
Compliance
A Campaign Finance Guide for Lobbyists: What to Know About Making Political Contributions (Part 2)
September 8, 2025 | Lauren Calhoun
July 29, 2025 | Chase Klingensmith, Dylan Busler
Key Takeaways:
August is a lighter month when it comes to disclosure deadlines. Reports are due in 13 states, 4 localities, and at the federal level in Canada. See the map and table below to see all jurisdictions with deadlines in August.
Several states have time-sensitive reports. For example, in Wisconsin, an authorized person must report the bill, budget bill subject, proposed rule, or topic to the Commission within 15 days of the initial lobbying communication on behalf of the principal. This includes legislative topics that are not yet drafted.
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 August 2025
State | Localities |
California | City and County of San Francisco |
City of San Jose* | |
New Jersey | Jersey City |
Washington | City of Seattle |
*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.
In August, 11 states have campaign finance disclosure deadlines, in addition to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). If a political committee is registered in one of these states and is required to file disclosure reports, they must do so in August. 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.
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.
September 8, 2025 | Lauren Calhoun
September 2, 2025 | Lauren Calhoun, Dylan Busler
September 2, 2025 | Lauren Calhoun