Chapter 13

13.621(1) (1) Complete exemption for certain conduct. This subchapter does not apply to the following activities:

13.621(1)(a) (a) Lobbying through communications media or by public addresses to audiences made up principally of persons other than legislators or agency officials.

13.621(1)(b) (b) Except as provided in s. 13.68 (1) (a) 5., news or feature reporting, paid advertising activities or editorial comment by working members of the press, and the publication or dissemination thereof by a newspaper, book publisher, regularly published periodical, radio station or television station.

13.621(1)(c) (c) Requests by a member or employee of the legislature or by a legislative committee for information from an agency or its employees and the furnishing of the requested information by that agency or its employees.

13.621(1)(d) (d) Lobbying of an agency official by an agency official of a different agency or another agency official of the same agency.

13.621(1)(e) (e) Participation as a member in the deliberations of a committee under s. 227.13 or any committee of the legislature.

13.621(1)(f) (f) Requests by an agency official for information from any person and the furnishing of the information by that person, or requests by any person for information from any agency official and the furnishing of the information by that official.

13.621(2) (2) State agency lobbying activities. An agency which files a statement under s. 13.695 and an official of the agency who is named in the statement are not subject to s. 13.625, 13.63, 13.64, 13.65 or 13.68 except as provided in s. 13.695.

13.621(3) (3) Performance of public official duties. An elective state official, local official, tribal official, or employee of the legislature is not subject to s. 13.63, 13.64, 13.65, 13.68, or 13.695 when acting in an official capacity.

13.621(5) (5) Verified statements. Any principal who or which anticipates making expenditures or incurring obligations in an aggregate amount not exceeding $500 in a calendar year for the purpose of engaging in lobbying activities which are not exempt under this section may so indicate on a verified statement filed with the commission. The statement shall disclose the name, address and telephone number of the principal and a brief description of each cause or interest for which the principal employs a lobbyist. The statement shall also disclose the name and business address of any lobbyist who is employed by such principal to engage in lobbying activities which are not exempt under this section. A statement filed under this subsection expires at midnight on December 31 of each year, or upon revocation by the principal, whichever is earlier. Any principal and any lobbyist acting on behalf of a principal making such a statement is not subject to licensing under s. 13.63, registration under s. 13.64, or the reporting requirements under s. 13.68, if the statement is true. The statement may be revoked at any time by the principal and the principal and any lobbyist employed by the principal are then subject to such requirements as of the date of revocation. The statement shall be revoked no later than 10 days after the date the aggregate expenditures or obligations in the calendar year for the purpose of engaging in such lobbying activities exceed $500. The fee paid under s. 13.75 (1g) (c) for filing a statement under this subsection shall be credited toward payment of the fee under s. 13.75 (1g) (b) if the fee under s. 13.75 (1g) (b) is paid within the same year.

13.621(6) (6) Individual right to lobby. Nothing in ss. 13.61 to 13.695 may be applied to or interfere with the right of any individual to engage in lobbying:

13.621(6)(a) (a) Solely on his or her own behalf; or

13.621(6)(b) (b) By communicating solely with a legislator who represents the senate or assembly district in which the individual resides, whether or not such communication is made on behalf of the individual or on behalf of another person.

13.621(7) (7) Participation in events; public official outreach.

13.621(7)(a) (a) An agency official, an elective state official, or a legislative employee may receive and retain reimbursement or payment of actual and reasonable expenses for a published work or for the presentation of a talk or participation in a meeting related to a topic specified in s. 19.56 (1) if the payment or reimbursement is paid or arranged by the organizer of the event or the publisher of the work, including a principal or lobbyist.

13.621(7)(b) (b) An agency official, an elective state official, or a legislative employee may attend a meeting with clubs, conventions, special interest groups, political groups, school groups, and other gatherings, without paying admission costs, to discuss and to interpret legislative, administrative, executive, or judicial processes and proposals and issues initiated by or affecting the state legislature, state government, a department, or the judicial branch. An agency official, an elective state official, or a legislative employee may not receive food, beverages, or other items included in the cost of admission unless the person pays the event organizer, including a principal or lobbyist, for the actual cost of the food, beverages, or items.

