Lobbying and Advocacy: A Public Policy of Open Government
In Pinellas County, a lobbyist is anyone who receives compensation (whether from an employer or from a client) to communicate with a member of the BCC outside of a public meeting for the purpose of influencing action or non-action by the BCC.
The following individuals are exempt from the requirement to register as a lobbyist:
- Elected officials or government employees acting in an official capacity.
- Someone who appears at the specific request or under compulsion of the commission, board or staff member.
- Expert witnesses or other persons who give testimony but do not advocate passage or defeat of the measure under discussion.
- Any person speaking only at a public meeting or hearing.
- Any person in contractual privity with the county who appears only in an official capacity.
Lobbyists are required to:
- Lobbyists must register or reregister with the County on an annual basis as follows.
- New registration: filed any time during the year; registration will be active for the remainder of that calendar year (until December 31).
- Renewal registration: Each year between December 1–December 31; renewal will be effective for the following calendar year.
- Curative registration: If a lobbyist inadvertently engages in lobbying activity prior to being registered, the lobbyist may cure this violation by filing a registration form before 5 p.m. of the second business day following the improper lobbying activity. This cure provision may only be utilized once per lobbyist.
- Revised registration: lobbyists must update any registration information, which can be done at any time during the year.
- Report each meeting with any county commissioner.
- If lobbyist fails to submit a notice of lobbying contact in advance, this can be cured by submitting the notice before 5 p.m. of the second business day following the lobbying contact. Failure to cure is a violation of the lobbying ordinance.
- Report any expenditures for lobbying activities.
- Report any Expenditures made in support of lobbying activities in the prior year annually by January 15 using the Lobbying Expenditures Report. Failure to file the required expenditure report will result in suspension of the lobbyist’s registration until it is filed.
Penalties for Violation of the Ordinance
- Engaging in lobbying without registration:
- Fine of $500 (one-time cure allowed)
- After second violation, $500 fine and suspension for 2 years
- For other violations:
- 1st violation: a warning will be issued
- 2nd violation within 12 months: Fine of $250
- 3rd violation within 12 months of the second: $250 fine and suspension for 1 year
- 4th violation within 12 months of the third: $250 and suspension for 2 years.
- Additional penalties for violations of the Lobbying ordinance may be issued under Sections 1-8 and 2-622 of the Pinellas County Code, if applicable.
Additional Lobbyist Resources
- Lobbyist Meeting Calendar
- Lobbyists Registered for 2025
- Pinellas County Code of Ordinances Article IX – Lobbyists
- Florida Association of Counties
- National Association of Counties
A Public Policy of Open Government
Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine law safeguards every Floridian’s right to access any government meeting and public records that are not exempted. You can easily request public records from Pinellas County government. You will be responsible for the cost of providing the documentation, which includes staff time, cost of copies and other associated expenses. Make a public records request.
Learn more about the Sunshine Law.