Compliance
A Campaign Finance Guide for Lobbyists: What to Know About Making Political Contributions (Part 2)
September 8, 2025 | Lauren Calhoun
Key Takeaways:
- October 2025 brings a wave of compliance deadlines, with requirements spanning federal, state, and local jurisdictions that organizations must navigate carefully.
- Lobbying disclosure reports are due this month in 26 states, 19 localities, and at the federal level. Georgia and Louisiana may require multiple reports depending on which government branch you're registered with.
- Lobbyist registrations expire in Maryland and Indiana on October 31st, with renewal deadlines of November 1st. Missing these renewals can result in compliance violations and potential penalties.
- Campaign finance disclosure deadlines hit 33 states plus the FEC and D.C. this month. Political committees must review their filing schedules since some jurisdictions offer monthly or quarterly options.
- New York requires state registration for any local lobbying activity, even without state-level lobbying. This triggers bi-monthly state disclosure requirements that many organizations overlook
Lobbying Compliance Deadlines in October 2025
October is a busy month when it comes to lobbying disclosure deadlines. Reports are due in 26 states, 19 localities, and at the federal level in the U.S. and Canada. See the map and table below to see all jurisdictions with deadlines in October.
Additionally, Georgia and Louisiana may require you to submit more than one disclosure report this month, depending on the level or branch of government you are registered in (e.g., executive, legislative, judicial, or local). Note that Georgia’s branches, or lobbying types, are slightly different (State, State Agency, State Transportation Board, Vendor, and Local).
U.S. Localities with Disclosure Reports Due in October 2025
*The City of San Jose requires weekly disclosure reporting.
As a reminder, lobbying in a locality can trigger registration and reporting requirements at the state level as well. In states like New York, lobbying any locality or municipality will require a state registration and state bi-monthly disclosure reports, even if you do not lobby at the state level. Make sure if you lobby in New York that you are registered with the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) to avoid hefty fines.
Lobbying Registrations Expiring in October 2025
October also brings expiring lobbyist registrations in two states. Both Maryland and Indiana (Legislative) lobbyist registrations expire on October 31, 2025. The deadline to renew registrations in both states is November 1, 2025.
Campaign Finance Deadlines in October 2025
In October, 33 states have campaign finance disclosure deadlines, in addition to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the District of Columbia. If a political committee is registered in one of these states and is required to file disclosure reports, they must do so in October. Check out the map below for the states with important deadlines this month.
Political committees should be aware of their filing schedules. Some jurisdictions (Texas, for example) give the option to report monthly or quarterly. Also, be aware that some states require a political committee to report large contributions within a set time frame of receipt. Political committees should review contributions carefully to ensure they do not miss a required contribution- or expenditure-triggered deadline.
Need Compliance Help? Get In Touch!
Keeping up with rules, deadlines, and often confusing requirements is a daunting prospect for teams of all sizes. Let us manage your federal, state, and local registration and reporting responsibilities, or manage your Campaign Finance program. Read more about our Compliance Services here, or get in touch here.
