Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 2-156 regarding registration of lobbyists and regulations pertaining thereto

Votes › Ethics and Government Oversight › 47th Ward: Matthew J. Martin

Record number: SO2023-0002937
Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
Status: Final
Sponsor: Matthew J. Martin (47th Ward)
Committee: Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight
Introduction Date: Jul 19, 2023
Final Action Date: Dec 13, 2023
Official record: Office of the City Clerk

Roll call: Passed Dec 13, 2023

49 yea, 0 nay. On motion of Alderperson Martin, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Hopkins, the matter was Passed. Voted at the City Council meeting of Dec 13, 2023.

Yea (49): Daniel La Spata (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Marty Quinn (13), Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (14), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Silvana Tabares (23), Monique L. Scott (24), Byron Sigcho-López (25), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Walter R. Burnett (27), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), Scott Waguespack (32), William Conway (34), Gilbert Villegas (36), Emma Mitts (37), Nicholas Sposato (38), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), James M. Gardiner (45), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50), Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (former member)

Not voting (1): Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (33)

Impact report

Written by AI from the official document. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This ordinance would change Chicago's lobbying rules by redefining who counts as a lobbyist, adding exemptions for certain nonprofit activities, and setting new fines for lobbyists who fail to register or file reports.

Who it affects

Nonprofit organizations: People who lobby for a nonprofit would only count as lobbyists if they are paid or work professionally on it and the nonprofit has an operating budget and net assets of $5 million or more, and grassroots and self-defense communications would not require registration.
Paid lobbyists, attorneys, and consultants: They would have to register if paid or spending at least $1,250, or spending more than 20 hours on lobbying, in any three-month reporting period, and report more details such as file numbers and the outcome their client wants.
Residents seeking city services: Asking for services like water, sewer, garbage, tree trimming, pothole repair, graffiti removal, or block party street closures would clearly not count as lobbying.
Youth and transitional job program participants: People aged 24 or younger in temporary youth jobs programs and people in transitional employment programs would not have to register when contacting the City through those programs.
Salespeople paid by commission: Contacting only the City staff who make purchasing decisions about their goods or services would not count as lobbying.
City officials and employees: They could ask for donations made directly to a nonprofit or charity if they get no direct personal benefit, do not target specific donors, and do not accept the gifts for others.

What changes

Lobbyists would have to register if they spend more than 20 hours lobbying in a three-month period, even if not paid much.
Lobbying reports would have to name the specific item (such as a file number) and the outcome the client wants.
Taking part in or organizing a nonprofit grassroots lobbying event would not require registering as a lobbyist.
Serving on a City task force or advisory group at the City's request, or funding a City position or program, would not require registration in that role.
The Board of Ethics would publicly name lobbyists who fail to register or file reports, along with their fines.

Money

Lobbyists pay a $350 registration fee per person, plus an annual $75 fee for each additional client after the first; the Board of Ethics may waive or reduce the fee for a lobbyist paid by only one nonprofit.
Lobbyists who fail to register for one or more clients would be fined $1,000 per violation, with each day counting as a separate violation.
Registered lobbyists who fail to re-register, amend, or end their registration would be fined $250 per violation per day, up to $20,000 per incident.
Lobbyists who fail to file activity reports would be fined $250 per violation per day, up to $20,000 per incident.
Anyone who knowingly makes, solicits, or accepts an improper political contribution would be fined at least $1,000 and up to the higher of $5,000 or three times the contribution.

Where: 47th Ward

When: July 1, 2024

Timeline

Jul 19, 2023: Referred, City Council. The matter was referred.
Dec 11, 2023: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body.
Dec 11, 2023: Substituted, Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight. The matters was substituted in Committee.
Dec 13, 2023: Passed, City Council (49 yea, 0 nay), at the City Council meeting. On motion of Alderperson Martin, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Hopkins, the matter was Passed.

Documents

O2023-0002937.pdf (Legislation)
SO2023-0002937 Lobbying Ordinance Final.pdf (Legislation)

Lobbying and money

Computed links; money near a vote is not evidence that it influenced the vote.

Who lobbied on it

Forefront: MEETINGS AND PLANNING RE: ETHICS ORDINANCES AFFECTING LOBBYING RULES FOR NONPROFIT BUSINESSES IN CHICAGO (O2023-2937) (3 filings, Jul 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2023; Holly Ambuehl; matched by record number)
Forefront: O2023-2937 (1 filing, Oct 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2023; Alec Lopata; matched by record number)
Forefront: NEGOTIATIONS AND ENACTMENT OF SO2023-0002937 (2 filings, Oct 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2023; Holly Ambuehl; matched by record number)

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