Anyone who attempts through contacts with, or causing others to make contact with, members of the legislature or legislative committees or an executive official, to influence the approval, modification or rejection of any legislation by the legislature of the state of Idaho or any committee thereof or by the governor or to develop or maintain relationships with, promote good will, or entertain members of the legislature or executive officials.

An executive official for lobbying purposes is defined in 67-6602 (g).

(g) “Executive official” means:

1. The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state controller, state treasurer, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction; and any deputy or staff member of one (1) of those individuals who, within the course and scope of his or her employment, is directly involved in major policy influencing decisions for the office.
2. A state department or agency director, deputy director, division administrator or bureau chief as established and enumerated in sections 67-2402 and 67-2406, Idaho Code;
3. The membership and the executive or chief administrative officer of any board or commission that is authorized to make rules or conduct rule-making activities pursuant to section 67-5201, Idaho Code;
4. The membership and the executive or chief administrative officer of any board or commission that governs any of the state departments enumerated in section 67-2402, Idaho Code, not including public school districts;
5. The membership and the executive or chief administrative officer of the Idaho public utilities commission, the Idaho industrial commission, and the Idaho state tax commission; and
6. The members of the governing board of the state insurance fund, and the members of the governing board and the executive or chief administrative officer of the Idaho housing and finance association, the Idaho energy resources authority, and the Idaho state building authority.

In 2007, Governor Otter issued an Executive Order declaring that the amended definition of “executive official” under title 67, section 6602 of the Idaho Code, for the purposes of title 67, chapter 66, shall also include staff members employed within the Office of the Governor.

Not every person who lobbies is required to file with the Secretary of State. There are exemptions from registering and reporting.

No. The Sunshine Law does not require a name tag, however, protocol dictates a green name tag with white lettering for lobbyists. Name tags can be obtained from rubber stamp companies and sporting good stores with an engraving service.

Before engaging in any lobbying, or within 30 days after being employed as a lobbyist, whichever occurs first.

$10.00. When representing more than one client, a separate registration accompanied by the $10.00 registration fee shall be required for each client.

Annual

For legislative lobbyists, monthly reports are required for each month the legislature is in session along with an annual report.

For executive official lobbyists, a semi-annual and an annual report is required.

If someone is lobbying both the legislature and executive officials, the legislative lobbyist reporting frequency applies.

Yes. Statutory filing requirements must be met even though there has been no active lobbying during the reporting period.

Yes. Both sides of the reports must be faxed.

The monthly reports shall be filed 15 days of the first day of the month for the activities of the month just passed.

Semi-annual reports must be filed by July 31st.

Annual reports must be filed by January 31 after the end of each year. The Secretary of State has adopted a rule which deems the postmark date of mailed statements as the date of filing. The office of the Secretary of State sends an annual report form and reminder at the end of the year.

Yes. An annual report must be filed for that portion of the year for which he or she was registered. Also, a new L-1 must be filed within one week of a modification or termination of the lobbyist’s employment. It is recommended that the annual report be filed at the time of termination rather than waiting until the end of the year.

Only the lobbyist’s signature is required on monthly reports. Both the lobbyist’s and employer’s signatures are required on the annual and semi-annual reports.

FILE TIMELY. Fines of $50.00 per day the report is late may be imposed. The report will be accepted and filed without the employers signature. However, a copy of the report will be retained in the Secretary of State’s Office and the original will be returned to the lobbyist. The lobbyist shall then immediately attain the employer’s signature and refile the report with the Secretary of State’s Office.

If the lobbyist is reimbursed for travel or living accommodation expenses, they do not have to be reported.

Yes

Political contributions made to any legislator, executive official or candidate that are required to be reported under other provisions of Idaho’s Sunshine Law are not required to be reported on the lobbyist’s report. A political contribution is reported under the campaign disclosure portion of the Sunshine Law by the individual receiving the contribution.