Lobbyists are required to report expenditures made by them or their lobbyist employers for public relations, telemarketing, polling, or similar expenses if the expenses were in any way intended, designed or calculated to influence legislation, including the adoption of any rule, rate or standard by a state agency.

At present, the PDC is relying on the following dictionary definitions:

"Public relations" means the method and activities employed in persuading the public to understand and regard favorably a person, business or institution.

"Telemarketing"  means selling or advertising by telephone

"Polling" means selling or advertising by telephone.

The following types of expenditures are among those that are reportable if they are directly or indirectly intended, designed or calculated to influence legislation or rulemaking.

• expenditures for market research done in-house or through a vendor;
• expenditures for the development, production, and distribution of advertising to enhance the lobbyist employer’s image;
• an association’s expenses to poll the general public or a segment of the general public about a matter that may be the subject of legislation;
• costs associated with producing press releases, op-ed pieces or other articles designed to sway public opinion about possible tax increases; and
• costs associated with contacting editorial boards regarding the need for certain statutory changes.

However, expenditures by an association or other organization to communicate with its own members are not reportable