Federal contractors, grantees, borrowers, and others receiving federal funds face a variety of restrictions on their use of those funds for political purposes, including for lobbying. A new presidential memorandum issued last week by President Trump highlights one of those restrictions, 31 U.S.C. § 1352, also known as the
Continue Reading Administration Targets Lobbying by Federal Grantees with New Presidential MemorandumCorporate Political Disclosure Shareholder Proposals Draw Surprising Support
Posted in Corporate Political Spending Disclosure
Shareholder proposals on political issues—particularly lobbying spending disclosure and campaign finance issues—have been a common part of the proxy landscape for some time now. This proxy season, proposals seeking greater transparency around corporate political spending had surprising success compared to the past. This alert highlights that, especially given this development…
Continue Reading Corporate Political Disclosure Shareholder Proposals Draw Surprising SupportCongress Weighs Foreign Agent Disclosure and Registration Bills
Posted in Foreign Agents Registration Act, Political Law
Congress is considering several bills to broaden disclosure and registration requirements related to the regulation of foreign agents under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”) and the Lobbying Disclosure Act (“LDA”): the Foreign Registration Obligations for Nonprofit Transparency (“FRONT”) Act (S. 2305), Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act…
Continue Reading Congress Weighs Foreign Agent Disclosure and Registration BillsDOJ Issues Memorandum for Federal Funding Recipients Addressing “Unlawful Discrimination” Practices
On July 29, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination.” The memorandum purports to offer “guidance” and “Best Practices” to recipients of federal funding, including “non-binding suggestions to help entities comply with federal antidiscrimination laws and avoid legal pitfalls.” …
Continue Reading DOJ Issues Memorandum for Federal Funding Recipients Addressing “Unlawful Discrimination” PracticesRecent House Ethics Committee Actions Signal Expanding Scope of Enforcement
By Stephanie Nnadi & Perrin Cooke on
Posted in Government Ethics
While historically criticized for inconsistency or opacity, the House Ethics Committee appears to be moving toward a more active and transparent enforcement posture. Last week, the Committee adopted two reports finding Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) violated House ethics rules. The reports together serve as a…
Continue Reading Recent House Ethics Committee Actions Signal Expanding Scope of EnforcementWhen Investor Relations Become Procurement Lobbying
By Zachary G. Parks, Derek Lawlor & Kimberly Railey on
Posted in Lobbying Compliance, State Law
Employees in the investor relations departments of hedge fund managers and private equity firms typically do not consider themselves “lobbyists.” But state and local regulators sometimes have a different view. This article, published in the Hedge Fund Law Report, explains the types of investor relations activities that could…
Continue Reading When Investor Relations Become Procurement LobbyingTexas, Louisiana, and Nebraska Enact “Baby” FARA Laws
By Robert Kelner & Alex Langton on
Posted in Foreign Agents Registration Act, 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 LawsCongressional Investigations and the Rules of the 119th Congress
At the start of each Congress, the House and Senate, along with the various committees in each chamber, adopt internal rules that govern their operations. Though many such rules remain unchanged from one Congress to another, the continued emphasis on congressional investigations across Capitol Hill lends new significance to even…
Continue Reading Congressional Investigations and the Rules of the 119th CongressCovington Announces Political Law Survey (2025 Edition)
Posted in Political Law
Covington is pleased to announce that it has revised and updated its comprehensive 50-state survey of political laws for 2025.
Corporations, trade associations, non-profits, other organizations, and individuals face significant penalties and reputational harm if they violate federal or state laws governing corporate and personal political activities, the registration of…
Continue Reading Covington Announces Political Law Survey (2025 Edition)Covington Announces Pay-to-Play Survey (2025 Edition)
Posted in Pay-to-Play
Covington is pleased to announce that it has revised and updated its comprehensive 50-state survey of pay-to-play laws for 2025.
Companies doing business with the federal government or state and local governments and companies operating in regulated industries are subject to a dizzying array of “pay-to-play” rules. These rules effectively…
Continue Reading Covington Announces Pay-to-Play Survey (2025 Edition)