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Lobby disclosure

Lobby disclosure

Michigan Bureau of Elections Filing, Disclosure, and Compliance Division is dedicated to promoting integrity, accountability, and public trust ensuring transparency in lobby reporting. We are committed to providing timely, accurate, and accessible information about political contributions and expenditures, empowering the public to make informed decisions and holding participants in the electoral process to the highest ethical standards.

Quick links

Setup and login

Those using MiTN for disclosure reporting must do so through MiLogin. MiLogin connects you to all State of Michigan services through one single and secure user ID. To begin filing, you will need to either log in to MiLogin or create an account.

You can do both of those at MiLogin.

To help determine whether to create a MiLogin Citizen or MiLogin Business account, use the guide.

If you’re having trouble setting up or accessing your MiLogin Account, please visit MiLogin or call 1-800-292-5973.

Public search

The MiTN system offers a search function to view lobby filers, filings, and notifications. Use of the search function does not require an account with MiLogin.

The public search and viewing page has searchable data of lobby registrations, financial reports, and itemized expenditure disclosures filed in the MiTN application.

Acts, rules, and requirements

Follow these links for detailed explanations of ever-evolving public acts and disclosure laws, as well as rules for filing.

Reporting deadlines

The Summer 2026 Financial Report will be due August 31, 2026, by 4 p.m. This report covers the period from January 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026.

Make a practice of checking back to this section of the page for upcoming due dates and filing deadlines.

Training dates

Make a practice of checking back to this section of the page for upcoming Lobby filing training dates.

For additional questions or information, please email financialdisclosure@michigan.gov.

Lobby training webinars

  • Lobby training webinar

    The Department of State's Bureau of Elections held an instructional webinar on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, including a statutory review of the Michigan Lobby Registration Act (PA 472 of 1978) and a step-by-step tutorial of the new Michigan Transparency Network (MiTN) system for all lobby reporting.

Training manuals and guides

Training videos

  • MiTN Lobby training webinar

    This webinar recording provides instruction on the Michigan Transparency Network (MiTN) Lobby module. It includes an overview of the filing process, using the platform, what to expect after submitting a filing, public viewing of reports, ongoing requirements and expectations, and answers to questions. It was recorded in August 6, 2025.

Lobby disclosure forms

Lobby resources

FAQs

  • Do I report my compensation received as a lobbyist or lobbyist agent on my financial report?

    No, compensation received should not be reported. Only expenditures for lobbying activity should be reported.

  • If a lobbying firm reimburses a lobbyist agent for their lobbying expenditures, are those expenditures reported on the financial report for the firm or the agent?

    The expenses would be reported on the financial report for both the firm and the lobbyist agent.

  • Who can submit reports on behalf of a lobbyist?

    • Filings may be submitted by a lobbyist’s signatory and their lobbyist agent(s).  
    • If a lobbyist has a firm as their lobbyist agent, that firm’s signatory may also submit the report.
    • A data entry person may input data, but one of the previously listed must certify and submit the report.

  • Who can submit a report on behalf of a lobbyist agent?

    • A lobbyist agent must submit their own report.
    • A data entry person may input data, but lobbyist agents must submit their own reports.

  • As a Lobbyist Agent for a number of clients, I am listed as an employee of all of them in item number 7 of the registration form. If a client has contracted with us to submit their filings and they have approved the lobby expenditures, may we submit them on their behalf?

    • Yes.  Filings may be submitted by a lobbyist’s signatory and their lobbyist agent(s). If a lobbyist has a firm as their lobbyist agent, that firm’s signatory may also submit the report.

  • I need to file on behalf of our clients. The firm I work for is listed as an employee/lobbyist agent (on line 7 of the registration) in all cases. Do I just need a business log in to file on behalf of our clients? If I do that, can I file on their behalf as a registrant? (not data entry user).

    If the client is an organization and you are listed as the signatory for the firm that is listed as the employee/lobbyist agent on the client registration, you can file for your client. If your client is an individual, the client will need to submit their own filing. This can be accomplished with a MiLogin for Business or MiLogin Citizen account.


  • If a lobbyist agent files their report and the portal says "submitted", is it automatically approved? It currently says in the MiTN system "submitted" online but previous reports say "reviewed". Is it submitted and approved?

    When marked "submitted" the report has been received but has not yet been reviewed by staff.


  • If I enter all lobbyist reports for the lobbyists on our staff, can I do that from one Business portal?

    • Yes

  • If you are a lobbyist agent and the authorized signatory for the firm, organization, or department, should you create a citizen account for yourself and a business account for the organization?

    • Yes, that would be the recommended approach.

  • I am a registered lobbyist, but I also file on behalf of my firm's (firm I work for) clients. Can I still file for myself in the business portal and not my individual portal?

    • You may utilize your MiLogin for Business account to access MiTN and file your reports.

  • I am having trouble with MiLogin. How do I get help?

    • Please call the MiLogin help desk at 1-800-292-5973.

  • If my clients (Lobbyists) have different signatories, will that be an issue?

    • A lobbyist agent or the signatory can submit the report. If you are one of the two you can submit their reports. A data entry person can input the data.

  • Can you have multiple data entry people assigned? For example, two people assigned to complete data entry.

    • Yes, more than one individual can be assigned the data entry role.

  • Will I still be able to file with paper?

    • Yes, but BOE will be transitioning away from paper reports in the future.

  • I am lobbyist agent employed by the "lobbyist." I will need to edit my current request for data entry access for the lobbyist entity employing me to that of a signer. Can I do so as an employed lobbyist agent even with another authorized signer on file?

    • As an employed lobbyist agent, you will be able to submit the reports on your client’s behalf even though you are not the signatory on file.

Contact

If you have tried using the training resources here and you're still having problems with MiTN, excluding MiLogin issues, please send a detailed email to FinancialDisclosure@Michigan.gov.

For other issues, including MiLogin Issues, please contact the Bureau of Elections at 800-292-5973 and follow the Lobby or MiLogin related prompts.

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