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Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 26-0859.01 Jed Franklin x5484 SENATE BILL 26-147
Senate Committees House Committees
State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF LOBBYISTS.101
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill allows a person to se lect a day (advocacy day) that
individuals may lobby a covered official on the person's behalf (advocacy
day participant). A person who will have an advocacy day participant
lobby a covered official on their behalf during an advocacy day must
register and file specified information with the general assembly for each
advocacy day during which an advocacy day participant is expected to
participate. An advocacy day may only occur if the person has filed the
form and the general assembly is in a regular or special session.
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Cutter and Pelton R., Carson, Catlin, Gonzales J., Jodeh, Kipp, Kolker, Lindstedt, Liston,
Marchman, Rich, Sullivan
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Johnson and Froelich, Winter T., Bacon, Barron, Bottoms, Bradfield, Caldwell, Clifford,
Goldstein, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Keltie, Lindsay, Marshall, Martinez,
Richardson, Slaugh, Soper, Stewart R., Stor y, Taggart, Titone, Velasco, Willford, Woog,
Zokaie
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
An advocacy day participant is not a volunteer or professional
lobbyist and is not required to annually register with the secretary of state
or complete monthly disclosure statements. An advocacy day participant
must not accept compensation for lobbying during an advocacy day,
lobby on behalf of a person not registered with the general assembly,
lobby outside of a one-mile radius of the state capitol, or lobby on a day
other than that designated as an advocacy day.
The bill provides that a lobbyist exclusively employed by a single
nonprofit entity who engages in lobbying of covered officials on behalf
of the nonprofit entity as an incidental duty of the individual's role is a
nonprofit advocate (nonprofit advocate). A nonprofit advocate is not a
professional lobbyist but must comply with the registration and disclosure
requirements of professional lobbyists.
Currently, each principal department must designate one person
who is responsible for lobbying a state official or employee on behalf of
the department (legislative liaison). The bill provides that the judicial
branch must also have one legislative liaison who lobbies on the judicial
branch's behalf (judicial lobbyist). A legislative liaison, a judicial
lobbyist, or an individual who lobbies on behalf of the offices of the
governor or lieutenant governor as a member of the governor's cabinet or
as a personal staff employee in the offices of the governor or the
lieutenant governor (governor's lobbyist) must register with the secretary
of state annually.
In addition to annually registering with the secretary of state, a
legislative liaison, judicial lobbyist, or a governor's lobbyist must file a
monthly disclosure statement with the secretary of state (disclosure
statement). The bill provides that a legislative liaison, judicial lobbyist,
or a governor's lobbyist must indicate on the disclosure statement the bill
number of any legislation for which they have lobbied or will l obby a
covered official and their position regarding the legislation. The
legislative liaison, judicial lobbyist, or a governor's lobbyist must update
their position on the disclosure statement within 72 hours of a change in
position.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) Community engagement is the foundation of a democratic4
legislative body and is critical to ensure a collaborate environment for5
developing sustainable public policy that impacts the state;6
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(b) Community engagement should be conducted in a transparent1
manner; and2
(c) Government transparency is crucial to the democratic process3
and the general public should have transparent access to state agency4
engagement.5
(2) Therefore, the general assembly further finds and declares that6
it seeks to foster collaboration and policy engagement by the community7
through strengthening the state's lobbying transparency laws and8
providing greater clarity to ensure a role for all entities and persons to9
participate. 10
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-6-301, amend (1),11
(3.7), and (6); and add (1.1), (1.2), (3.8), and (3.9) as follows:12
24-6-301. Definitions - legislative declaration.13
As used in this part 3, unless the context otherwise requires: 14
(1) "Client" means the person who employs or retains the15
professional services of one or more lobbyists to undertake lobbying on16
behalf of that person. For the purposes of this part 3, a professional17
lobbyist is not a client of another lobbyist for whom he or she undertakes18
lobbying on a subcontract basis nor is the professional lobbyist a client of19
