Louisiana Changes Lobbying Law and Requires Monthly Reporting

January 2009

As part of Governor Bobby Jindal's ethics push in 2009, several changes to Louisiana's lobbying law became effective on January 1, 2009. Highlights are discussed below.

1. Lobbyist reports are now due monthly instead of semiannually. The reports are due the 25th of each month, except the report for January 2009 is due on February 15. That is also which the due date for the semiannual report covering the second half of 2008.
2. Registration and reports must now be filed electronically. The online system of the Louisiana Board of Ethics is available here.
3. Lobbyists must itemize all expenditures for legislative and executive branch officials and must list expenses made for spouses and minor children of such officials, organized by official.
4. If an individual lobbies the legislature and the executive branch, the lobbyist may file consolidated registration statements and reports.
5. Lobbyists must take one hour of ethics training per calendar year.