13.621 History History: 1977 c. 278, 418; 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (58) (b); 1985 a. 29; 1985 a. 182 s. 57; 1989 a. 338 ss. 42 to 47; Stats. 1989 s. 13.621; 1989 a. 359 s. 11; 1991 a. 32; 2005 a. 463; 2015 a. 118 s. 266 (10); 2017 a. 366; 2021 a. 266.

13.625 13.625 Prohibited practices.

13.625(1) (1) No lobbyist may instigate legislative or administrative action for the purpose of obtaining employment in support or opposition to such action or contract to receive or receive compensation dependent in any manner upon the success or failure of any legislative or administrative action.

13.625(1g) (1g) No lobbyist or principal may furnish to any agency official or legislative employee of the state or to any elective state official or candidate for an elective state office, or to the candidate committee of the official, employee, or candidate:

13.625(1g)(a) (a) Lodging.

13.625(1g)(b) (b) Transportation.

13.625(1g)(c) (c) Food, meals, beverages, money or any other thing of pecuniary value, except that a lobbyist may deliver a contribution or make a personal contribution to a partisan elective state official or candidate for national, state or local office or to the candidate committee of the official or candidate; but a lobbyist may make a personal contribution to which sub. (1m) applies only as authorized in sub. (1m).

13.625(1m) (1m) 

13.625(1m)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no lobbyist or principal may do any of the following:

13.625(1m)(a)1. 1. Make a personal contribution to a partisan elective state official for the purpose of promoting the official’s election to any national, state, or local office.

13.625(1m)(a)2. 2. Make a personal contribution to a candidate for a partisan elective state office to be filled at the general election or a special election.

13.625(1m)(a)3. 3. Make a personal contribution to the candidate committee of a partisan elective state official or candidate for partisan state elective office.

13.625(1m)(b) (b) A lobbyist or principal may make a personal contribution to a partisan elective state official or candidate for partisan elective state office or to the candidate committee of the official or candidate between the first day authorized by law for the circulation of nomination papers as a candidate at a general election or special election and the day of the general election or special election, except that:

13.625(1m)(b)1. 1. A contribution to a candidate for legislative office may be made during that period only if the legislature has concluded its final floorperiod, and is not in special or extraordinary session.

13.625(1m)(b)2. 2. A contribution by a lobbyist to the lobbyist’s candidate committee for partisan elective state office may be made at any time.

13.625(3) (3) No candidate for an elective state office, elective state official, agency official, or legislative employee of the state may solicit or accept anything of pecuniary value from a lobbyist or principal, except as permitted under this section or s. 13.621. No candidate committee of a candidate for state office may accept anything of pecuniary value from a lobbyist or principal, except as permitted for such a candidate under this section or s. 13.621.

13.625(4m) (4m) This section does not apply to any of the following:

13.625(4m)(a) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (1g), the furnishing by a principal of transportation, lodging, food, meals, beverages, or any other thing of pecuniary value that is also made available to the general public.

13.625(4m)(b) (b) Compensation paid or the furnishing of employee benefits by a principal to an employee who is a candidate for an elective state office but who does not hold such an office if the employee is neither an agency official nor legislative employee, and if the principal or employee can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the principal’s employment of the employee and the compensation and employee benefits paid to the employee are unrelated to the candidacy. If the employee was employed by the principal prior to the first day of the 12th month commencing before the deadline for the filing of nomination papers for the office sought and the employment continues uninterrupted, without augmentation of compensation or employee benefits, except as provided by a preexisting employment agreement, it is rebuttably presumed that the employment and compensation and benefits paid are unrelated to the candidacy.

13.625(4m)(c) (c) Food, meals, beverages, or entertainment provided by the governor when acting in an official capacity.

