Client Semi-Annual Report, Source of Funding and Reportable Business Information

Resources to help you file and navigate the online Lobbying Application
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Client Semi-Annual Report

The Lobbying Act requires that any Contractual Client retaining, employing or designating a Lobbyist or Lobbyists - whether or not any such Lobbyist was required to file a Statement of Registration or Bi-monthly Report – who reasonably anticipates that during the year an amount in excess of $5,000 in combined Reportable Compensation and Reportable Expenses for Lobbying will be expended or incurred, is required to submit a Client Semi-Annual Report.

  • Client Semi-Annual Filing Instructions

    The purpose of this document is to provide Filers with further clarification of the information required to be disclosed in Client Semi-Annual Reports and Client Semi-Annual Report Amendments.

    Revised 11/27/24

     

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  • Coalition Filing Requirements

    Beginning with the 2021 Biennial Registration Period, the Commission’s regulations have been amended to simplify and clarify how Lobbying Activity by Coalitions should be disclosed. The following guidance will assist a Coalition in determining whether it is required to file Lobbying Reports as a Coalition, or if, instead, its Members are required to disclose their Coalition Contributions in their own Lobbying Reports. Applicable for filing years 2023 through 2021.  

    Revised 11/27/2024

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  • How to Properly Disclose Lobbying Activities Information

    Please reference this document PRIOR to disclosing Lobbying Activities in the Lobbyist Statement of Registration, Lobbyist/Public Corporation Bi-Monthly Report, Disbursement of Public Monies Bi-Monthly Report, and the Client Semi-Annual Report.  Applicable for the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 Biennial.

    Revised 11/28/2022

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Filing Due Dates

Filing due dates for Lobbyists, Clients and Public Corporations

NEW: Source of Funding Resources Available

NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE: Source of Funding Training (PDF), Do I Need to Report Sources of Funding Flowchart,  Expenditure Threshold Calculator Now Available, and the Source of Funding Training Video are now available!

The Understanding Lobbying - Source of Funding Training provides step-by-step instructions on how determine if a client filer is required to disclose sources of funding and how to do so.

The Do I Need to Report Sources of Funding Flowchart is a step-by-step  to determine if you must report sources of funding in your Client Semi-Annual Report.

The Source of Funding Expenditure Threshold Calculator walks the Client Filer how to calculate if they meet the Expenditure Threshold.

The Understanding Lobbying - Source of Funding Training 30-minute video provides step-by-step instructions on how determine if a client filer is required to disclose sources of funding and how to do so. 

These resources supplement the previously available Client Semi-Annual Filing Instructions guide and the How to File a Client Semi-Annual Report in LA guide. All Source of Funding related materials are available below.

Source of Funding Information

Source of Funding (“SoF”) is a requirement for Client Filers, who meet the Expenditure Threshold, to disclose each Source who contributed more than $2,500 to the Client Filer to fund, in whole or in part, the Client Filer’s activities or operations.

Source of Funding disclosure is intended to provide the public with more information regarding the actual entities and individuals that support lobbying campaigns in New York State.

Every Beneficial Client is required to either: (1) Disclose Source(s) of Funding (‘SoF’); or (2) Indicate SoF reporting is not required. The information will be appended to every active CSA and Amended CSA of the affiliated Contractual Client(s) during the specified Reporting Period.  A Beneficial Client may be the same as the Contractual Client.

Source of Funding Report Instructions and Resources

  • BLANK Pre-formatted Excel Spreadsheet for Source of Funding Disclosure

    Please use this pre-formatted Excel Spreadsheet to disclose information on Sources for Source of Funding.  Before completing the pre-formatted Excel Spreadsheet, Paper Filers who need the Source of Funding Summary Statement Form should contact the Lobbying Help Desk at (518) 474-3973 or [email protected] for assistance.

    ONLINE FILERS who meet the Expenditure Threshold and are required to disclose Source of Funding (“SoF”) information must either: utilize the Commission's online Lobbying Application (“LA”) to data-enter each Source individually; or complete and upload the pre-formatted Excel Spreadsheet provided by the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying. 

    Refer to the 'Instructions for Completing the Pre-formatted Excel Spreadsheet to Disclose Source of Funding Information' prior to completing the blank spreadsheet.

    Please note - this spreadsheet will not immediately appear on your screen; it will be automatically download and appear in your 'downloads' folder, or at the bottom of your screen. 

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Reportable Business Relationship Filing Instruction and Questionnaire

  • Reportable Business Relationship Questionnaire

    This is for use by a Lobbyist or Client Organization to send to its equity partners, officers, directors or High-Level Individuals, as applicable, to determine whether such persons have Reportable Business Relationships that must be disclosed by the Lobbyist or Client Organization. 

     

    Revised 11/4/2022

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Registration Terminations

Lobbyists and Public Corporations may terminate a registration early in the Lobbying Application.

While Client terminations will be added to the Lobbying Application in the future, clients wishing to terminate registrations early now must do so by paper.

registration terminations

Contact Lobbying Filings Specialist

For technical assistance, or help with Registrations, Lobbyist Bi-Monthly reports, Client Semi-Annual reports, and other lobbying-related disclosure forms, the Lobbying line is available from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, by contacting the main Commission phone number.

 

Contact us by phone:

Hotline - Press '1' to speak to the Lobbying Unit 800-87-Ethics (800-873-8442)

Contact us by email:

Mailing Address:

New York State 

Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government

540 Broadway

Albany, New York 12207