Filing Requirements for Lobbyists

IN BRIEF . . .
Anyone who attempts to influence state legislation or the legislative action of a state agency is a lobbyist.

Lobbyists who are paid compensation or other consideration, including expenses, must register with PDC on Form L1, unless they qualify for one of the exemptions, and must file monthly L2 reports, unless they will be making no reportable lobbying expenses.

FILING DEADLINES

Lobbyist Reporting Instruction Manual - 2013 - PDF (391 KB)
This manual is devoted to providing a lobbyist with comprehensive information regarding the law and its requirements.

FORMS

Lobbyist Registration (L1)   PDF  MS Word

Lobbyist ID Page   PDF  MS Word

Monthly Expense Report (L2)   PDF  MS Word

L-2 Memo Report   PDF  MS Word

For assistance call toll free at:
1-877-601-2828.
Are You Required To Register and Report?
 
A guide to determine if  you are required to register and report as a lobbyist.

Did you limit  your lobbying activities to appearances before public sessions of legislative committees, or public hearings of state agencies?

  YES > You are
not required
to register
 NO 
v


At the request of a state agency, did you participated in that agency's efforts to reach consensus on possible rulemaking under RCW 34.05.310(2)?

  YES > You are
not required
to register
 NO 
v


Are you a working member of the print or broadcast media preparing news reports, feature articles or editorial comment?

  YES > You are
not required
to register
 NO 
v


Did you lobby without compensation or other consideration for acting as a lobbyist and made no expenditure for or on behalf of any member of the legislature or elected official, public officer or employee of the state in connection with lobbying?
 
   YES > You are
not required
to register
 NO 
v


Did you restrict your lobbying to no more than four days (or parts of four days) during any three consecutive months, and your total expenditures during that period for or on behalf of any one or more members of the legislature, state elected officials, state public officers or employees in connection with lobbying do not exceed $25.

YES > You are
not required
to register
NO 
v


Did you restrict your activities to monitoring legislation and / or observing committee hearings and legislative floor debate?

 YES > You are
not required
to register
NO 
v


As a citizen -- on your own time and without being paid -- write letters, make phone calls or have personal visits with officials in order to express your views on issues and spent no money on the public official for such things as meals, drinks or other entertainment, gifts, travel or contributions.

 YES > You are
not required
to register
NO 
v


Did you attempt to influence state legislation or the legislative action of a state agency and were paid compensation or other consideration, including expenses?

 NO > You are
not required
to register
YES
v


You must register with PDC on Form L1 Within 30 days of employment as lobbyist or before lobbying, whichever occurs first., and must file monthly L2 reports.

ALSO
When a lobbyist  employs a member of the legislature, an employee of the legislature, a member of a state board or commission, or a full time state employee, if that employee remains partially employed by the state, they are required to file a L7 report within 15 days after commencement of employment.

AND

Lobbyists who hired or contracted with other lobbyists during the year should file a L3 report by the last day of February in the following year.