DCR Celebrates City Council’s Passage of Critical Lobbying Reforms

This evening, Denver City Council passed CB26-0686, which overhauls rules and regulations around lobbying activities in Denver and helps the public see who is influencing decisions, the issues being influenced, and how these processes happen.

Beginning January 1, 2027, Denver residents will have clear, usable information and can build further trust in government decisions while ensuring fair and consistent enforcement.

What This Measure Does
These changes bring Denver in line with state law and peer cities. It now:

• Require lobbyists to publicly disclose who is paying them to influence city decisions

• Makes it easier for the public to see what specific issues, policies, or legislation lobbyists are trying to influence

• Requires disclosure of organized campaigns designed to influence public opinion on city issues

• Increases transparency related to meetings between city officials and lobbyists

• Prevents former elected officials and political appointees from immediately becoming lobbyists by creating a mandatory waiting period before they can lobby city government

What This Measure Does Not Do

• It does not limit free speech or advocacy

• It does not target specific industries or individuals

• It does not eliminate existing exemptions such as volunteer lobbying

"The residents of Denver, media and public in general deserve a clear and easy way to understand how decisions are made and who is influencing them at City Hall," Denver Clerk & Recorder Paul López said. "These newly passed regulations will bring our lobbying laws into the modern area and greatly expand easy to understand information."

"This legislation modernizes Denver's lobbying laws and creates visibility into how local contracts and legislation are influenced," Councilmembers Jamie Torres, Shontel Lewis, and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, who all sponsored the measure, said in a joint statement. "We are grateful to the Clerk and Recorder's Office for their partnership in crafting a balanced approach that improves public access to information and strengthens accountability without creating unnecessary barriers to participation."