either a lobbying firm or any other person that employs or retains one or20
more professional lobbyists to undertake lobbying on behalf of one or21
more clients. Where the client is an organization or entity, nothing in this22
subsection (1) requires the organization or entity to provide the names of23
any of its shareholders, investors, business partners, coalition partners,24
members, donors, or supporters, as applicable. "ADVOCACY DAY" MEANS25
A CALENDAR DAY SELECTED BY A PERSON PURSUANT TO SECTION26
24-6-303.3 (1)(b).27
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(1.1) "ADVOCACY DAY PARTICIPANT" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO1
LOBBIES A COVERED OFFICIAL IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 24-6-303.3.2
(1.2) "CLIENT" MEANS THE PERSON WHO EMPLOYS OR RETAINS THE3
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OF ONE OR MORE LOBBYISTS TO UNDERTAKE4
LOBBYING ON BEHALF OF THAT PERSON. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PART5
3, A PROFESSIONAL LOBBYIST IS NOT A CLIENT OF ANOTHER LOBBYIST FOR6
WHOM HE OR SHE UNDERTAKES LOBBYING ON A SUBCONTRACT BASIS NOR7
IS THE PROFESSIONAL LOBBYIST A CLIENT OF EITHER A LOBBYING FIRM OR8
ANY OTHER PERSON THAT EMPLOYS OR RETAINS ONE OR MORE9
PROFESSIONAL LOBBYISTS TO UNDERTAKE LOBBYING ON BEHALF OF ONE10
OR MORE CLIENTS. WHERE THE CLIENT IS AN ORGANIZATION OR ENTITY,11
NOTHING IN THIS SUBSECTION (1.2) REQUIRES THE ORGANIZATION OR12
ENTITY TO PROVIDE THE NAMES OF ANY OF ITS SHAREHOLDERS ,13
INVESTORS, BUSINESS PARTNERS , COALITION PARTNERS , MEMBERS ,14
DONORS, OR SUPPORTERS, AS APPLICABLE.15
(3.7) "Lobbyist" means either a professional LOBBYIST, AN16
ADVOCACY DAY PARTICIPANT, A NONPROFIT ADVOCATE, or a volunteer17
lobbyist. 18
(3.8) "N ONPROFIT ADVOCATE " MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL19
EXCLUSIVELY EMPLOYED BY A SINGLE NONPROFIT ENTITY WHO ENGAGES20
IN LOBBYING OF ONE OR MORE COVERED OFFICIALS ON BEHALF OF THE21
NONPROFIT ENTITY AS AN INCIDENTAL DUTY OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S ROLE.22
(3.9) "NONPROFIT ENTITY" MEANS A PERSON THAT IS REGISTERED23
AS AN EXEMPT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION PURSUANT TO 26 U.S.C. SEC.24
501 (c)(3) AND THAT IS EXEMPT FROM TAXATION PURSUANT TO 26 U.S.C.25
SEC. 501 (a) OF THE FEDERAL "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986".26
(6) "Professional lobbyist" means a person, business entity,27
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including a sole proprietorship, or an employee of a client, who is1
compensated by a client or another professional lobbyist for lobbying.2
"Professional lobbyist" does not include any volunteer lobbyist, any state3
official or employee acting in his THEIR official capacity, except as4
provided in section 24-6-303.5, any elected public official acting in his5
THEIR official capacity, A NONPROFIT ADVOCATE , AN ADVOCACY DAY6
PARTICIPANT, AN EMPLOYEE OF A CLIENT WHO IS ASSISTING A7
PROFESSIONAL LOBBYIST, UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE'S DUTIES FOR THE CLIENT8
INCLUDE LOBBYING ON BEHALF OF THE CLIENT , or any individual who9
appears as counsel or advisor in an adjudicatory proceeding.10
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-6-302, amend (5)11
as follows:12
24-6-302. Disclosure statements - required - definition.13
(5) (a) This section shall DOES not apply to any political14
committee, volunteer lobbyist, citizen who lobbies on his or her THEIR15
own behalf, state official or employee acting in his or her THEIR official16
capacity, except as provided in section 24-6-303.5, or elected public17
official acting in his or her THEIR official capacity, OR AN EMPLOYEE OF18
A CLIENT WHO IS ASSISTING A PROFESSIONAL LOBBYIST IF THE19
PROFESSIONAL LOBBYIST IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DISCLOSURE20
REQUIREMENTS MANDATED BY THIS SECTION , UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE 'S21
DUTIES FOR THE CLIENT INCLUDE LOBBYING ON BEHALF OF THE CLIENT.22
(b) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO A NONPROFIT ADVOCATE.23
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-6-303, amend24
(1.3)(a) and (6); and add (1.2) as follows:25
24-6-303. Registration as professional lobbyist - filing of26
disclosure statements - certificate of registration - legislative27
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declaration.1
(1.2) BEFORE LOBBYING, A VOLUNTEER LOBBYIST SHALL REGISTER2
AND FILE WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH JOINT3
RULES ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A REGISTRATION STATEMENT4
THAT CONTAINS AN ATTESTATION BY THE VOLUNTEER LOBBYIST THAT THE5
VOLUNTEER LOBBYIST IS NOT BEING PAID OR OTHERWISE COMPENSATED6
FOR THE LOBBYING.7
(1.3) (a) At the time a professional lobbyist files a registration8
statement in accordance with subsection (1) of this section prior to9
engaging in lobbying, and each time such lobbyist files an updated10
registration statement in accordance with subsection (1.5) of this section,11
