LobbyComply Blog

The 2026 legislative budget session adjourned sine die on Wednesday, March 11. The session lasted 21 days with 114 bills being passed. Lawmakers adopted the 2027-2028 biennial budget, which includes total net appropriations of over $10 billion, with $3.46 billion in general state funds. Gov. Mark Gordon signed the budget bill on March 5. 

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The Alexandria City Council has called for a special election to fill the seat of one of its council members. This announcement follows the resignation of Councilman R. Kirk McPike. The election will occur on April 21 and will feature Republican, Democrat, and Independent candidates.

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Michigan has released updated lobbying registration and reporting thresholds for 2026, reflecting annual adjustments tied to the Detroit Consumer Price Index. These changes, published by the Michigan Bureau of Elections, are critical for businesses, trade associations, nonprofits, and individuals engaged in lobbying activities within the state. Understanding these thresholds is essential to maintaining compliance and avoiding penalties under Michigan’s Lobby Registration Act.

Below is a clear, practical breakdown of what’s changing, and what remains the same, for the upcoming reporting year.

Michigan’s Lobbying Registration Thresholds for 2026

Michigan’s registration thresholds determine when an individual, firm, or employer must formally register as a lobbyist or lobbying entity.

Individual and Firm Lobbyists

• The registration threshold remains unchanged at $800 for individuals, firms, or organizations that are compensated or reimbursed to lobby public officials on behalf of a client or employer.
• Anyone who enters into a contract that is expected to exceed this threshold during any 12-month period must register immediately, even if actual expenditures have not yet occurred.

Employer Lobbying Expenditures

• The employer registration threshold increased from $3,175 to $3,200 for any rolling 12-month period.
• The single-official expenditure threshold remains $800 for 2026.
• Employers exceeding either threshold must register within 15 days of surpassing the limit.

These thresholds apply broadly to businesses that engage with Michigan legislators, executive branch officials, or other covered public officials, even when lobbying is not their primary activity.

Michigan’s Updated Lobbying Reporting Thresholds

While several reporting thresholds remain stable, a few have increased for 2026.

Travel and Lodging

• The reporting threshold for travel and lodging expenses paid for or reimbursed to a public official increased from $1,025 to $1,050.

Food and Beverage Expenditures

• The monthly food and beverage allowance for a public official remains unchanged at $79.
• The cumulative reporting threshold for food and beverages purchased from January 1 through the end of the reporting period increased from $475 to $500.

Employee Reimbursements

• The reimbursement reporting threshold remains $32.
• Registrants must report the name and address of each person employed, compensated, or reimbursed for lobbying in excess of this amount during any 12-month period.

Financial Transactions

• The financial transaction reporting threshold remains $1,600.
• Any transaction of $1,600 or more between a lobbyist or employer and:
  • a public official,
  • an immediate family member of a public official, or
  • a business associated with the official
    must be disclosed.

Gifts, Exemptions, and Late Filing Fees

• The general gift threshold remains $79.
• Exempt expenditures remain capped at $16.
• Late filing fees are unchanged at $32 per day, up to a maximum of $960.

Even minor miscalculations or missed deadlines can quickly result in costly penalties, making accurate tracking and timely reporting especially important.

Why These Updates Matter for Michigan Businesses

Michigan’s lobbying thresholds may appear modest, but they can be triggered more quickly than many organizations expect, particularly for companies that:

• Host meetings or events involving public officials
• Reimburse employees for government relations activities
• Engage third-party consultants or trade associations

Because thresholds are adjusted annually, relying on outdated figures is a common compliance risk.

Getting Help with Michigan Lobbying Compliance

For businesses operating in Michigan, navigating lobbying registration and reporting requirements doesn’t have to be overwhelming. State and Federal Communications provides specialized resources to help organizations stay compliant, including detailed Michigan lobbying guidebooks that break down thresholds, timelines, and reporting obligations in plain language.

For organizations needing deeper support, State and Federals’ Michigan Lobbying Compliance Consulting services offer comprehensive assistance, from determining registration obligations to preparing and reviewing filings, helping reduce risk and administrative burden. Businesses can explore these services here.

Key Takeaway

Michigan’s 2026 lobbying thresholds include modest increases but carry significant compliance implications. Businesses that proactively review their activities, update internal tracking, and use reliable compliance resources are far better positioned to avoid penalties and maintain transparency.

