How to Register to Lobby in Massachusetts

Out of all 50 states, Massachusetts stands out as one of the most difficult to lobby in legally. Why? Because lobbyist employers must be registered to do business in the Commonwealth and not just follow basic laws on lobbying. The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website lays out lobbyist registration very straightforwardly, however, they added a loophole you don’t want to jump into. All paperwork must be submitted to the Secretary of the Commonwealth by December 15, 2024 to lobby in 2025.

If you do not register to do business before registering to lobby, the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office will not accept your lobbyist registration. Keep in mind, if you register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office first, you’ll be on their radar to charge you fees later if/when you register late. As you know, Massachusetts hands out fines like they’re going out of style! 

If the lobbyist employer is not registered as a domestic corporation (i.e. headquartered in Massachusetts) in the state, it will need to register as a foreign corporation. This rule applies to all, regardless if you are a charitable non-profit, small business association, or union. Follow these instructions when registering: 

• The name of your corporation which will transact business in Massachusetts.

• The name of a registered agent that will represent the foreign corporation (this could be your contracted lobbyist)

• A certificate of good standing submitted within 90 days of the submission of your Massachusetts registration from your jurisdiction of incorporation. Note: this process varies from weeks to minutes depending on location.

• $390 registration fee

• Fax all required documents

Be sure to read the form carefully and complete every required field. If your foreign corporation registration is rejected, save your fax cover sheet as a PDF on your computer so that you can reuse it and avoid the $390 fee.  

Next, the lobbyist employer will have to submit an annual report to Massachusetts so it can be updated in the state’s system. Make sure that your legal counsel knows the current laws on corporate registration so that they can deal with annual report filing. This annual report is due 2 ½ months from the end of the corporation’s fiscal year. 

Don’t forget, lobbyist disclosures are due July 15, 2024 to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Once registered, sign up for our MassTrac software which allows you to generate reports on bills, votes, and legislators who align with your priorities.