Latest Developments:
West Virginia to Redact Employer Info from Campaign Disclosures
West Virginia lawmakers have passed a law that will redact employer information from recipient campaign reports for political donations of more than $250. Occupations will remain disclosed; addresses will be redacted but still provided to the Secretary of State. The law takes effect May 24, 2026. W. VA SB640 and Mountain States Spotlight – Political Donation Redactions
Austin Changes Lobbyist Reporting Rules
The City of Austin will now require lobbyists to report all interactions with city officials rather than only scheduled meetings, but shifted reporting requirements to lobbyists and away from city departments, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The changes followed a City Auditor report critical of current city department practices and contrasting peer city rules. Austin City Council changes lobbying rules, raising debate over transparency
Proposed California Law Would Subject More Nonprofits to Disclosure
CalMatters reviewed financial disclosures to report that nearly 120 organizations — including nonprofits, corporations, foreign governments, state agencies, tribes and campaigns — spent at least $1.2 million on travel for legislators last year, with $1.1 million paid by nonprofits legally allowed to mostly keep donors secret. A pending Assembly Bill seeks to require more nonprofits to file disclosures, detailing their itemized spending for an official’s trip, and require that they retain records indefinitely. CA Legislative Info – AB1788; and CalMatters – Lawmakers’ trips
Compliance Officers Should Not Assume FCPA Enforcement is Over
Citing a February trial, former U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan notes that FCPA enforcement is “not dead.” He notes that “FCPA’s bribery provisions have a five-year statute of limitations (six years for books-and-records violations), ensuring that conduct occurring right now in 2026 can be prosecuted well into the next administration.” FCPA Enforcement
Social Media Influencer Must Register as Federal Lobbyist, Complaint Says
When does a social media influencer become a lobbyist? That question underscores a complaint filed by Public Citizen with the U.S. House and Senate. The letter contends that social media influencer Scott Presler needs to register as a federal lobbyist for his activities pushing voting legislation. Missing LDA Registration – Letter
Georgia Senate Advances Bill Limiting Out-of-State Contributions
Republicans passed Senate Bill 423, requiring candidates to raise at least half of their money within Georgia, provoking pushback from Democrats who said it will inhibit their fundraising in national elections. Bill would require candidates to raise at least half their money within Georgia and Georgia General Assembly – SB 423
Events and Reminders:
Nielsen Merksamer Partners Jason Kaune and Evann Whitelam will be featured speakers at the 2026 Corporate Political Responsibility Conference at the NYU Stern School of Business, Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10. The conference is titled Corporate Political Responsibility: Maintaining an Ethical Compass in Turbulent Times and will explore corporate political accountability, ethical governance, the role of the private sector in a healthy democracy, and teaching the next generation about these issues. The conference is co-sponsored by The Wharton School’s Zicklin Center for Governance and Business Ethics, NYU Law School and the Center for Political Accountability. Register here: REGISTER | 2026 Corporate Political Responsibility Conference
California’s Fair Political Practices Commission has recently updated its website and also posted the updated 2026 Political Reform Act. The FPPC notes that the Act is updated annually, with a highlighted version of the Act provided to show the changes: You can find it here: FPPC – 2026 Highlighted Political Reform Act
In Case You Missed It:
Lobbyist Indicted for Attempting to Extort Client Who Received Pardon
Josh Nass is accused of having “plotted the violent extortion of one of his own clients” who reportedly had received a Trump pardon; court filings say he had been paid $100,000 by the client but was owed an additional $500,000, and instructed a person he hired to “do anything and everything” to collect the outstanding funds from the client’s son. NY Times – Lobbyist Extortion After Client Received Pardon
Tracking the Billionaires Swaying State Elections
The New York Times culled through records to do a deep dive into how billionaires are swaying elections across the United States. NYT – Tracking How Billionaires are Swaying Elections and 4 Takeaways on How Billionaires Are Donating to Federal Elections – The New York Times
AI Money Already Impacting Midterm Elections
In an early look at how AI funds will affect the midterms, The Washington Post reports that only one of 20 candidates in the Texas and North Carolina primaries who received AI funds, including those in competitive, open primaries, lost her race. Washington Post – AI money influencing the midterms
PA Governor’s Campaign Cash Coming from CEOs Doing Business With State
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Gov. Josh Shapiro “has proven adept at raising campaign cash from people who have business interests before state government in Harrisburg.” Inquirer – Shapiro’s business-friendly brand draws millions from CEOs
Former Missouri Legislators Still Spending Their Leftover Campaign Funds
The Missouri Independent analyzed former Missouri legislators’ campaign finance reports to show how they spent contributions raised “to spend on campaigns that never happened,” noting “they bought computers, reimbursed themselves and their relatives without specifying the expenses, and paid rent for their offices.” Legislators using leftover campaign-funds
Hawaii Lobbyists “The Most Influential People at the State Capitol”
Honolulu Civil Beat investigated the business of lobbying in Hawaii, digging into disclosures, noting their compensation totaled more than $10.2 million last year (citing the Ethics Commission), and labeling them “the most influential people . . . out in the hallway.” Civil Beat – Hawaii’s Lobbyists