Virtual Workshop: Legal Seminar: Lobbying and Political Compliance

9 a.m.  Managing Compliant Campaign Finance Programs

It’s critical for organizations with a PAC to understand all of the strict fundraising, solicitation and reporting requirements. Election law expert Ken Gross will provide an overview of federal campaign finance rules impacting PAC activities, including:

• Rules for establishing and operating a PAC, filing requirements, contribution limits and considerations such as coercion and prior approval
• Recent campaign finance law changes and how they impact PAC operations
• Who your organization can solicit and what constitutes a solicitation
• Compliance best practices for your website, communications materials, gifts and incentives
• PAC governance – implementing guidelines for diversity and inclusion, civic integrity and ESG

10 a.m. Providing Effective Political Support

While organizations seek more opportunities to engage with candidates, it’s important to consider limits on activities in your office and political disclosure concerns. Ken will address:

• The corporate ban on fundraising and related exemptions, including how to host a fundraiser at your office
• Ground rules for political site visits at your organization’s facilities
• Bundling rules under HLOGA and related prohibited activities
• Corporate shareholder resolutions regarding disclosure of political activity

10:30 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. Federal Lobbying Compliance, Grassroots and Gift Rules
Many lobbying and gift rules impact your organization’s activities. Ken will cover what triggers reporting requirements and rules for engaging with federal legislative and executive branch officials. Topics will include:

• A breakdown of LDA and IRC lobbying registration and reporting requirements
• Considerations for planning constituent events and hosting federal legislative and executive branch officials at your facilities
• Gift rules that apply to executive officials, federal legislators and staff
• Foreign Agents Registration Act
• Potential penalties for violations and ways to manage compliance

Noon Break

12:15 p.m. Coordinating Multistate Political Giving: State and Local Laws and Pay-to-Play
Each state and many localities have their own complex campaign finance rules and restrictions. In this session, Ken will help untangle state and local laws and discuss everything you need to know to manage your organization’s state-by-state political activity, such as:

• Corporate and federal PAC contribution rules
• State- and local-level campaign finance limits
• Considerations for operating multistate PACs, including laws that differ between states
• How to avoid pay-to-play violations and ways to manage internal compliance
• Recent developments in state- and local-level campaign finance law and enforcement actions

1:15 p.m. Break

1:30 p.m. State and Local Lobbying and Gift Laws
Increasingly, organizations are shifting lobbying resources to engage with state- and local-level decision-makers. Find out how to stay compliant across jurisdictions through this discussion of:

• State- and local-level definitions of lobbying, registration and filing requirements, including what grassroots activities are considered lobbying
• State and local gift rules and related exemptions for legislative and executive branch officials
• Recent state and local developments in lobbying and gift laws, as well as enforcement cases and actions that could impact your activities
• The role of social media in lobbying and compliance issues

2:30 p.m. Adjourn