Staying informed and supported can make all the difference in meeting Michigan’s evolving lobbying requirements with confidence.

Question

I recently began a new position with responsibility for local government relations for my employer. I’ve only previously done state work. What do I need to know?

Answer

Local government lobbying compliance is significantly more fragmented and complex than state-level lobbying, and the differences can catch even experienced state lobbyists off guard. While state lobbying laws tend to follow more standardized frameworks, local lobbying requirements vary widely by jurisdiction, population size, government entity, and even industry.

Local Lobbying Laws Are Not Universal

Unlike state lobbying, some smaller cities, towns, and special districts have no lobbying ordinances. However, the absence of a local ordinance does not necessarily mean that compliance obligations do not exist. In several states, including Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, and Missouri, state lobbying laws extend to local government activity, requiring lobbyists to register and report with the applicable state agency when engaging with local officials.

In New York, for example, the state lobbying statute requires disclosure of all lobbying activities before municipalities, including jurisdictional subdivisions with populations exceeding 5,000 residents.

How State Law Can Shape Local Lobbying Requirements

State law may also mandate that local governments adopt their own lobbying frameworks. Maryland does not require local lobbyists to register at the state level, but it requires counties and municipal corporations to maintain lobbying regulations that substantially mirror state lobbying rules.

Highly regulated states such as California often have robust local disclosure requirements, particularly in larger cities and counties. Florida, while somewhat less centralized than California, is also known for numerous local lobbying ordinances that govern municipal and county-level advocacy.

Industry-Specific and Entity-Specific Compliance Risks

Local lobbying requirements frequently extend beyond traditional city councils and county commissions. Special-purpose entities (SPE) often impose their own disclosure regimes. Transportation authorities, such as the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and airport authorities, such as the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, may require separate registration and reporting.

School districts also present compliance risks. Lobbying activity involving districts such as Broward County Public Schools, Los Angeles Unified School District, or Miami-Dade County Public Schools can trigger registration and periodic reporting obligations, even when activity would not be reportable at the state level.

Healthcare is another highly regulated area. Some public hospital systems impose lobbying requirements that are more stringent than local ordinances. For example, Jackson Health System, an affiliated network of hospitals in Miami-Dade County, requires all pharmaceutical representatives to register as lobbyists before visiting facilities to promote products.

No Thresholds Mean Higher Compliance Exposure

A critical difference between state and local lobbying is that many local jurisdictions impose no monetary or activity thresholds. This means registration may be required simply for engaging in conduct that meets the definition of lobbying, regardless of time spent or compensation received. As a result, even minimal outreach can create compliance obligations.

Before engaging in any local government relations activity, it is essential to independently verify applicable state laws, local ordinances, and entity-specific rules or consult with a lobbying compliance professional to reduce the risk of inadvertent noncompliance.

Note: The information in this response can be easily found on our website in the Lobbying Compliance section of the United States Lobbying Compliance Guidebook.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Local Lobbying Compliance

1. How can I tell whether a local jurisdiction has a lobbying ordinance?

There is no single database or universal indicator. Larger cities and counties are more likely to have lobbying ordinances, but population alone is not determinative. Each jurisdiction must be reviewed individually, including municipal codes, ethics ordinances, and administrative policies. Special districts and quasi-governmental entities should be evaluated separately.

2. Does lobbying a local official always require registration?

Not always, but many local jurisdictions define lobbying broadly. In some cases, registration is required immediately upon engaging in covered activity, regardless of compensation or frequency. Where no registration threshold exists, even introductory meetings, informational outreach, or industry-specific advocacy may trigger obligations.

3. If state law governs local lobbying, do local rules still matter?

Yes. Even when state law applies, local ordinances or entity-specific policies may impose additional requirements. These can include separate registration, local reporting schedules, gift restrictions, or cooling-off periods. State compliance should never be assumed to fully satisfy local obligations.

4. Why is the absence of a registration threshold risky?

When no threshold exists, there is little margin for error. Limited or informal activity can still require registration and reporting, increasing exposure to enforcement actions, fines, or reputational harm if obligations are overlooked. Conservative compliance analysis is strongly recommended.

