As the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) is felt around the country, states and cities are welcoming help from the private sector, including donations of medical supplies and equipment, professional services, and the use of real property. To facilitate this
Political Law Briefing
Developments in Federal and State Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Ethics Laws
Political Law Briefing, published by Venable LLP, focuses on legal developments and regulatory issues related to political law and campaign finance. The blog covers topics such as federal and state campaign contribution limits, Federal Election Commission regulations, political advocacy and online communications, Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) compliance, pay-to-play laws, and political giving strategies for high-net-worth individuals and family offices. It addresses the intersection of election law, lobbying, public affairs, and compliance risks for political actors, nonprofits, and contractors involved in government-related political activities. The blog provides updates on enforcement trends, legislative changes, and practical guidance for navigating complex political law requirements.
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Pandemic Impacts State Reporting Deadlines, Contribution Bans
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, some state agencies are pushing back filing deadlines for lobbying and pay-to-play reports, while others are suspending their legislative sessions, which has the effect of extending in-session reporting requirements and contribution bans.
New Jersey…
FEC Unable to Extend Filing Deadlines During Coronavirus Pandemic
The coronavirus (COVID-19) presents many new challenges for political campaigns, committees, and related actors. These challenges include the possibility that treasurers and staff will be unavailable to timely prepare and submit campaign finance reports. Today, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) provided…
Election-Year Tips for Nonprofits: Employee Participation in the Political Process
We may still be a year out from the next general election, but until the polls close on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, politics will be inescapably in the air—and in the workplace. Employees will be talking, sometimes arguing, and sometimes…
New Jersey Donor Disclosure Rules for 501(c)(4)s and 527s Enjoined
On October 2, 2019, a federal judge blocked the State of New Jersey from implementing and enforcing new campaign finance reporting and donor disclosure rules for 501(c)(4) and 527 organizations, which were enacted earlier this year as part of a…
New York Nonprofit Donor Disclosure Rules Struck Down
A federal judge this week struck down on First Amendment grounds two provisions of New York’s lobbying law that would have required nonprofits to disclose their donors.
In 2016, New York state legislators passed legislation changing the state’s lobbying and…
Pay-to-Play Laws Remain in the Spotlight: Government Contract Eligibility Hinges on Awareness and Compliance
Companies that do business with state and local governments are subject to a wide array of laws restricting their political contributions, as well as the personal political contributions of their owners, officers, and some employees. These laws are known as…
Donor Disclosure Rules for Nonprofit Tax Returns Overturned by Federal Court
A federal judge on July 30, 2019 overturned an IRS ruling, issued almost exactly a year ago, that allowed many nonprofits to stop disclosing their donors on their annual tax returns.
In Revenue Procedure 2018-38 (July 16, 2018), the IRS…
New DC “Pay-to-Play” Law Bans Contributions by Government Contractors and their Officers
The District of Columbia has adopted a “pay-to-play” law that bans political contributions from city contractors, as well as personal political contributions from their senior officers. Violators may forfeit contracts, face disqualification on bidding for up to four years, and…
Federal Election Commission Announces New Contribution Limits for 2019-2020 Cycle
Every two years, after an election, the FEC indexes certain contribution limits to inflation. After returning from the shutdown, the FEC issued the revised limits for this year, a few days later than usual. As has been the case the…