Latest Developments:
- Political Donations “Shouldn’t Be This Dangerous” In a Washington Post op-ed, Democratic FEC Commissioner Dara Lindenbaum argues Congress should amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to protect individual donors from the safety risks that can occur when the FEC posts their mailing addresses online. She proposes limiting donor information published on the internet to the donor’s name, city, state, Zip code, occupation and employer. The proposal is similar to laws in California and Texas.
- Washington Commission Fines Grassroots Lobbying Campaign The Washington Public Disclosure Commission has entered a stipulation assessing a $5,000 fine against the Tobacco-Free Action Fund after it was late in registering and reporting nearly $300,000 in grassroots lobbying activity. Stipulation
- Despite Law, Arizona Campaign Donors Still in the Dark In 2022, Arizona voters approved a law designed to force the disclosure of “true sources” of campaign spending. Two years later, a review shows campaigns still spent millions of dollars without disclosing their sources. Others are challenging the law. Are Arizona’s political donations still secret?
- Texas Official Fined $105K for Revolving Door Violations The Texas Ethics Commission fined a former lawmaker who went to work as a lobbyist – under a revolving door law that he helped to write. The fine is reported to be the highest imposed by the Commission in 15 years and the highest-profile enforcement of a 2019 law intended to stop departing lawmakers from using leftover campaign accounts to launch lobbying careers. Texas Ethics Agency Issues $105K Fine
- Massachusetts GOP Pays $36,000 Fine for Unlawful Donations The Massachusetts Republican Party agreed to pay more than $36,000 (pdf) to the state to settle allegations it took tens of thousands of dollars in unlawful donations—including from the campaign of a congressional candidate now serving prison time. MassGOP to pay $36K after allegations of illegal donations
- San Francisco Moves to Amend Campaign Finance Laws After the most expensive election year in San Francisco history, the city’s Ethics Commission proposed to amend campaign finance laws. Amendments would provide a limited benefit to candidates who rely on public financing by simplifying the process in which the spending cap is raised, and raise the maximum individual contribution to a candidate from $500 to $1,000. Streamlining-Expenditure-Ceiling-and-Campaign-Finance
- San Diego Official Fined for Prohibited Lobbyist Contacts A former councilmember’s chief of staff agreed to pay $5,000 to settle allegations he violated San Diego ethics laws by participating in lobbying contacts with a former client. Blue Water Government Affairs, a lobbyist for cannabis companies, directly lobbied him to update the city’s commercial cannabis ordinances. stip24-09.pdfThe San Diego Ethics Commission imposed the maximum fine based on the violation date; code amendments have since increased fines to up to $15,000 per count and treble damages. San Diego Official Fined for Cannibis Lobbying Activity
Events and Reminders:
- New Mexico has a special session beginning October 1, 2025, and the blackout period for campaign contributions is in effect. Legislative Session Prohibited Period. There is also a 48-hour reporting period for specific lobbying activities. Lobbyist Guide, Special Session Announced Also in New Mexico, a registered lobbyist receiving compensation for lobbying activities must file a Second Lobbyist Expenditure Report (May-October) due October 8, 2025, or, if no expenses were incurred, a statement of no activity. The New Mexico Secretary of State offers resources here: NM Lobbying
- There’s still time to register: Evann Whitelam of Nielsen Merksamer will moderate From Obscure to Urgent: Why FARA’s Time Has Come (Again), October 15, 2025, at 12 p.m. PDT, an online discussion with three former DOJ FARA Unit enforcement leaders: Jennifer Kennedy Gellie, David Laufman, and Brandon Van Grack. The panel will provide essential future-looking insights into application, trends in enforcement, and the DOJ’s current priorities. Available for CLE credit. Learn more and register online.
In Case You Missed It:
- Corporate Free Speech Policies Under Review Employers are reviewing policies on political speech and workers are learning the limits of free speech inside and outside of their jobs. Workers Discovering Free Speech Limit
- Admiral Sentenced for Bribery & Conspiracy A retired four-star admiral received six years in prison for bribery and conspiracy after attempting to direct millions of dollars in military contracts to a company in exchange for a $500,000 job and stock options in retirement. Admiral Sentenced for Bribery & Conspiracy
- Georgia Mayor Fined for Diverting Campaign Money to Nonprofit The Georgia State Ethics Commission fined a mayor $5,000 for violating campaign finance laws. The consent agreement resolved findings that he improperly transferred $220,000 in excess campaign contributions to a nonprofit organization he helped to establish. Macon Mayor Fined
- Travel Payments for California Lawmakers Exceed $820,000 Public information compiled by CalMatters shows that corporations or nonprofits, including those with frequent business before the state, spent more than $820,000 in 2024 to take dozens of California legislators on domestic and international trips. Legislators received $820,000 in travel
- Sheriff Settles Claims He Misused Campaign Cash A sheriff agreed to pay a $7,500 penalty and hand over tens of thousands in campaign cash to resolve allegations he misused $31,705 to contract services for personal business ventures instead of efforts to stay in elected office. pdf Sheriff Settles Claims He Misused Campaign Cash
- Corporate Hotlines Reveal Patterns of Conflicts and Ethics Problems The Wall Street Journal analyzes how “the best hotlines help companies identify not just code-of-conduct violations and ethical problems, but also trouble spots like a toxic manager or a department with a poisonous culture.” Corporate Hotline Reveals Ethics Issues at Nestle
- Bill Would Set Rules for Maryland’s “Exploratory” Committees Advocates in Maryland continue to push for legal guidelines that provide more oversight and transparency when someone establishes an “exploratory” committee, saying candidates do not have to disclose donors or how money is spent. Bill Seeks to Close Gap in Donor Disclosure
- Want to Start An Advocacy Group? Perhaps policy group entrepreneurs should think more like a startup, one analyst contends. Advice for new advocacy organizations