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119-hr-7231119th CongressWALLET

Lobbyist Loophole Closure Act

Sponsored By: Representative Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

Introduced

Summary

Expands who counts as a lobbyist by treating strategic and political counseling tied to lobbying contacts as lobbying activity. This bill would amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act to make legislative, political, and strategic counseling that supports lobbying contacts fall under the Act and to treat certain counselors who direct or substantially influence contacts as having made those contacts.

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  • Consultants and paid counselors: People who provide legislative, political, or strategic counseling in support of a lobbying contact would need to register and report. If a counselor for pay directs or substantially influences a contact and knows it occurred they are treated as making that contact.
  • Employers and in-house staff: Organizations that use or employ advisors could see more individuals meet the registration test because the exemption threshold is lowered from 20% to 10%. These changes apply to lobbying contacts made on or after enactment.
  • Public transparency: The bill broadens who must register and report under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, increasing disclosures about who shaped specific lobbying contacts and when they occurred.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

New lobbying rules for paid advisors

This bill would expand who counts as a lobbyist. It would treat planning, research, and counseling done for pay as lobbying when tied to lobbying contacts. Paid advisers who direct or substantially influence another person's lobbying contact and who knew the contact happened would be treated as making that contact. The bill would also lower the registration cutoff so you must register if 10% or more of your work is lobbying (replacing the "less than 20 percent" rule). These changes would apply to lobbying contacts made on or after the date of enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 1/22/2026

  • Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/22/2026

  • Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/22/2026

  • Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 1/30/2026

  • Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 1/30/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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