed as the designated representative, for purposes
of encouraging the passage, defeat, approval, veto,
or modification of legislation, a rule, or an executive
order by members of the general assembly, a state
agency, or any statewide elected official.
4.
Makes expenditures of more than one thousand dollars
in a calendar year, other than to pay compensation
to an individual who provides the services specified
under subparagraph (1) or to communicate with only
the members of the general assembly who represent
the district in which the individual resides, to communicate
in person with members of the general assembly, a
state agency, or any statewide elected official for
purposes of encouraging the passage, defeat, approval,
veto, or modification of legislation, a rule, or an
executive order.
How do I
register?
Depending on who you will be lobbying, you will
file a Lobbyist Registration Statement prior to engaging
in any lobbying activity, pursuant to Iowa Code section
68B.36. If you will be lobbying the executive branch,
you may download a registration form from our website,
complete and deliver to our office, address above.
(If you will be lobbying the general assembly, please
see the link to their website for more information.)
Be sure to complete the form in its entirety, and
if you are a government official or employee representing
the position of your agency, you must provide a letter,
on agency letterhead, stating this (see section 68B.36(5)).
The registration requires that you provide who you
are lobbying for, what your area(s) of interest are,
and what body of government you will contact. (In
the Executive Branch, this is which state agencies
and/or executive offices you would contact).
What reports
are due?
Executive Branch lobbyist periodic reports are
due quarterly. Executive Branch lobbyist clients are
due annually (see reporting dates for more information).
The reports are due in the Board's office or electronically
filed, on or before the due date. Mailed reports must
bear a US postmark dated on or before the due date
to be considered timely.
Registrations
must be filed each year, after December 1, but before
engaging in any lobbying activity for that year.
What must
be reported?
Each periodic lobbyist report must contain the
name and current address of the lobbyist, any campaign
contributions to candidates for state office made
by the lobbyist, any personal expenses incurred during
lobbying activity, and a list of the clients represented
by the lobbyist.
Are there
restrictions on contributions from lobbyists?
Iowa Code section 68A.504 states: "A lobbyist
or political committee, other than a state statutory
political committee, county statutory political committee,
or a national political party shall not contribute
to, act as an agent or intermediary for contributions
to, or arrange for the making of monetary or in-kind
contributions to the campaign of an elected state
official, member of the general assembly, or candidate
for state office on any day during the regular legislative
session and, in the case of the governor or gubernatorial
candidate, during the thirty days following the adjournment
of a regular legislative session allowed for the signing
of bills. (Note: this does not apply to special sessions).
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