5. What steps should I take before engaging in local lobbying activity?

Before engaging with local officials or entities, confirm:

• Consult with a Lobbying Compliance Firm
• Whether state law applies to your activity
• Whether the local jurisdiction has a lobbying ordinance
• Whether special entities (school districts, transit authorities, hospitals) impose independent requirements
• Whether industry-specific rules apply

When uncertainty exists, consulting with a lobbying compliance firm, like State and Federal Communications, can help ensure accurate registration, timely reporting, and reduced compliance risk.

On January 19, the lobbyist registration threshold for organizations and corporations was lowered. Last year the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada issued new interpretation bulletins concerning the significant part of the duties threshold for when organizations and corporations must be registered under the Lobbying Act. One bulletin lowered the lobbyist registration threshold from 32 hours per month to eight hours in a rolling four-week period. A second updated interpretation addresses the Lobbying Act’s revolving door provision and interprets a significant part of a designated public office holder’s work as eight hours or more in any given consecutive four-week period. This includes any time spent preparing for and participating in oral communications with public office holders, as well as drafting written communications to public office holders.

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Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Arizona Bill Aims to Shield Small-Dollar Donors’ Information” by Zachery Schmidt (Center Square) for MSN

Massachusetts: “Mass. Legislation Aims to Point Light at Dark Money in Local Politics” by Sam Drysdale (State House News Service) for Cape Cod Times

New York: “NYC Board Probes Pro-Cuomo PACs Spearheaded by Finance CEOs” by Laura Nahmias (Bloomberg) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Trump Suffers Several Defeats in Effort to Punish Opposing Lawyers” by Julian Mark (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Pipe Bomb Suspect Told FBI He Targeted US Political Parties Because They Were ‘in Charge,’ Memo Says” by Eric Tucker (Associated Press) for MSN

National: “‘I Ultimately Had to Comply’: ’60 Minutes’ EP faces fallout after Bari Weiss shelves story” by Liam Scott and Scott Nover (Washington Post) for MSN

North Carolina: “A Company Invited Cary Staff to Dinner. The Offer Came from the Mayor.” by Dan Kane (Raleigh News and Observer) for MSN

Lobbying

New York: “Hung Jury Ends Trial of Ex-New York Governors’ Aide Accused of Selling Influence to China” by Philip Marcelo (Associated Press) for MSN

The Bureau of Elections posted the Lobby Registration Act 2026 Reporting Thresholds, which change every year in January to reflect the change in the consumer price index for Detroit. The registration thresholds for individual lobbyist compensation and for employer expenditures on a single official remain unchanged for 2026 at $800. Exempt expenditures remain unchanged for 2026 at $16. The registration threshold for an employer making lobbying expenditures increased from $3,175 to $3,200 for any 12-month period. The financial transaction threshold between a registered employer or lobbyist and a public official remains unchanged for 2026 at $1,600. The reporting threshold for travel and lodging reimbursements increased from $1,025 to $1,050. The monthly food and beverage expenditures allowance for a public official remains unchanged for 2026 at $79, and the threshold for food and beverages purchased between January 1 and the end the reporting period increased from $475 to $500. Employee reimbursements remain unchanged for 2026 at $32, and the general gift threshold also remains unchanged for 2026 at $79. Late filing fees remain unchanged for 2026 at $32 a day up to a maximum of $960. 

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The Colorado Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Unite for Colorado v. Colorado Department of State on the question of what constitutes a major purpose of ballot issue advocacy for purposes of requiring an organization to register and report as an issue committee. At issue was whether the statutory and constitutional legal framework permits regulators to look only at activity related to a single ballot issue or if they may consider an organization’s aggregated activities on multiple ballot issues in determining whether ballot issue advocacy is a major purpose of the organization. The General Assembly amended state statutes in 2022 to provide single and aggregate ballot issue percentage-of-total-spending major purpose thresholds but Unite contends its arguments may nevertheless have implications for the amended law.