13.625(4m)(d) (d) The furnishing of anything of pecuniary value by a lobbyist or principal to a relative of the lobbyist or principal or to an individual who resides in the same household as the lobbyist or principal or the receipt of anything of pecuniary value by that relative or individual residing in the same household as the lobbyist or principal.

13.625(4m)(e) (e) The furnishing of anything of pecuniary value by a principal that is a local governmental unit to a legislative official or an agency official who is an elected official of that local governmental unit, or the solicitation or acceptance thereof by such a legislative official or agency official, in an amount not exceeding the amount furnished to other similarly situated elected officials of the same local governmental unit.

13.625(4m)(f) (f) The furnishing of a per diem or reimbursement for actual and reasonable expenses by a principal that is a local governmental unit to a legislative official or an agency official who is an appointed official of that local governmental unit, or the solicitation or acceptance thereof by such a legislative official or agency official, in an amount not exceeding the amount furnished to other similarly situated appointed officials of the same local governmental unit.

13.625(4m)(g) (g) The furnishing of anything of pecuniary value by a lobbyist or principal to an employee of that lobbyist or principal who is a legislative official or an agency official solely because of membership on a state commission, board, council, committee, or similar body if the thing of pecuniary value is not in excess of that customarily provided by the employer to similarly situated employees and if the legislative official or agency official receives no compensation for his or her services other than a per diem or reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties or the receipt of anything of pecuniary value by that legislative official or agency official under those circumstances.

13.625(4m)(h) (h) The furnishing of anything of pecuniary value by a principal to an officer or employee of the University of Wisconsin System, or the solicitation or acceptance thereof by such an officer or employee, for service as a member of the governing body of the principal, in an amount not exceeding the amount furnished to other members of the governing body for the same service.

13.625(4m)(i) (i) The furnishing of educational or informational material by a lobbyist or principal to an elected state official, legislative official, or agency official, or acceptance thereof by an elected state official, legislative official, or agency official.

13.625(4m)(k) (k) The solicitation of anything of pecuniary value for the benefit of the endangered resources program, as defined in s. 71.10 (5) (a) 2., by an agency official who administers the program.

13.625(4m)(L) (L) The solicitation of anything of pecuniary value to pay the costs of remedying environmental contamination, as defined in s. 292.51 (1), by an agency official of the department of natural resources.

13.625(4m)(m) (m) The solicitation, acceptance, or furnishing of anything of pecuniary value by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the furnishing by a principal of anything of pecuniary value to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, under s. 19.56 (3) (e) or (f) for the activities specified in s. 19.56 (3) (e).

13.625(4m)(n) (n) The solicitation, acceptance, or furnishing of anything of pecuniary value by the department of tourism, or the furnishing by a principal of anything of pecuniary value to the department of tourism, under s. 19.56 (3) (em) or (f) for the activity specified in s. 19.56 (3) (em).

13.625(4m)(o) (o) The solicitation, acceptance, or furnishing of anything of pecuniary value by the Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission, or the furnishing by a principal of anything of pecuniary value to the Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission, under s. 19.56 (3) (g) for the activity specified in s. 19.56 (3) (g).

13.625 Note NOTE: Par. (o) is shown as renumbered from sub. (11) by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2. Capitalization was modified, unnecessary text was removed, and other text was modified under s. 35.17 to reflect the renumbering.

13.625 History History: 1977 c. 278, 418; 1979 c. 32; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 338; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1995 a. 27 ss. 35, 36, 9116 (5); 1995 a. 227; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 153; 2015 a. 117; 2017 a. 366; 2021 a. 95, 266; s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.; s. 35.17 correction in (4m) (o).

13.625 Annotation This chapter does not address the conduct of a lobbyist’s spouse at all. There is no prohibition against a lobbyist’s spouse making political contributions from any source at any time. Katzman v. State Ethics Board, 228 Wis. 2d 282, 596 N.W.2d 861 (Ct. App. 1999), 98-2884.

