State Registration Rules

On this episode, we’ll discuss how state law may impact your nonprofit’s efforts to impact public policy and lobby for legislation. In past episodes, we’ve focused largely on the tax code: how it permits lobbying for nonprofits and how nonprofits can measure their lobbying limits. But today, we will examine how state-level sunshine laws may require you (or your nonprofit) to register and report as a lobbyist or to report your ballot measure advocacy activities.  

Our Attorneys:

Natalie 

Quyen 

Leslie 

Registering as a lobbyist

How these laws work in practice

  • TX
  • CA
  • Other states

Ballot Initiatives Sometimes Have to Register Like PACs 

Resources 

 All our state law resources are found here on this page:  https://bolderadvocacy.org/subject/state-law-resources/ 

 CA Ballot Measures 

California Campaign Finance and Ballot Measure Guide  

Ballot Measure Activities Exempt from California Disclosure Laws 

Supporting or Opposing Ballot Measures in California: What Do You Need to Disclose? 

 From the Fair Political Practices Commission: 

Campaign Disclosure Manual 3: Information for Ballot Measure Committees 

 CA Lobbying Disclosures 

Shaping the Future: A Compliance Guide for Nonprofits Influencing Public Policy in California 

California Lobbying Disclosure Thresholds When an Organization Needs to File 

California City, County, School and Special District Local Lobbying Ordinances 

 From the Fair Political Practices Commission: 

Lobbying Disclosure Manual: Information for Lobbyists, Lobbyist Employers, & Lobbying Firms 

 TX 

Texas Advocacy Toolkit  

Texas Campaign Finance and Ballot Measure Guide