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Campaign Finance

Missouri: “Missouri Bill Targets ‘Misleading’ Automatic Donations Connected to Bill Eigel” by Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) for Yahoo News

New York: “NY Gov. Hochul Accepted – and Is Now Refunding – Thousands in Donations from Appointees” by Jimmy Vielkind for Gothamist

Elections

Tennessee: “Republican Wins Special Election in Trump Country, as Democrat Gains Ground” by Dan Merica (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

Illinois: “Former Inspector General Joe Ferguson Fined $5K for Revealing Botched Little Village Smokestack Implosion Could Have Been Prevented” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

National: “Former President of Honduras, Convicted of Trafficking, Freed after Trump Pardon” by Tobi Raji, Shayna Jacobs, and Samantha Schmidt (Washington Post) for MSN

New Jersey: “NJ AG, Others Attack Bill That Would Combine State Watchdog Agencies” by Mike Davis and Michael Diamond (Asbury Park Press) for MSN

Lobbying

Canada: “Ontario Will Require Skills Grant Applicants to Reveal If They Hired Lobbyists” by Moira Welsh for Toronto Star

Kentucky: “Groups Spent $9M Lobbying Kentucky Executive Branch Officials in Past Fiscal Year” by Joe Sonka for Louisville Public Media

Campaign Finance

Missouri: “How a Nebraska Veteran Unwittingly Became a Repeat Donor to a Missouri County Campaign” by Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) for Yahoo News

North Dakota: “Campaign Finance at Heart of Latest Skirmish Between Executive Branch, ND Ethics Commission” by Jacob Orledge (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

Elections

Georgia: “Georgia Prosecutor Keeps Case Against Trump Alive for Now” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Judge Says Possible Errors by Lindsey Halligan Could Imperil Comey Case” by Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) for MSN

National: “Trump Gives Second Pardon to Jan. 6 Participant and Pardons Two Others” by Michael Kranish (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Former Fed Official Resigned Following Ethics Probe, Document Shows” by Victoria Guida (Politico) for MSN

Michigan: “Woodward’s Firm Gave Campaign Services to Third of Commissioners He Oversees” by Max Bryan (MediaNews Group) for MSN

Redistricting

Indiana: “Indiana Likely Will Not Push Forward with Redistricting Despite Pressure from White House” by Adam Wren and Andrew Howard (Politico) for MSN

Rep. Kaohly Her is the first woman and Hmong American elected as the mayor of St. Paul in a historic upset over incumbent Melvin Carter after a tabulation of second-choice votes. Her’s victory also marks the first time the entire leadership of the city is made up of all women. This is the last year the St. Paul mayor’s race will be held in an odd numbered year. Her’s term will run through 2028, when the city will hold its next mayoral election.

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Ballot Measure 6, which would have moved local elections to the same year as presidential elections has been defeated after only receiving around 46% of the vote.

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Comply with state and local procurement lobbying rules. Our online guidebooks make it easy to view regulations all in one place. Learn more here.

Campaign Finance

California: “SF Eyes Subtle Spending Reform After Priciest Election Ever” by Adam Shanks for San Francisco Examiner

Elections

Michigan: “Judge Throws Out Charges Against GOP Would-Be Electors in Michigan” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Trump Administration Halts I.R.S. Crackdown on Major Tax Shelters” by Jesse Drucker (New York Times) for Seattle Times

National: “Defying Past Criticism, Trump Plans G-20 Summit at His Doral Resort” by Natalie Allison and Michael Birnbaum (Washington Post) for MSN

Indiana: “Remediation Document Reveals Ethics Concerns Before Indiana Cabinet Secretary Resignation” by Casey Smith and Niki Kelly (Indiana Capital Chronicle) for Yahoo News

New Jersey: “N.J. Comptroller Alleges Conflicts of Interest Involving George Norcross’ Firm and Local Government Insurance Funds” by Andrew Seidman (Philadelphia Inquirer) for MSN

Tennessee: “Judge Acquits Casada, Cothren on 3 Charges for Insufficient Evidence, Other Counts Stand” by Vivian Jones (Tennessean) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

Rhode Island: “No Time Like the Present to Change Lobbyist Gift Rules, Open Government Advocates Tell Ethics Panel” by Alexander Castro (Rhode Island Current) for Yahoo News

The Texas Legislature adjourned the First Special Session of the 89th Legislature sine die on August 15. A congressional redistricting map and other bills were passed by the Senate, but no bills advanced through the House on account of a lack of quorum. On Gov. Greg Abbott’s call, a Second Special Session convened the same day. Legislators are being asked to address the same agenda as the First Special Session, including congressional redistricting, flooding preparedness and relief, taxpayer funded lobbying, and other matters, as well as an additional item concerning youth camp safety. The special session may last up to 30 days.

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