2023 Maryland Statutes
General Provisions
Title 5 - Maryland Public Ethics Law
Subtitle 7 - Lobbying
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.