Ohio Lobbying Regulations

What is a lobbyist?

Under Ohio law, anyone who is employed for at least a portion of their time, as one of their main purposes, to promote, advocate, or oppose the passage, modification, defeat, or executive approval or veto of any legislation by direct communication is a legislative agent (lobbyist).

What constitutes sufficient activity?

Generally, if you have made direct contact at least three times in a calendar year for the purpose of influencing legislation, you should register as a legislative agent.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes. The legislative lobbying laws do not apply to the efforts of persons or entities that are actively advocating in any of the following circumstances:

• Appearances before public hearings of the Controlling Board or committees of the General Assembly;

• News, editorial, and advertising statements published in bona fide newspapers, journals, or magazines, or broadcast over radio or television;

• The gathering and furnishing of information and news by bona fide reporters, correspondents, or news bureaus to news media described in number two above;

• Publications primarily designed for and distributed to members of bona fide associations or charitable or fraternal nonprofit corporations.

Will registering put my organization at greater risk for an audit?

No. Registering as a lobbyist does not increase your risk of being audited.

How often do I need to register?

You only need to register once (for each employer). After your initial registration, you will periodically receive Legislative Agent Updated Registration forms. This form is automatically generated with your information on it. Simply complete the form, which will ask you to disclose your activities, expenditures, etc. If you haven't lobbied during the reporting period, just indicate so on the form. These forms must be submitted no later than the last day of the months of January, May, and September. There is no cost to submit these forms.

Isn't registering as a lobbyist expensive?

No. The cost for registering is only $10 for each of the two forms.

Why are there two forms?

One form is for registering as a legislative agent. You should use this form if you anticipate lobbying members of the Ohio General Assembly. The other form is for registering as an executive agency lobbyist. You must complete this form if you lobby agencies created under Ohio law. We recommend completing both forms. Determining whether a contact falls under an executive agency can often be difficult. It's better to play it safe and file both registration forms.

What is the penalty for failing to comply with the lobbying laws?

Knowingly failing to file an Initial Registration Statement, keep a receipt, maintain a record, or file an Updated Registration Statement is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree punishable by up to 30 days incarceration and a $250 fine. For an organization it is a fine of $2,000.

Can an organization register as a lobbyist?

No. Only individuals can be legislative agents: a company, consulting firm, or a law firm cannot be engaged as a legislative agent.

What happens if I change jobs?

Under Ohio law, persons registered as legislative agents or lobbyists have an affirmative duty to inform the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee within thirty days of the termination of their relationship to the employer on whose behalf they were registered to lobby.

Visit the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee's website.