13.625 Annotation This section does not prohibit the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District from paying normal expenses and salaries to commissioners who are legislators and does not prohibit those legislators from accepting payments. 78 Atty. Gen. 149.

13.625 Annotation Discussing the prohibition against furnishing anything of pecuniary value to state officials and its interaction with s. 19.56. 80 Atty. Gen. 205.

13.625 Annotation The clause in sub. (1) (b) 3. [now sub. (1g) (c)] stating “any other thing of pecuniary value” is unconstitutional insofar as it prohibits uncompensated personal services by lobbyists on behalf of candidates for state office. Barker v. State Ethics Board, 841 F. Supp. 255 (1993).

13.63 13.63 Licenses for lobbyists; suspension or revocation.

13.63(1) (1) Licenses.

13.63(1)(a) (a) An applicant for a license to act as a lobbyist may obtain an application from and file the application with the commission. Except as authorized under par. (am), an applicant shall include his or her social security number and may include the address of his or her primary residence on the application. The applicant shall, under the penalty for making false statements under s. 13.69 (6m), sign the application. The applicant shall submit with the application the applicable fee under s. 13.75 (1g) (a) or (am). Upon approval of the application by the commission, the commission shall issue a license to the applicant. A license issued under this paragraph entitles the licensee to practice lobbying on behalf of each registered principal for whom or which an authorization for that lobbyist, as required under s. 13.65, has been filed and for whom or which the authorization fee under s. 13.75 (1g) (d) has been paid. A license issued under this paragraph shall expire on December 31 of each even-numbered year.

13.63(1)(am) (am) If an individual who applies for a license under this section does not have a social security number, the individual, as a condition of obtaining that license, shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the commission that the individual does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. A license issued in reliance upon a false statement submitted under this paragraph is invalid.

13.63(1)(b) (b) Except as provided under par. (am), the commission shall not issue a license to an applicant who does not provide his or her social security number. The commission shall not issue a license to an applicant or shall revoke any license issued to a lobbyist if the department of revenue certifies to the commission that the applicant or lobbyist is liable for delinquent taxes under s. 73.0301 or if the department of workforce development certifies to the commission that the applicant or lobbyist is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions under s. 108.227. The commission shall refuse to issue a license or shall suspend any existing license for failure of an applicant or licensee to pay court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse or failure of an applicant or licensee to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. No application may be disapproved by the commission except an application for a license by a person who is ineligible for licensure under this subsection or s. 13.69 (4) or an application by a lobbyist whose license has been revoked under this subsection or s. 13.69 (7) and only for the period of such ineligibility or revocation.

13.63(1)(c) (c) Denial of a license on the basis of a certification by the department of revenue or the department of workforce development may be reviewed under s. 73.0301 or 108.227, whichever is applicable. Except with respect to a license that is denied or suspended pursuant to a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857, denial or suspension of any other license may be reviewed under ch. 227.

13.63(2) (2) Revocation of lobbying privileges. No lobbyist whose license has been revoked under s. 13.69 (7) may engage in lobbying as a lobbyist for any principal until such person has been reinstated to the practice of lobbying and duly licensed.

13.63 History History: 1977 c. 29, 278; 1979 c. 32 s. 92 (1); 1985 a. 29; 1985 a. 182 s. 57; 1989 a. 338; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 191, 237; 1999 a. 9, 32, 186; 2007 a. 20; 2013 a. 36; 2015 a. 118 ss. 135, 266 (10); 2017 a. 366; 2021 a. 266.

13.64 13.64 Lobbying registry.

