State Law

Over the last several weeks, Texas, Louisiana, and Nebraska have enacted so called “baby” Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”) laws aimed at regulating foreign-influenced political activity in the states.  There has been a trend in state legislatures over the last year to propose laws that apply to foreign-influenced political activity…

Continue Reading Texas, Louisiana, and Nebraska Enact “Baby” FARA Laws

Over the past several months, several states have introduced bills that mirror the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”). There has been a trend in the states to propose so-called “baby FARA” laws that apply to foreign-influenced political activity in the states, though the proposals vary in the scope of…

Continue Reading Arkansas Governor Signs Baby FARA Law

Important changes to California’s pay-to-play law took effect January 1, 2025, and now the state’s regulations have caught up to the law.

The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission adopted the new regulations late last month, following statutory revisions to California’s complex pay-to-play law found at California Government Code § 84308…

Continue Reading California Updates Pay-to-Play Law Regulations to Reflect Recent Law Changes

Last week, the Georgia state Senate authorized a sweeping investigation of former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, continuing a national trend of increased state legislative investigations.  Although state-level investigations continue to lag far behind congressional investigations, state legislatures appear to be replicating what we see on the federal level with increasing…

Continue Reading Georgia Senate Launches Abrams-Focused Inquiry, Signaling Growing Risk of State Legislative Investigations

The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has adopted higher political contribution limits and public officer gift limits for the 2025-2026 political cycle.  The new limits took effect January 1, 2025.

Contribution Limits

Under the new limits, an individual, business entity, or PAC can contribute $5,900 per election to candidates…

Continue Reading California Adopts New Contribution, Gift Limits for 2025-2026

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has vetoed Georgia Senate Bill 368, which would have created a requirement in state law for certain “agents of foreign principals” to register and report certain lobbying and political activities in Georgia.  This is the first of the wave of recently proposed baby FARA bills at…

Continue Reading Georgia Governor Vetoes “Baby” FARA Bill

Over the past several weeks, legislatures in Arizona, California, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have introduced bills that mirror the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”). There has been a trend in the states to enact so-called “baby FARA” laws that apply to foreign influenced political activity…

Continue Reading States Introduce More “Baby” FARA Bills

Covington annually publishes a detailed survey of state campaign finance, lobbying, and gift rules.  Now, for the first time, Covington is releasing an updated survey that details federal campaign finance, lobbying, and gift rules, in addition to those of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Corporations, trade associations, non-profits…

Continue Reading Covington Releases Updated Survey of Federal and State Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Gift Rules (2023 Edition)

The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) adopted on Thursday higher political contribution limits and public officer gift limits for the 2023-2024 political cycle. The new limits take effect on January 1, 2023.

Contribution Limits

Under the new limits, an individual, business entity, or committee/PAC can contribute $5,500 per election…

Continue Reading California Raises Campaign Contribution and Gift Limits for 2023-2024

The newly-established New York Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government recently took over as the state’s regulator of lobbying and government ethics, replacing the old Joint Commission on Public Ethics.  This change in the enforcer and a new group of commissioners could spell more rigorous enforcement of the state’s…

Continue Reading New York Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government Takes Over as State’s Lobbying and Ethics Regulator