Md. Code, Gen. Provisions § 5-714

Current with changes from the 2024 Legislative Session

Section 5-714 - Prohibitions

A regulated lobbyist may not:

(1) be engaged for lobbying purposes for compensation that is dependent in any manner on:

(i) the enactment or defeat of legislation;

(ii) the outcome of any executive action relating to the solicitation or securing of a procurement contract; or

(iii) any other contingency related to executive action or legislative action;

(2) initiate or encourage the introduction of legislation for the purpose of opposing the legislation;

(3) knowingly counsel any person to violate any provision of this title or any other State or federal law;

(4) engage in or counsel any person to engage in fraudulent conduct;

(5) while engaging in lobbying activities, knowingly make to an official or employee a statement of material fact relating to lobbying activity that the regulated lobbyist knows to be false;

(6) engage in lobbying without being registered as a regulated lobbyist in accordance with § 5-702 of this subtitle;

(7) request an official or employee to recommend to a potential client the lobbying services of the regulated lobbyist or any other regulated lobbyist;

(8) make a gift, directly or indirectly, to an official or employee if the regulated lobbyist knows or has reason to know the gift is in violation of § 5-505 of this title;

(9) make a gift, directly or indirectly, as a result of a solicitation or facilitation that the regulated lobbyist knows or has reason to know is prohibited under § 5-505(a)(2) of this title;

(10) if the regulated lobbyist is an individual, engage in any charitable fund-raising activity at the request of an official or employee, including soliciting, transmitting the solicitation of, or transmitting a charitable contribution;

(11) make or facilitate the making of any loan of money, goods, or services to an official or employee unless in the ordinary course of business of the regulated lobbyist;

(12) while engaging in lobbying activities on behalf of an entity, knowingly conceal from an official or employee the identity of the entity;

(13) commit a criminal offense arising from lobbying activity;

(14) if serving on the State or a local central committee of a political party, participate:

(i) as an officer of the central committee;

(ii) in fund-raising activity on behalf of the political party; or

(iii) in actions relating to filling a vacancy in a public office; or

(15) while engaging in lobbying, unlawfully harass or discriminate, based on any characteristic protected by law:

(i) an official or employee;

(ii) an intern, a page, or a fellow in any branch of State government;

(iii) an individual regulated lobbyist; or

(iv) a credentialed member of the press.

Md. Code, GP § 5-714

Amended by 2018 Md. Laws, Ch. 525,Sec. 2, eff. 7/1/2019.

Added by 2014 Md. Laws, Ch. 94,Sec. 2, eff. 10/1/2014.