Program overview
Lobbying
The Board is responsible for administration of statutes governing lobbyists and their principals. The Board's jurisdiction is established by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 10A.
What is lobbying?
Lobbying includes attempts to influence
- state legislative action, including actions by the governor with regard to the governor’s role in the legislative process,
- actions by officials, agencies, boards, and commissions in the state executive branch in rulemaking, rate setting, power plant and power line siting, and granting of certificates of need under Minnesota Statutes section 216B.243, and
- official actions of a metropolitan governmental unit.
Who is a lobbyist?
An individual who communicates with public or local officials or urges others to communicate with public or local officials becomes a lobbyist after the individual
- is paid more than $3,000 in a year from all sources for lobbying,
- spends more than $250 on lobbying, or
- spends more than 50 hours in any month lobbying if the individual is a non-elected local official or an employee of a political subdivision.
What requirements apply to lobbyists?
- Individuals must register with the Board within 5 days of meeting the definition of lobbyist.
- Once registered, lobbyists must file periodic reports.
- Registered lobbyists and the associations they are lobbying on behalf of must comply with the provisions of Minnesota's gift ban.
Contact Jeff Sigurdson at 651-539-1189 or 800-657-3889 or by email at jeff.sigurdson@state.mn.us