The Political Reform Act requires individuals, businesses and other organizations that make or receive payments to influence state governmental decisions – such as advocating for or against legislative bills and state agency regulations – to register as lobbyists and submit periodic reports of their lobbying activity. You can access these reports through California’s statewide campaign finance and lobbying database, Cal-Access.

The Act does not regulate individuals or other entities that lobby the federal government, or city, county or other local government agencies.

The following are common terms used for lobbying rules:

Lobbyist/Lobbying Firm

A lobbyist is an individual who is compensated to communicate directly with any state, legislative or agency official to influence legislative or administrative action on behalf of their employer or client. An individual who receives reimbursement only for reasonable travel expenses is not a lobbyist.

A lobbying firm is a business that is compensated to communicate directly with any state, legislative or agency official to influence legislative or administrative action on behalf of a client.

Lobbyist Employers/Lobbying Coalitions

A lobbyist employer is an individual, business or other organization that employs a lobbyist or hires a lobbying firm.

A lobbying coalition is a group of 10 or more individuals, businesses or other organizations that pool their funds for the purpose of hiring a lobbyist or lobbying firm.

$5,000 Filers

A $5,000 filer is an individual or entity that does not make payments to a lobbyist or a lobbying firm, but still spends $5,000 or more in a calendar quarter to influence legislative or administrative action, such as placing an advertisement or sending a mailing urging others to contact their legislators concerning pending legislation.

Placement Agents

A placement agent is any person hired, engaged, or retained by, or serving for the benefit of or on behalf of, an external manager, or on behalf of another placement agent, who acts or has acted for compensation as a finder, solicitor, marketer, consultant, broker, or other intermediary in connection with the offer or sale of the securities, assets, or services of an external manager to a board or an investment vehicle, either directly or indirectly. Individuals who serve as placement agents before an entity such as CalPERS or CalSTRS must register as lobbyists and file disclosure reports.

• AB 1743 - Placement Agents: Lobbying Disclosure Requirements Fact Sheet
• AB 1743 - Placement Agents: Lobbying Registration Requirements Fact Sheet

Ethics Training for Lobbyists

California Government Code Section 86103 requires state lobbyists to attend an ethics course as a condition of registration. The Senate Committee on Legislative Ethics and Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee jointly conduct the ethics courses for lobbyists. The Legislature will notify lobbyists of course dates — the course is held at least twice each year — and will provide a certificate of completion of the course. The course fee is $50.

When an individual registers as a lobbyist or when a currently registered lobbyist renews registration, the lobbyist must complete a certification statement (Form 604) confirming that they have taken the ethics course during the previous 12 months. If the lobbyist has not taken the course within the previous 12 months, the lobbyist's certification is "conditional" and will become void unless:

• The new lobbyist takes the course within 12 months of registering as a lobbyist and files an amended certification indicating the date the course was taken.
• The renewing lobbyist takes the course by June 30 of the following year and files an amended certification indicating the date the course was taken.

If the course is not completed in a timely manner, the lobbyist's certification becomes void and the individual may not engage in lobbying activities until they take the course and amend the certification.

If a lobbyist fails to take the required ethics course or fails to timely file the original or amended certification statement (Form 604), they are prohibited from lobbying in California. Any lobbyist who violates this provision may be subject to substantial fines and criminal penalties.

There is no provision for a waiver of the ethics training requirement, and other than the timeframes set forth above, there are no conditional extensions of time to complete the course or to submit the certification statement (Form 604) to the Secretary of State. Non-filers are referred to the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission for non-compliance.

Please see the Secretary of State's website for more information on training. Those who lobby local agencies should contact the local jurisdiction for information on possible requirements.

Gifts: Limits and Restrictions on Lobbyists

Lobbyists and lobbying firms are prohibited from making a gift or gifts totaling more than $10 in a calendar month to a state, legislative or agency official (including designated state employees) if that lobbyist or lobbying firm is registered to lobby the governmental agency at which the official works.

State, legislative and agency officials (including designated state employees) are prohibited from receiving gifts totaling more than $630 in a calendar year from a single source. This prohibition includes gifts from lobbyist employers and $5,000 filers. The gift limit is adjusted biennially to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. For 2025-2026, the gift limit is $630.

Helpful Lobbying Resources

• Lobbying FAQ
• Lobbying Manual
• Lobbying: Other Payments to Influence Fact Sheet
• Chart - Registration/Termination Forms Required for Lobbyists and Lobbying Entities
• Chart - Quarterly Reports Required for Lobbyists and Lobbying Entities 
• Cal-Access: Lobbying Activity (Secretary of State)
• Secretary of State Lobbying Information