New lobbying regulations in New York go into effect on January 1, 2019. With the new regulations, the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) will have increased grounds for investigation and enforcement.

Under New York’s new JCOPE lobbying regulations, a phone call or introduction to a public official may constitute “preliminary contact” or “door opening,” requiring registration and periodic reporting. Social media activity, including tagging and direct messaging of public officials, is one of the key issues addressed in new JCOPE lobbying regulations in New York. Posts, tweets or messages that meet certain criteria can qualify as direct lobbying or “grassroots” lobbying, both of which require disclosure and reporting in New York.

Our lobbying compliance attorneys are solely focused on keeping you compliant—providing you with peace of mind, so you can focus on advocacy. Learn the new regulations from our team and discover areas of vulnerability for each industry.