13.64(1) (1) Every principal who makes expenditures or incurs obligations in an aggregate amount exceeding $500 in a calendar year for the purpose of engaging in lobbying which is not exempt under s. 13.621 shall, within 10 days after exceeding $500, cause to be filed with the commission a registration statement specifying the principal’s name, business address, the general areas of legislative and administrative action which the principal is attempting to influence, the names of any agencies in which the principal seeks to influence administrative action, and information sufficient to identify the nature and interest of the principal. The statement shall be signed, under the penalty for making false statements under s. 13.69 (6m), by an individual identified under par. (e) who is authorized to represent the principal. The statement shall include:

13.64(1)(a) (a) If the principal is an individual, the name and address of the individual’s employer, if any, or the individual’s principal place of business if self-employed, a description of the business activity in which the individual or the individual’s employer is engaged and, except as authorized in sub. (2m), the individual’s social security number.

13.64(1)(b) (b) If the principal is a business entity, a description of the business activity in which the principal is engaged and the name of its chief executive officer, or in the case of a partnership or limited liability company the names of the partners or members.

13.64(1)(c) (c) If the principal is an industry, trade or professional association, a description of the industry, trade or profession which it represents including a specific description of any segment or portion of the industry, trade or profession which the association exclusively or primarily represents and the name of the chief executive officer and the approximate number of its members.

13.64(1)(d) (d) If the principal is not an individual, business entity or industry, trade or professional association, a statement of the principal’s nature and purposes, including a description of any industry, trade, profession or other group with a common interest which the principal primarily represents or from which its membership or financial support is primarily derived and the approximate number of its members.

13.64(1)(e) (e) The name and position or relationship to the principal of any designee who is authorized to sign other documents required under this section or s. 13.65, 13.67 or 13.68 (1).

13.64(2) (2) The registration shall expire on December 31 of each even-numbered year. Except as provided in sub. (2m), the commission shall refuse to accept a registration statement filed by an individual who does not provide his or her social security number. The commission shall refuse to accept a registration statement filed by an individual or shall suspend any existing registration of an individual for failure of the individual or registrant to pay court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse or failure of the individual or registrant to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceeding, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. If all lobbying by or on behalf of the principal which is not exempt under s. 13.621 ceases, the commission shall terminate the principal’s registration and any authorizations under s. 13.65 as of the day after the principal files a statement of cessation and expense statements under s. 13.68 for the period covering all dates on which the principal was registered. Refusal to accept a registration statement or suspension of an existing registration pursuant to a memorandum of understanding under s. 49.857 is not subject to review under ch. 227.

13.64(2m) (2m) If an individual who applies for registration under this section does not have a social security number, the individual, as a condition of obtaining registration, shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the commission that the individual does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. A registration accepted in reliance upon a false statement submitted under this subsection is invalid.

13.64(3) (3) Each principal registered under this section shall, before the principal or a lobbyist for the principal attempts to influence legislative or administrative action in any general area or agency not previously filed with the commission, provide written notice to the commission of the general area or agency in which the principal or a lobbyist for the principal will attempt to influence legislative or administrative action and in relation to which a lobbyist is employed.

13.64 History History: 1977 c. 278; 1989 a. 338; 1993 a. 112; 1997 a. 186, 191; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20; 2015 a. 118 s. 266 (10).

13.65 13.65 Lobbyist authorization. Before engaging in lobbying on behalf of a principal, a lobbyist or the principal who employs a lobbyist shall file with the commission a written authorization for the lobbyist to represent the principal, signed by or on behalf of the principal. A lobbyist or principal shall file a separate authorization for each principal represented by a lobbyist.

13.65 History History: 1977 c. 278; 1989 a. 338; 2015 a. 118 s. 266 (10).

13.66 13.66 Restrictions on practice of lobbying. Except as authorized under s. 13.621, no person may engage in lobbying as a lobbyist unless the person has been licensed under s. 13.63 and has been authorized to act as a lobbyist for the principal whom the lobbyist represents under s. 13.65. Except as authorized under s. 13.621, no principal may authorize its lobbyist to engage in lobbying until the lobbyist is licensed and the principal is registered under s. 13.64.

13.66 History History: 1977 c. 278; 1989 a. 338.

13.67 13.67 Identification of legislative and administrative proposals and topics.