such THE individual shall pay a registration fee in an amount that shall be12
set by the secretary of state by rule promulgated ADOPTED in accordance13
with article 4 of this title and shall be set at a level that offsets the costs14
to the secretary of state of providing electronic access to information15
pursuant to section 24-6-304 (2), and in processing and maintaining the16
disclosure information required by this part 3. The secretary of state shall17
charge a reduced fee to a professional lobbyist that files his or her THEIR18
registration statement pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection (6.3)(b) of19
this section. The secretary of state may waive the fee of a NONPROFIT20
ADVOCATE or a professional lobbyist for a not-for-profit organization21
NONPROFIT ENTITY who derives his or her THEIR compensation solely22
from the organization. A volunteer lobbyist shall be OR AN ADVOCACY23
DAY PARTICIPANT IS exempt from the requirement to pay the registration24
fee mandated by this paragraph (a) SUBSECTION (1.3)(a).25
(6) (a) This section shall DOES not apply to any political26
committee, volunteer lobbyist, citizen who lobbies on his or her THEIR27
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own behalf, state official or employee acting in his or her THEIR official1
capacity, except as provided in section 24-6-303.5, or elected public2
official acting in his or her THEIR official capacity, OR AN EMPLOYEE OF3
A CLIENT WHO IS ASSISTING A PROFESSIONAL LOBBYIST IF THE4
PROFESSIONAL LOBBYIST IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGISTRATION5
REQUIREMENTS MANDATED BY THIS SECTION , UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE 'S6
DUTIES FOR THE CLIENT INCLUDE LOBBYING ON BEHALF OF THE CLIENT.7
(b) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO A NONPROFIT ADVOCATE.8
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-6-303.3 as9
follows:10
24-6-303.3 Advocacy day participant - registration -11
requirements.12
(1) (a) AN ADVOCACY DAY PARTICIPANT MAY LOBBY A COVERED13
OFFICIAL ON BEHALF OF A PERSON DURING AN ADVOCACY DAY IF THE14
PERSON HAS SATISFIED THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSECTION (1)(b) OF THIS15
SECTION.16
(b) A PERSON WHO WILL HAVE AN ADVOCACY DAY PARTICIPANT17
LOBBY A COVERED OFFICIAL ON THEIR BEHALF DURING AN ADVOCACY DAY18
MUST REGISTER AND FILE WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE19
WITH JOINT RULES ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY , FOR EACH20
ADVOCACY DAY DURING WHICH AN ADVOCACY DAY PARTICIPANT IS21
EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE, A REGISTRATION STATEMENT SPECIFYING THE22
PERSON'S NAME, THE CALENDAR DAY ON WHICH THE ADVOCACY DAY WILL23
OCCUR AND WHEN AN ADVOCACY DAY PARTICIPANT WILL LOBBY A24
COVERED INDIVIDUAL ON THE PERSON 'S BEHALF , THE NUMBER OF25
ADVOCACY DAY PARTICIPANTS EXPECTED , AND THE TOPIC OF THE26
ADVOCACY.27
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(2) AN ADVOCACY DAY MAY ONLY OCCUR WHEN:1
(a) A PERSON HAS FOLLOWED THE REGISTRATION AND FILING2
REQUIREMENT IN SUBSECTION (1)(b) OF THIS SECTION; AND3
(b) T HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS IN A REGULAR SESSION OR A4
SPECIAL SESSION.5
(3) A N INDIVIDUAL IS NOT CONSIDERED AN ADVOCACY DAY6
PARTICIPANT IF THE INDIVIDUAL:7
(a) A CCEPTS COMPENSATION FOR LOBBYING DURING AN8
ADVOCACY DAY;9
(b) LOBBIES A COVERED OFFICIAL ON BEHALF OF A PERSON THAT10
HAS NOT REGISTERED AND FILED WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PURSUANT11
TO SUBSECTION (1)(b) OF THIS SECTION;12
(c) LOBBIES A COVERED OFFICIAL AT A LOCATION OUTSIDE OF A13
ONE-MILE RADIUS OF THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING; OR14
(d) LOBBIES A COVERED OFFICIAL ON A DAY NOT DESIGNATED AS15
AN ADVOCACY DAY PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (1)(b) OF THIS SECTION.16
(4) A N ADVOCACY DAY PARTICIPANT IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL17
LOBBYIST OR A VOLUNTEER LOBBYIST. AN ADVOCACY DAY PARTICIPANT18
IS NOT REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS A LOBBYIST WITH THE SECRETARY OF19
STATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-6-303 OR FILE A DISCLOSURE STATEMENT20
WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-6-302.21
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-6-303.5, amend22
(1)(a), (2)(a) introductory portion, (2)(a)(III), (4) introductory portion,23
(4)(g), and (5); repeal (4)(c); and add (2)(a)(IV) as follows:24
24-6-303.5. Lobbying by state officials and employees.25
(1) (a) Each principal department of state government, as defined26
in section 24-1-110, AND THE JUDICIAL BRANCH shall designate one27
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person INDIVIDUAL who shall be IS responsible for any lobbying of the1
type defined in section 24-6-301 (3.5)(a)(I) or (3.5)(a)(III) by a state2
official or employee on behalf of said THE principal department OR THE3
JUDICIAL BRANCH. All designated persons INDIVIDUALS from the principal4
