13.61 Lobbying regulated; legislative purpose. The legislature declares that the operation of an open and responsible government requires that the fullest opportunity be afforded to the people to petition their government for the redress of grievances and to express freely to any officials of the executive or legislative branch their opinions on legislation, on pending […]
13.62 Definitions. In this subchapter: (1) “Administrative action” means the proposal, drafting, development, consideration, promulgation, amendment, repeal or rejection by any agency of any rule promulgated under ch. 227. (2) “Agency” means any board, commission, department, office, society, institution of higher education, council, or committee in the state government, or any authority created in subch. […]
13.621 Exemptions. (1) Complete exemption for certain conduct. This subchapter does not apply to the following activities: (a) Lobbying through communications media or by public addresses to audiences made up principally of persons other than legislators or agency officials. (b) Except as provided in s. 13.68 (1) (a) 5., news or feature reporting, paid advertising […]
13.625 Prohibited practices. (1) No lobbyist may instigate legislative or administrative action for the purpose of obtaining employment in support or opposition to such action or contract to receive or receive compensation dependent in any manner upon the success or failure of any legislative or administrative action. (1g) No lobbyist or principal may furnish to […]
13.63 Licenses for lobbyists; suspension or revocation. (1) Licenses. (a) An applicant for a license to act as a lobbyist may obtain an application from and file the application with the commission. Except as authorized under par. (am), an applicant shall include his or her social security number and may include the address of his […]
13.64 Lobbying registry. (1) Every principal who makes expenditures or incurs obligations in an aggregate amount exceeding $500 in a calendar year for the purpose of engaging in lobbying which is not exempt under s. 13.621 shall, within 10 days after exceeding $500, cause to be filed with the commission a registration statement specifying the […]
13.65 Lobbyist authorization. Before engaging in lobbying on behalf of a principal, a lobbyist or the principal who employs a lobbyist shall file with the commission a written authorization for the lobbyist to represent the principal, signed by or on behalf of the principal. A lobbyist or principal shall file a separate authorization for each […]
13.66 Restrictions on practice of lobbying. Except as authorized under s. 13.621, no person may engage in lobbying as a lobbyist unless the person has been licensed under s. 13.63 and has been authorized to act as a lobbyist for the principal whom the lobbyist represents under s. 13.65. Except as authorized under s. 13.621, […]
13.67 Identification of legislative and administrative proposals and topics. (1) Except as authorized under s. 13.621, no person may engage in lobbying as a lobbyist on behalf of a principal and no principal may authorize a lobbyist to engage in lobbying on its behalf unless the principal reports to the commission, in such manner as […]
13.68 Principal’s expense statement. (1) Statement. Every principal which is registered under s. 13.64 shall, on or before July 31 and January 31, file with the commission an expense statement covering the preceding reporting period. The statement shall be signed, under the penalty for making false statements provided in s. 13.69 (6m), by an individual […]
13.685 Duties of the ethics commission. (1) The commission shall prescribe forms and instructions for preparing and filing license applications under s. 13.63 (1), registration applications under s. 13.64 and the statements required under ss. 13.68 and 13.695. (2) The commission shall prepare and publish a manual setting forth recommended uniform methods of accounting and […]
13.69 Enforcement and penalties. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2m), any principal violating ss. 13.61 to 13.68 or a rule of the commission promulgated under those sections may be required to forfeit not more than $5,000. In the case of a partnership, other than a foreign or domestic limited liability partnership or a limited […]
13.695 Legislative activities of state agencies. (1) Each agency shall file with the commission on or before January 31 and July 31 a statement which identifies the officers and employees of the agency who are paid a salary and whose regular duties include attempting to influence legislative action. The statement shall be attested by the […]
13.71 Lobbyists restricted during daily sessions. It is unlawful for any person lobbying to go onto the floor of the chamber of either house of the legislature during the daily sessions, except upon the invitation of such house.
13.74 Auditing. (1) The commission shall cause to have made an examination of all statements which are required to be filed with it under this subchapter and may examine any of the documents used to develop such statements. The commission shall make official note in the file of a principal of any error or other […]
13.75 Fees. (1g) The commission shall charge and collect for the following purposes the following amounts: (a) Obtaining a license under s. 13.63 (1) to act on behalf of one principal, $250, except that no fee is required for an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44. (am) Obtaining […]
