The Auditor’s Office is responsible for administering the City’s lobbying registration and reporting program (“lobbying program”), in accordance with Portland City Code Chapter 2.12.

Portland City Charter Section 2-506(a) authorizes the City Auditor to adopt rules for the Auditor’s Office, and Code Section 2.12.110 authorizes the City Auditor to adopt rules for the lobbying program.

The City Auditor adopted administrative rules for the lobbying program in 2006. The lobbying program rules interpret and clarify requirements set forth in Code Chapter 2.12 (such as where there are gaps in the Code or the meaning of a term used in the Code is unclear). However, the rules cannot change Code Chapter 2.12: all Code changes must be presented to and approved by the City Council.

The Auditor’s Office has previously revised the lobbying program rules, primarily to provide procedural information about reporting methods and enforcement. The last revision occurred in 2016. The rules currently in effect are available at: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/citycode/41772.

In August 2019, the Auditor’s Office requested public comment on proposed revisions to the lobbying program rules (ARA 15.01 – ARA 15.03). The proposed revisions were primarily intended to offer clear, uniform, and public guidance about questions that are frequently fielded by the lobbying program.

After reviewing the public comments, the City Auditor has amended the proposed lobbying rules and is re-posting the amended rules for further public comment. The amended rules are available at: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/auditor/proposedrules, or in person at an Auditor’s Office office.

A summary of the public comments received on the proposed lobbying program rules is available at: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/auditor/article/744695.