Meals & Beverages provided by an Employer of a Legislative Agent

Meals and beverages provided to a legislative reportable person by the Employer of a legislative agent (lobbyist) are reportable from $0.01. Generally, this is reported as an itemized expenditure, meaning the employer must disclose the name of the recipient on the corresponding Legislative Activity & Expenditure Report. If the recipient reimburses for the cost of the meal or beverage provided by the Employer in full, no reporting obligation is triggered. Click HERE for a list of legislative reportable staff.

Exceptions:

All-invited event: While this expenditure is reportable from $0.01, it is not itemized.  The Employer of a Legislative Agent (Lobbyist) reports only a dollar amount in this scenario. An all-invited event expenditure is the cost of meals and beverages provided at an event (reception, dinner party or similar function) to which all Members of the General Assembly or all Members of either chamber are invited. See p. 67 of the Ohio Lobbying Handbook and R.C 101.73(D).

National Organization Conference Expenditures: While this expenditure is reportable from $0.01, it is not itemized. The Employer of a Legislative Agent (Lobbyist) reports only a dollar amount in this scenario.  A national conference expenditure is a meal/beverage expenditure provided for the benefit of a Member of the General Assembly attending a meeting or conference of a national organization to which a state agency pays membership dues. See p.68 of the Ohio Lobbying Handbook.

If you have questions about the permissibility or reporting obligations triggered by a particular expenditure, please call JLEC at 614-728-5100.