Rhode Island

Corporations, trade associations, non-profits, other organizations, and individuals face significant penalties and reputational harm if they violate state laws governing corporate and personal political activities, the registration of lobbyists, lobbying reporting, or the giving of gifts or items of value to government officials or employees. To help organizations and individuals …

Continue Reading Covington Releases 50-State Survey of Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Gift Rules (2022 Edition)

Companies doing business with state and local governments or operating in regulated industries are subject to a dizzying array of “pay-to-play” rules. These rules effectively prohibit company executives and employees (and in some cases, their family members) from making certain personal political contributions. Even inadvertent violations can be dangerous: a…
Continue Reading Covington Releases 400-Page, 50-State Survey of Pay-to-Play Rules (2022 Edition)

Companies doing business with state and local governments or operating in regulated industries are subject to a dizzying array of “pay-to-play” rules.  These rules effectively prohibit company executives and employees (and in some cases, their family members) from making certain personal political contributions.  Even inadvertent violations can be dangerous:  a …
Continue Reading Survey of the Pay-to-Play Laws of the United States

Rhode Island — currently a “disclosure only” pay-to-play state — is considering adding a political contributions ban to its pay-to-play repertoire.  In February, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin proposed legislation to prohibit state vendors, their ten-percent owners, their executive officers, and the spouses and minor children of…
Continue Reading Tough Pay-To-Play Bill Under Consideration in Rhode Island

Rhode Island recently joined the growing list of states that have updated their campaign finance laws to reflect the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United.  Important revisions to the state’s statute took effect at the end of June 2012.  The new law requires that independent…
Continue Reading Rhode Island Revises Its Campaign Finance Laws to Require Additional Disclosure of Independent Expenditures