Lobbying by Nonprofit Entities
HB1170 creates a new lobbying category for “nonprofit lobbyists” in Colorado law. The bill defines a nonprofit lobbyist as an individual exclusively employed by a single 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit and who lobbies only incidentally as part of that job. Under the bill, these individuals would not have to register as professional lobbyists or file the monthly disclosure statements required of professional lobbyists.
Instead of the existing professional-lobbyist registration regime, the nonprofit entity would have to file a short report with the Secretary of State within 72 hours of lobbying activity. That report must identify the nonprofit lobbyist, the nonprofit entity, the date of lobbying, the matter lobbied on, and the bill number plus whether the nonprofit supported, opposed, requested amendments, or monitored the legislation. The bill also limits nonprofit lobbying to 30 days per state fiscal year, with no more than 20 of those days during the legislative session. If a person or nonprofit exceeds those limits, the person must comply with the normal professional-lobbyist rules.
The bill would amend Colorado’s lobbying statutes to add definitions for “nonprofit entity” and “nonprofit lobbyist,” carve nonprofit lobbyists out of the definition of professional lobbyist, and exempt them from the professional registration and disclosure requirements. It would also make it unlawful to employ an unregistered lobbyist except where the person qualifies as a nonprofit lobbyist, and it sets the new reporting framework to take effect January 1, 2026. In practical terms, the bill changes how charitable nonprofits may advocate at the Capitol and how that advocacy is disclosed to the public.
The available vote history suggests the bill had meaningful support in committee, but not unanimous agreement on all details. Early amendments passed unanimously, while one amendment passed by a narrower 6-5 vote, indicating some disagreement over the bill’s structure or scope. The final committee referral to Appropriations passed 9-2, showing overall support for moving the bill forward.
The main point of contention appears to be the balance between easing compliance for charitable nonprofits and preserving transparency in lobbying. Supporters likely view the bill as a way to recognize that nonprofit advocacy is often incidental and not the same as paid professional lobbying. Critics may be concerned that the exemption could reduce disclosure, create a new loophole in lobbying regulation, or make it harder to track nonprofit influence on legislation, especially during the session.
HB1170 would amend Colorado’s lobbying laws in Title 24, Article 6 by adding a new statutory category for nonprofit lobbyists and exempting them from the registration and monthly disclosure requirements that apply to professional lobbyists. It would also create a new reporting obligation for the nonprofit entity itself, impose annual day limits on nonprofit lobbying, and require conversion to professional-lobbyist status if the activity becomes regular or exceeds the statutory thresholds. The bill affects charitable 501(c)(3) organizations, their employees, and the Secretary of State’s lobbying disclosure system.
The committee action indicates generally favorable sentiment toward the bill, with unanimous votes on some amendments and a strong vote to advance the measure to Appropriations. At the same time, the close 6-5 vote on one amendment suggests there was not complete consensus on all policy choices. Overall, the bill appears to have been viewed positively as a targeted exemption for charitable nonprofits, but with some caution about its reporting and exemption structure.
The central controversy is whether nonprofit employees who lobby only incidentally should be treated differently from professional lobbyists. Supporters likely argue that charitable organizations should not face the same compliance burden as paid lobbyists when advocacy is a small part of their work. Opponents or skeptics may worry that the bill weakens transparency, allows nonprofits to lobby without full registration, or makes enforcement harder by relying on entity-level reporting rather than individual lobbyist disclosure. The narrow committee vote on one amendment suggests disagreement over how far the exemption should go and how much information should still be reported.