A lobbying disclosure report is a public filing that shows which organizations are paying to lobby the federal government, which issues they are lobbying on, and roughly how much they spent. Under the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), a lobbyist or lobbying firm first registers using Form LD-1, then files a quarterly Form LD-2 report disclosing lobbying activity and spending for that quarter. Both forms are public and filed electronically with the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate.
Registration versus quarterly reporting
| Form | Purpose | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| LD-1 | Initial registration of a lobbyist or lobbying firm and its client | Within 45 days of first lobbying contact or being retained, whichever is earlier |
| LD-2 | Quarterly report of lobbying activity, issues, and income or expenses | Due 20 days after each quarter ends |
Quarterly filing deadlines
| Quarter | Period covered | Filing due |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | January 1 - March 31 | April 20 |
| Q2 | April 1 - June 30 | July 20 |
| Q3 | July 1 - September 30 | October 20 |
| Q4 | October 1 - December 31 | January 20 |
If the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Where the data comes from
Registrants file electronically through the House Lobbying Disclosure system (lobbyingdisclosure.house.gov), which is mirrored to the Senate's Office of the Secretary. Both the House and Senate databases are built from the same underlying filings and are open to public search without an account.
Limits of this data
LD-2 reports income and expenses in broad ranges rather than exact dollar figures for many filers, and they describe lobbying activity by general issue area and bill number rather than a blow-by-blow account of meetings or outcomes. A filing shows that a client paid a lobbyist to work an issue; it does not show what was said, which specific official was contacted, or whether the lobbying succeeded. Filers also self-report, and registration thresholds (a minimum amount of time and income or expense from lobbying activity) mean smaller advocacy efforts may fall below the reporting bar entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between LD-1 and LD-2?
LD-1 is the one-time registration that identifies a lobbyist, their firm, and their client. LD-2 is the recurring quarterly report of lobbying activity and spending filed after registration.
How often are lobbying reports filed?
Quarterly, within 20 days after each calendar quarter ends.
Who has to register as a lobbyist?
Generally, anyone who makes more than one lobbying contact for a client and spends a threshold amount of time or money on lobbying activities, as defined by the Lobbying Disclosure Act.
Does the filing show exact spending amounts?
Often not exactly. Many filers report income or expenses in bands rather than precise dollar figures.
Where can I look up lobbying filings myself?
The official House database at lobbyingdisclosure.house.gov and the Senate's Office of the Secretary system, both free to search.
On Valence
Lobbying disclosure data, aggregated by company and issue, is available on the lobbying page (/lobbying). This feature requires a free or Pro account.
This article is general information, not investment advice.
