Minnesota Lobbyist Information
and Registration

The following information is from the Handbook for Lobbyists and Lobbyist Principals available from the Minnesota Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board.

Who must register as a lobbyist in Minnesota?
(Please note: Each state has unique rules on lobbyist registration.  Outside of Minnesota, consult your state's Attorney General for state-specific guidelines.)

You must register as a lobbyist if you are:

• An individual who is paid more than $3,000, from all sources, in any year for lobbying at the metropolitan, legislative, and state agency levels.
• An individual who spends more than $250 of their own money in any year lobbying (not including travel expenses and membership dues).
• Appointed local officials or employees of a political subdivision who spend more than 50 hours in any month lobbying.

A lobbyist is required to register within five days after meeting one or more of the definitions listed above.

How do I register?

A lobbyist must sign and file a Lobbyist Registration form with the Board.  The form may be printed from the Board's website (www.cfboard.state.mn.us) and is available from the Board office.  A lobbyist must file a separate form for each individual or association that the lobbyist represents.  Registered lobbyists must file reports with the Board two times a year (January 15 and June 15).  The Board sends out the report three weeks before it is due and follows up with those who have not reported.  These reports have clear, easy instructions, and are not difficult to fill out if you have kept track of your lobbying expenditures.

What if our organization has more than one lobbyist?

When you register you must select one of the following reporting options:

• Authorizing lobbyist
  • You choose to authorize another lobbyist (reporting lobbyist) who lobbies for the same entity to report your lobbying disbursements to the Board
• Reporting lobbyist
  • Reporting lobbyists must indicate on the Lobbyist Registration form that they will be reporting disbursements for additional lobbyists (authorizing lobbyists) representing the same entity
• Self-reporting lobbyist
  • Self-reporting lobbyists report only their own disbursements directly to the Board.

Further, an entity that employs lobbyists must designate one and only one lobbyist to report its disbursements. The designated lobbyist must indicate their status on the registration and the periodic reports.

Lobbyist registration is permanent until the lobbyist files a Lobbyist Termination Statement.

(Updated 5/23/2008)

Questions? Comments? Contact Jeannie Fox at jeannie@mncn.org