Lobbyist Information

All lobbyists are required to file annual lobbyist registration statements (paper) and monthly lobbyist expenditure reports (electronically) with the Missouri Ethics Commission. There are four types of lobbyists described in the statutes of the State of Missouri – executive lobbyist, legislative lobbyist, judicial lobbyist and an elected local government official lobbyist.

Executive Lobbyist
An executive lobbyist is defined as any natural person who acts for the purpose of attempting to influence the actions of the executive branch of state government, either an elected official or an appointed official, or an employee of any department, division, agency, etc., in government. This person, in meeting this requirement, must be acting in the ordinary course of employment on behalf of, or for the benefit of, that person's employer; is engaged for pay, or other consideration; is performing such acts of influencing the executive branch; is designated as a lobbyist; or makes a total expenditure of $50 or more during any twelve month period. This twelve month period begins January 1 and ends December 31 of each year.

An executive lobbyist does not include a member of the general assembly, an elected state official, or any other person solely due to such person's participation in any of the following activities:

a. Appearing or inquiring in regard to a complaint, citation, summons, adversary proceeding, or contested case before a state board, commission, department, division or agency of the executive branch of government or any elected or appointed officer or employee;

b. Preparing, filing or inquiring, or responding to any audit, regarding any tax return, any public document, permit or contract, any application for any permit or license or certificate, or any document required or requested to be filed with the state or a political subdivision;

c. Selling of goods or services to be paid for by public funds, provided that such person is attempting to influence only the person authorized to authorize or enter into a contract to purchase the goods or services being offered for sale;

d. Participating in public hearings or public proceedings on rules, grants, or other matters;

e. Responding to any request for information made by any public official or employee of the executive branch of government;

f. Preparing or publication of an editorial, a newsletter, newspaper, magazine, radio or television broadcast, or similar news medium, whether print or electronic;

g. Acting within the scope of employment by the general assembly, or acting within the scope of employment by the executive branch of government when acting with respect to the department, division, board, commission, agency or elected state officer by which such person is employed, or with respect to any duty or authority imposed by law to perform any action in conjunction with any other public official or state employee; or

h. Testifying as a witness before a state board, commission or agency of the executive branch.

Legislative Lobbyist
A legislative lobbyist is defined as any natural person who attempts to influence the taking, passage, amendment, delay or defeat or any action on any bill, resolution, amendment, nomination, appointment, report, or any other action, or any matter pending before the legislature, either the state house or the state senate. And in connection with that activity, is either acting in the ordinary course of employment in which the primary purpose is to influence the legislature; is engaged in pay or other valuable consideration for such activities; is designated as a lobbyist; or makes a total expenditure of $50 or more during the twelve month period beginning January 1 and ending December 31 of any year. A legislative lobbyist includes an attorney at law engaged in activities on behalf of any person unless excluded by any of the exceptions below.

A legislative lobbyist does not include any member of the general assembly, an elected state official, or any other person solely due to such person's participation in any of the following activities:

a. Responding to any request for information made by any public official or employee of the legislative branch of government;

b. Preparing or publication of an editorial, a newsletter, newspaper, magazine, radio or television broadcast, or similar news medium, whether print or electronic;

c. Acting within the scope of employment of the legislative branch of government when acting with respect to the general assembly or any member of the general assembly;

d. Testifying as a witness before the general assembly or any committee of the general assembly.

Judicial Lobbyist
A judicial lobbyist is described as any natural person who acts or attempts to act for the purpose of influencing any purchasing decision made by the judicial branch of government or any elected or appointed official in the judicial branch of government; is acting in the ordinary course of employment in which the primary purpose is to influence the judiciary in its purchasing decisions; or is engaged in pay or other valuable consideration for the purpose of such activity with the judicial branch; is designated as a lobbyist; or makes a total expenditure of $50 during the twelve month period beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

A judicial lobbyist does not include a member of the general assembly, an elected state official, or any other person solely due to such person's participation in any of the following activities:

a. Appearing or inquiring in regard to a complaint, citation, summons, adversary proceeding, or contested case before a state court;

b. Participating in public hearings or public proceedings on rules, grants, or other matters;

c. Responding to any request for information made by any judge or employee of the judicial branch of government;

d. Preparing, distributing or publication of an editorial, a newsletter, newspaper, magazine, radio or television broadcast, or similar news medium, whether print or electronic; or

e. Acting within the scope of employment by the general assembly, or acting within the scope of employment by the executive branch of government when acting with respect to the department, division, board, commission, agency or elected state officer by which such person is employed, or with respect to any duty or authority imposed by law to perform any action in conjunction with any other public official or state employee;

Elected Local Government Official Lobbyist
An elected local government official lobbyist is any natural person employed specifically for the purpose of attempting to influence any action by a local government official elected in a county, city, town, or village with an annual operating budget of over ten million dollars.

Lobbyist Registration
Each lobbyist shall, not later than five days after beginning lobbying activities, file a Lobbyist Registration Statement with the Missouri Ethics Commission. Each Lobbyist Registration Statement must be accompanied by a check or money order made payable to the State of Missouri in the amount of ten dollars ($10.00). After registering with the Missouri Ethics Commission, each lobbyist will receive a unique I.D. and password by email. This I.D. and password will allow the lobbyist to file all Lobbyist Monthly Expenditure Reports with the Commission electronically from this point forward. Each lobbyist’s annual registration shall be effective from the date of registration until December 31st of each year unless personally terminated prior to December 31st. The time period to renew a lobbyist registration shall be December 1st thru January 5th. If the Missouri Ethics Commission has not received a renewal registration prior to January 6th the lobbyist’s active status shall be terminated.

Lobbyist Principal
A lobbyist principal is that organization, corporation, or association by whom the lobbyist is employed or in whose interest the lobbyist appears or works. Each lobbyist shall also update their principal information electronically within one week of any addition, deletion, or change in lobbyist employment or representation.

Lobbyist Reports
Each lobbyist shall file a monthly report with the Missouri Ethics Commission. This report shall be filed electronically using the Commission's web based reporting system. This report is due no later than the 10th day of each month. If a report is received after the 10th of the month, the lobbyist is subject to a $10 a day late filing fee for each day the report is late. Also, on March 15th and May 30th of each year, every lobbyist principal must file with the Missouri Ethics Commission a general description of the legislation proposed, any action taken by the executive branch of government, and whether or not the lobbyist principal supported or opposed such action.