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Wisconsin lobbying guidelines
| Lobbyist registration guidelines |
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| Related pages |
| Lobbying |
| Taxpayer-funded lobbying |
| Guidelines by state |
Lobbying is broadly defined as the attempt to persuade another person to accept one's position. This includes efforts to influence lawmakers by other legislators, constituents, or organized groups. Each state has different requirements for lobbyist registration. The person doing the lobbying is typically referred to as the lobbyist and the person or entity providing compensation the principal. Each state has a different entity responsible for maintaining its lobbying records, such as registrations and expenditures.
As of April 2021, the Wisconsin Ethics Commission maintained the state's lobbying records.
Who must register?
According to Sections 13.64(1), 13.62(11), and 13.62(12) of Wisconsin state law, individuals who meet the following criteria must register as a lobbyist:[1]
| “ | 13.64(1): Every principal who makes expenditures or incurs obligations in an aggregate amount exceeding $500 in a calendar year for the purpose of engaging in lobbying which is not exempt under s. 13.621 shall, within 10 days after exceeding $500, cause to be filed with the commission a registration statement.[2] | ” |
| “ | 13.62(12): 'Principal' means any person who employs a lobbyist. If an association, corporation, limited liability company or partnership engages a lobbyist, an officer, employee, member, shareholder or partner of the association, corporation, limited liability company or partnership shall not be considered a principal.[2] | ” |
| “ | 13.62(11): 'Lobbyist' means an individual who is employed by a principal, or contracts for or receives economic consideration, other than reimbursement for actual expenses, from a principal and whose duties include lobbying on behalf of the principal. If an individual's duties on behalf of a principal are not limited exclusively to lobbying, the individual is a lobbyist only if he or she makes lobbying communications on each of at least 5 days within a reporting period.[2] | ” |
Click here to visit the state's searchable database of registrations and filings.
State definition of lobbying
Section 13.62(10) of Wisconsin state law defines lobbying as:[1]
| “ | 'Lobbying' means the practice of attempting to influence legislative or administrative action by oral or written communication with any elective state official, agency official or legislative employee, and includes time spent in preparation for such communication and appearances at public hearings or meetings or service on a committee in which such preparation or communication occurs.[2] | ” |
See also
External links
Footnotes
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