13.67(1) (1) Except as authorized under s. 13.621, no person may engage in lobbying as a lobbyist on behalf of a principal and no principal may authorize a lobbyist to engage in lobbying on its behalf unless the principal reports to the commission, in such manner as the commission may prescribe, each legislative proposal, budget bill subject and proposed administrative rule number in connection with which the principal has made or intends to make a lobbying communication or, if the lobbying does not relate to a legislative proposal or proposed administrative rule that has been numbered or a budget bill subject, each topic of a lobbying communication made or intended to be made by the principal. A principal shall describe any topic of a lobbying communication with reasonable specificity, sufficient to identify the subject matter of the lobbying communication and whether the communication is an attempt to influence legislative or administrative action, or both. The principal shall file the report no later than the end of the 15th day after the date on which the principal makes a lobbying communication with respect to a legislative proposal, proposed administrative rule, budget bill subject or other topic not previously reported by the principal under this section during the biennial period for which the principal is registered. The report shall be made by a person who is identified by the principal under s. 13.64 (1) (e).

13.67(2) (2) Any person who is not a principal may, upon payment of the fee prescribed under s. 13.75 (1g) (e), register with the commission an interest in any legislative proposal, proposed administrative rule, budget bill subject or other topic.

13.67 History History: 1997 a. 186; 1999 a. 9; 2015 a. 118 s. 266 (10); 2017 a. 366.

13.67 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. ETH 16.03 and 16.04, Wis. adm. code.

13.68 13.68 Principal’s expense statement.

13.68(1) (1) Statement. Every principal which is registered under s. 13.64 shall, on or before July 31 and January 31, file with the commission an expense statement covering the preceding reporting period. The statement shall be signed, under the penalty for making false statements provided in s. 13.69 (6m), by an individual identified under s. 13.64 (1) (e) who is authorized to represent the principal. The statement shall contain the following information:

13.68(1)(a) (a) The aggregate total amount of lobbying expenditures made and obligations incurred for lobbying by the principal and all lobbyists for the principal, excluding lobbying expenditures and obligations for the principal’s clerical employees, lobbying expenditures and obligations for any employee of the principal who is not a lobbyist and who devotes not more than 10 hours to lobbying during a reporting period, and lobbying expenditures and obligations specified in pars. (b), (d) and (e). With respect to expenditures and obligations included in the amount reported under this paragraph:

13.68(1)(a)1. 1. Lobbying expenditures made and obligations incurred for lobbying shall include compensation to lobbyists for lobbying, whether in cash or in-kind, and reimbursements to lobbyists and to the principal or officers or employees of the principal for lobbying or expenses.

13.68(1)(a)2. 2. Except as provided in subd. 3., lobbying expenditures made and obligations incurred in preparing for lobbying shall be included in the aggregate total.

13.68(1)(a)3. 3. A reasonable estimate of lobbying expenditures made and obligations incurred for conducting, compiling or preparing research, information, statistics, studies or analyses used in lobbying shall be included in the aggregate total. Lobbying expenditures and obligations shall not be reported under this subdivision if the use in lobbying occurs more than 3 years after the completion of the research or the compilation or preparation of the information, statistics, studies or analyses. If the research, information, statistics, studies or analyses are used by the principal both for lobbying and for purposes other than lobbying, the principal shall allocate the lobbying expenditures and obligations among the purposes for which the research, information, statistics, studies or analyses are used and include the portion allocated to lobbying in the aggregate total.

13.68(1)(a)4. 4. Lobbying expenditures made and obligations incurred for providing or using research, information, statistics, studies or analyses in lobbying shall be included in the aggregate total.

13.68(1)(a)5. 5. Lobbying expenditures made and obligations incurred for paid advertising and any other activities conducted for the purpose of urging members of the general public to attempt to influence legislative or administrative action shall be included in the aggregate total, if the total amount of all such lobbying expenditures made and obligations incurred exceeds $500 during the reporting period.