Detailed reporting is required if a lobbyist spends:

• more than $132.60 in one day for food and beverages, transportation, or lodging for a state officer or employee;
• more than $132.60 in one day for entertainment for a state officer or employee or for the spouse or dependent child of a state officer or employee; or
• any amount for a state officer or employee to attend a political fundraiser or charity event.

Compliance Reminder: The lobby law sets this dollar threshold at 60% of the amount of the legislative per diem, which is currently $221.

Detailed reporting is also required if a lobbyist gives a state officer or employee a gift, award, or memento, the value of which exceeds $110.

Thinking that the Christmas turkey you sent is a gift? A lobby expenditure for food or beverages that is intended as a gift is considered a gift ONLY IF (1) it does not exceed $110; (2) it is delivered outside the Capitol Complex; and (3) it is delivered by first-class US Mail or by common or contract carrier. The key here is that you must be present if it is food or beverages, and you are not required to be present if it is a gift. Notice that you cannot deliver the food or beverages yourself. And, the food or beverages cannot be delivered within the Capitol Complex. A great visual of the Capitol Complex is in the back pages of the TLS blue book.

PAAT Tips: Taxes and tips are not included in determining the amount of an expenditure for purposes of the lobby law.

You are not required to provide detailed reporting of expenditures for events to which all legislators are invited. However, the annual limits still apply so you will still need to keep track of any expenditures for entertainment or gifts associated with an event to which all legislators are invited, since those categories have a $500 max per person per year.