departments, as well as any person JUDICIAL BRANCH, OR AN INDIVIDUAL5
lobbying, as defined in section 24-6-301 (3.5)(a)(I) or (3.5)(a)(III), on6
behalf of an institu tion or governing board of higher education OR ON7
BEHALF OF THE OFFICES OF THE GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AS8
A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR 'S CABINET OR AS A PERSONAL STAFF9
EMPLOYEE IN THE OFFICES OF THE GOVERNOR OR THE LIEUTENANT10
GOVERNOR shall register with the secretary of state by filing a written11
statement on or before January 15 of each year. Such THE registration12
statement shall MUST be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and13
shall MUST include the following:14
(I) The designated person's INDIVIDUAL'S full legal name, principal15
department BUSINESS address, and business telephone number;16
(II) The name of any state official or employee who is lobbying17
on behalf of the principal department, JUDICIAL BRANCH, OFFICES OF THE18
GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR , OR AN INSTITUTION OR19
GOVERNING BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION;20
(III) The name of such person's THE INDIVIDUAL'S division or unit21
within the principal department, his JUDICIAL BRANCH, OFFICES OF THE22
GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR , OR AN INSTITUTION OR23
GOVERNING BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION;24
(IV) The individual's classification or job title; and25
(V) The address and telephone number of his THE INDIVIDUAL'S26
division or unit.27
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(2) (a) In addition to the registration statement filed pursuant to1
subsection (1) of this section, the designated person, and any person2
INDIVIDUAL, AN INDIVIDUAL lobbying on behalf of an institution or3
governing board of higher education, AN INDIVIDUAL LOBBYING ON4
BEHALF OF THE JUDICIAL BRANCH , OR AN INDIVIDUAL LOBBYING ON5
BEHALF OF THE OFFICES OF THE GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AS6
A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR 'S CABINET OR AS A PERSONAL STAFF7
EMPLOYEE IN THE OFFICES OF THE GOVERNOR OR THE LIEUTENANT8
GOVERNOR shall file, monthly, a disclosure statement with the secretary9
of state in accordance with this subsection (2). The secretary of state shall10
prescribe the form for such disclosure statement, which shall MUST11
include:12
(III) An estimate of the time spent on lobbying or preparation13
thereof PREPARING TO ENGAGE IN LOBBYING by any state official or14
employee THE INDIVIDUAL named in the registration statement or BY any15
other employee of the principal department, or JUDICIAL BRANCH, offices16
of the governor or lieutenant governor, OR AN INSTITUTION OR GOVERNING17
BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION; and18
(IV) THE BILL OR RESOLUTION NUMBER OF THE LEGISLATION AT19
ISSUE AND THE POSITION THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS TAKING REGARDING THE20
LEGISLATION. THE POSITION MUST BE INDICATED ON THE DISCLOSURE21
STATEMENT AS IN SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATION , IN OPPOSITION TO THE22
LEGISLATION, OR IN SUPPORT OF AMENDING THE LEGISLATION . IF THE23
POSITION CHANGES , THE INDIVIDUAL SHALL UPDATE THE POSITION24
INDICATED ON THE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT WITHIN SEVENTY-TWO HOURS25
OF THE CHANGE.26
(4) This section shall DOES not apply to the following persons27
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INDIVIDUALS:1
(c) Members of the governor's cabinet and personal staff2
employees in the offices of the governor and the lieutenant governor3
whose functions are confined to such offices and who report directly to4
the governor or lieutenant governor;5
(g) Members, officers, and employees of the judicial branch;6
specifically, Municipal, state, and federal judges, and the state court7
administrator, and his THEIR designee; and8
(5) Any person AN INDIVIDUAL who engages in lobbying for a9
principal department, THE JUDICIAL BRANCH , THE OFFICES OF THE10
GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR , OR AN INSTITUTION OR11
GOVERNING BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION but who is not a state official12
or employee shall comply with the requirements of sections 24-6-302 and13
24-6-303.14
SECTION 7. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act15
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the16
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August17
12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a18
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the19
state constitution against this act or an item, section, or pa rt of this act20
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect21
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in22
November 2026 a nd, in such case, will take effect on the date of the23
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.24
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