Lobbying Updates | Information on Responsible Party Changes
Important changes relating to responsible party and filing submissions
The updated regulations amending 19 NYCRR Part 943 clarify who is responsible for the submission, completeness, and truthfulness of lobbying filings by a lobbyist or client and went into effect on February 19, 2025.
The definition of Responsible Party clarifies that:
- If a Lobbyist or Client is an organization, the Responsible Party must be an employee, partner, or owner of the organization or must be an officer employed by the organization, and must have legal authority to bind the Lobbyist or Client.
- If a Lobbyist or Client is a Structured Coalition, the Responsible Party is the person designated to serve as its President, Treasurer, or other such officer, as set forth in section 943.9(h)(3)(iii)(a) of this Part, and must have legal authority to bind the Lobbyist or Client. Effective 2/19/2025.
- If a Lobbyist or Client is a person, the Responsible Party is such person.
- The Responsible Party does not include an individual whose sole responsibility or authority is to prepare such Statements or Reports for a Lobbyist or Client.
Key Impact to Filing Submissions and Organization Profiles
The rulemaking clarifies that only the Responsible Party can submit a lobbying filing and attest to its truthfulness. Consequently, a person or entity who is hired or employed by a lobbyist or client to prepare lobbying filings can still prepare and save the filings for the lobbyist or client but may no longer submit or attest to the truthfulness of those filings. Only the Responsible Party may submit or attest to the truthfulness of the filings.
Lobbying Application Changes
Corresponding changes to the Commission’s online Lobbying Application (“LA”) went live on December 1, 2024. These changes will include, but are not limited to:
- Adding the ability to have two Responsible Parties on a filing.
- Removing the ‘Delegated Administrator’ role.
- Changing any reference to “Chief Administrative Officer” and “CAO” to “Responsible Party”.
PowerPoint Presentation
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Lobbying Updates | Responsible Party Presentation
The comprehensive PowerPoint presentation from the Commission's October 30, 2024 live training on the responsible party updates effective December 1, 2024. This guidance pre-dates the Commission’s amended definition of Responsible Party. For updated information relating to the amended definition of Responsible Party, please refer to Part 943.3(s) of the Commission’s regulations and the corresponding guidance documents.
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Responsible Party Regulations FAQs
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FAQs | Responsible Party Regulations and Updates to the Lobbying Application (LA)
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) relating to the Commission’s Responsible Party Regulations and LA updates (effective February 19, 2025).
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Responsible Party Instructions - How to Attest and Submit Filings
Easy to follow, step-by-step instructions on how a Responsible Party may attest to and submit lobbying filings in the COELIG online Lobbying Application - as required by the amended lobbying regulations.
Review the Amendments to Part 943 | Responsible Party
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Amendments to Part 943 - Responsible Party Clarification
This rulemaking amends 19 NYCRR Part 943 to clarify the definition of ‘Responsible Party’ by providing that, for an organization, the Responsible Party must be an employee, partner, or owner of the organization or must be an officer employed by the organization, in addition to having the legal authority to bind the Lobbyist or Client. Additionally, the rulemaking clarifies that, for a Structured Coalition, the Responsible Party must be the person designated to serve as its President, Treasurer, or other such officer as set forth in section 943.9(h)(3)(iii)(a) and have legal authority to bind the Lobbyist or Client. This Notice of Emergency Adoption and Proposed Rulemaking will be published in the State Register on March 12, 2025 with the public comment period running until May 11, 2025. Effective 2/19/2025.
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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.
New York State
Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government
540 Broadway
Albany, New York 12207
Contact The COELIG Training Team
Contact the COELIG Education Team for information regarding the mandatory ethics training requirements for State employees, and Lobbyists and Clients.
New York State
Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government
540 Broadway
Albany, New York 12207