1. A. Persons engaged in the following activities shall register with the Ethics Commission and are regulated lobbyists for the purposes of this chapter:

   1. (1) Attempting to influence legislative action, or executive action related to the development or adoption of regulations or the development or issuance of an executive order by:

      1. (a) Communicating with an official or employee of the Legislative Branch or Executive Branch in the presence of that official or employee; and
      2. (b) Exclusive of the personal travel or subsistence expenses of the entity or a representative of the entity, incurring expenses of at least $500, calculated per employer, or earning at least $2,500, from all employers cumulatively, as compensation for the communication, and activities relating to the communication, during the reporting period;

   2. (2) Attempting to influence legislative action, or executive action related to the development or adoption of regulations or the development or issuance of an executive order by:

      1. (a) Communicating with an official or employee of the Legislative Branch or Executive Branch; and
      2. (b) Earning at least $5,000 from all employers cumulatively, as compensation for the communication, and activities relating to the communication, during the reporting period;

   3. (3) In connection with or for the purpose of influencing any executive action, spending a cumulative value of at least $100 for gifts to one or more officials or employees of the Executive Branch, including gifts for:

      1. (a) Meals;
      2. (b) Beverages; and
      3. (c) Special events;

   4. (4) Receiving compensation to influence executive action on a procurement contract that exceeds $100,000, unless the person:

      1. (a) Is a bona fide salesperson or commercial selling agency employed or maintained by an employer for the purposes of soliciting or securing a procurement contract; and
      2. (b) Has not engaged in acts during the reporting period that require registration under this subtitle;

   5. (5) Receiving compensation from a business entity to influence executive action to secure from the State a business grant or loan with a value of more than $100,000 for the business entity unless:

      1. (a) The person has engaged in no other acts during the reporting period that require registration; and

      2. (b) The person:

         1. (i) Is a bona fide full-time official or employee of a business entity seeking to secure a business grant or loan; or
         2. (ii) Seeks to secure a business grant or loan for the purpose of locating, relocating, or expanding a business in or into the State;

   6. (6) Spending at least $2,000 for the express purpose of soliciting others to communicate with an official to influence legislative action or executive action, including expenditures for:

      1. (a) Salaries;
      2. (b) Contractual employees;
      3. (c) Postage;
      4. (d) Telecommunications services;
      5. (e) Electronic services;
      6. (f) Advertising;
      7. (g) Printing; and
      8. (h) Delivery services; or
   7. (7) Spending at least $2,500 to provide compensation to one or more persons required to register under this subtitle.
2. B. If a regulated lobbyist compensated by an employer that is exempt under Regulation .01C of this chapter fails to report the information required by this chapter, the employer immediately shall be subject to the registration and reporting requirements of this chapter.

Authority: General Provisions Article, §5-206 and Title 5, Subtitle 7, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.17 adopted as an emergency provision effective October 31, 2002 (29:20 Md. R. 1584); adopted permanently effective January 20, 2003 (30:1 Md. R. 27)

Regulation .01C amended effective May 18, 2020 (47:10 Md. R. 520)

Regulation .03 amended effective May 25, 2015 (42:10 Md. R. 685)

Regulation .04 amended effective May 25, 2015 (42:10 Md. R. 685)

Regulation .04A, E amended effective May 18, 2020 (47:10 Md. R. 520)

Regulation .04D amended effective January 16, 2017 (44:1 Md. R. 12)

Regulation .06A amended effective January 16, 2017 (44:1 Md. R. 12); November 23, 2017 (44:23 Md. R. 1079)

Regulation .06A, C amended effective May 18, 2020 (47:10 Md. R. 520)

Regulation .07 amended effective May 18, 2020 (47:10 Md. R. 520)

Regulation .07A amended effective October 15, 2012 (39:20 Md. R. 1309)

Regulation .07B amended effective January 16, 2017 (44:1 Md. R. 12)

Regulation .08C amended effective May 18, 2020 (47:10 Md. R. 520)

Regulation .08F amended effective January 16, 2017 (44:1 Md. R. 12)

Regulation .09E adopted effective May 18, 2020 (47:10 Md. R. 520)

Regulation .10C amended effective May 18, 2020 (47:10 Md. R. 520)

Regulation .11 amended effective May 18, 2020 (47:10 Md. R. 520)

Regulation .12 amended effective May 18, 2020 (47:10 Md. R. 520)

Regulation .14 amended effective May 18, 2020 (47:10 Md. R. 520)

Regulation .16M, N amended effective May 18, 2020 (47:10 Md. R. 520)

Regulation .16O adopted effective May 18, 2020 (47:10 Md. R. 520)

Regulation .18 adopted effective May 25, 2015 (42:10 Md. R. 686)