UPDATE: Are video meetings reportable as lobbying?

This updates information that was posted July 20, 2020.

Public agencies should track video meetings for inclusion on their quarterly reports.

State law requires agencies to report in-person contacts with legislators or their staff members by public agency lobbyists or liaisons. Video conferencing and virtual meetings are an equivalent, especially when they occur in place of a face-to-face gathering for reasons of safety or distance.

Phone calls remain exempt from public agency reporting,

For registered lobbyists, both phone calls and virtual meetings should be reported. And individuals who are not registered lobbyists should count virtual and video meetings as a contact towards the four days of activity that is permitted without a need to register.