2019 Maryland Code
General Provisions
Title 5 - Maryland Public Ethics Law
Subtitle 7 - Lobbying.
§ 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.