Lobbyist Information

Idaho Statute § 74-702(7)-(11) defines lobbying as follows:

“Lobby” or “lobbying” means attempting through contacts with, or causing others to make contact with, members of the legislature or an executive official to influence the approval, modification, or rejection of any legislation by the Idaho legislature or any committee thereof or by the governor or to develop or maintain relationships with, promote goodwill with, or entertain members of the legislature or executive officials. “Lobby” or “lobbying” also means indirect lobbying. “Lobby” or “lobbying” also means communicating with an executive official for the purpose of influencing the consideration, amendment, adoption, or rejection of any rule or rulemaking as defined in section 67-5201, Idaho Code, or any ratemaking decision, procurement, contract, bid or bid process, financial services agreement, or bond issue. Neither “lobby” nor “lobbying” includes an association’s or other organization’s act of communicating with the members of that association or organization; and neither “lobby” nor “lobbying” includes communicating with an executive official for the purpose of carrying out ongoing negotiations following the award of a bid or a contract, communications involving ongoing legal work and negotiations conducted by and with attorneys for executive agencies, interactions between parties in litigation or other contested matters, or communications among and between members of the legislature and executive officials and their employees, or by state employees while acting in their official capacity or within the course and scope of their employment.

All persons doing lobbying must register with the Secretary of State unless they fall under one of the criteria to be exempt from registration. The exemptions are listed on the Frequently Asked Questions tab above.

Before doing any lobbying, or within thirty (30) days after being employed, designated, or contracted as a lobbyist, whichever occurs first, a lobbyist shall register by filing with the secretary of state a lobbyist registration statement accompanied by payment of a registration fee of ten dollars ($10.00). Any Lobbyist who receives or is to receive compensation from more than (1) person for his services as a lobbyist shall file a separate notice of representation, accompanied by the fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for each separate notice of representation.

When Filing the Lobbyist Registration Statement, the lobbyist discloses:

1. The lobbyist’s name, permanent business address, and any temporary residential and business address in Ada County during the legislative session;
2. The name, address, and notification e-mail address to be used for the employer, client, or designated contact, as well as the general nature of the occupation or business of the lobbyist’s employer or client;
3. In the case of a designated lobbyist for a corporate entity, the name and notification e-mail address of the corporate entity that is already registered as a lobbyist;
4. Whether the lobbyist will be lobbying the legislature, executive officials or both;
5. The general subject(s) of the lobbyist’s legislative interest; and
6. The name and address of the person who will have custody of the accounts, receipts and other documents required to be kept by law.

All lobbyists must electronically file financial disclosure reports monthly. These reports disclose expenditures made or incurred by the lobbyist during the covered time period. Lobbyist registration is on an annual basis. Each lobbyist must file a new registration statement, revised as appropriate, on or before January 10 each year. Failure to do so terminates the lobbyist’s registered status. (I.C. § 74-705)