Activity Report
Maryland State Ethics Commission | 45 Calvert Street, 3rd Floor, Annapolis, Maryland 21401
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Form ID: A035477
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Submission Date: 12/01/24
Part A. General Information
Identification of Registrant / Regulated Lobbyist
A1. Identify the registrant that conducted lobbying activities during the reporting period.
| Individual Registrant | |
|---|---|
| Name of Registrant: Lisa Kaitlyn Smith | Business Phone: 202-899-3850 |
| Organization: Husch Blackwell Strategies | Cell Phone: 508-641-3926 |
| Address: 47 State Circle, Suite 300, Annapolis, MD, 21401 | |
A2. Was any other individual required to register as a lobbyist on behalf of the registrant: Lisa Kaitlyn Smith
No
Identification of Employer
A3. Identify the employer that compensated the registrant for lobbying activities during the reporting period.
| Employer of Registrant | |
|---|---|
| Organization: Action Now Initiative, LLC | Website: |
| Nature of Business: Advocacy network | Phone: 212-430-3630 |
| Address: 1717 West Loop South, Suite 1800, Houston, TX, 77027 | |
A4. Does your employer claim an exemption from filing its own registration and activity reports?
Yes, Exempt
No
Reporting Period
A6. State the registration period during which you represent your employer and the reporting period for which this activity report is effective. If you terminate services with your employer anytime before the conclusion of the reporting period, you must include a termination date.
Registration Period:
Activity Report:
Activity Report 2/2
Reporting Period:
Lobbying Subject Matters
A7. Identify the subject matters that pertain to lobbying activities conducted during the reporting period on behalf of your employer. You must identify at least one subject matter and you may select up to five.
| # | Subject Matter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Criminal Law - Procedure | |
| 2 | Other | Criminal Justice |
A8. Did you engage in lobbying activity, to include but not limited to: supporting or opposing specific legislation, procurements or regulations?
Yes
Please provide more specific details (e.g. Senate or House bill numbers, procurement contracts, regulations and codes) for the matters on which you lobbied.
Matters relating to parole and probation; criminal sentencing; prison ombudsman; related funding
Primary Purpose of the Organization
A9. Is your employer organized for the primary purpose of attempting to influence any legislation or executive action?
No
Part B. Compensation and Operating Expenditures
Compensation to Lobbyist and Staff
B1. What was the total compensation attributed to the registrant / lobbyist?
Total Compensation: $24,003.48
B2. Was the amount prorated because the registrant / lobbyist was compensated for services in addition to lobbying activities?
No
B3. What was the total for salaries, compensation and reimbursed expenses paid to staff related to lobbying services for this employer?
Total Expenses: $0.00
Operating Expenses
B4. Did you or your employer incur any additional office expenses not reported above as "Compensation"?
No
B5. Did you or your employer incur any cost for professional and technical research and assistance not reported as "Compensation"?
No
B6. Did you or your employer incur any expenses for publications or other costs (Grassroots expenses) related to expressly encouraging persons to communicate with officials or employees?
No
B7. Did you pay any fee or incur any expenses for witnesses who were engaged to appear on behalf of your employer?
No
B8. Did you incur any other expenses for this employer not otherwise accounted for above?
No
Part B. Total Compensation & Operating Expenses:
$24,003.48
Part C. Event Expenditures
Sponsored Events
C1. Did you or your employer incur expenses for special events, including dinners and receptions, entertainment and other functions to which all members of the General Assembly, either house thereof, all members of any standing committee or all members of a formally recognized county or regional delegation have received written invitations.
No
Tickets to Events
C2. Did you or your employer incur any expense for a ticket or free admission for any members of the General Assembly to attend charitable, cultural or political events?
No
Total Ticket Expenses: $0.00
Part D. Meals, Beverages and Related Expenditures
Meals and Beverages at Legislative Meetings
D1. Did you or your employer incur any expenses for food and beverages received by any member(s) of the General Assembly at approved legislative organization meetings?
No
Total Legislative Meeting Expenses: $0.00
Meals and Beverages in Return for a Speaking Engagement
D2. Did you or your employer incur any expenses for food, lodging, or scheduled entertainment of officials and employees for a meeting which were given in return for participation in a panel or speaking engagement at a meeting?
Yes
| # | Date | Location of Meeting | Total Expense |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 05/20/24 | Arnold Ventures D.C. Office, 1201 New York Ave NW, Suite 1100-A, Washington, DC 20005 | $3,035.19 |
Total Speaking Engagement Expenses: $3,035.19
Meals and Beverages to Officials, Employees or their Immediate Families
D3. Did you or your employer provide any meals and beverages for officials or employees or their immediate families, not reported above?
No
Meals and Beverages to Elected Executive Officials or their Immediate Families
D4. Did your employer, or you on behalf of your employer give any gifts or participate in the giving of any gifts of meals and beverages to elected Executive Officials or a member of the official's immediate family? Immediate family members include a spouse and any dependent children.
No
Part E. Gift Expenditures
Gifts for Officials, Employees or their Immediate Families
E1. Did you or your employer give any gifts to or for officials or employees or their immediate families, which were not reported elsewhere in this activity report? If so, enter the total amount for all gifts
No
Gifts Above the $75 Threshold
E2. Did your employer, or you on behalf of your employer give any gifts or participate in the giving of any
gifts to officials, employees or their immediate family members that meets a cumulative value of $75 or more? Or
have you provided individually to legislators, any tickets or free admission to events, with a cumulative value
of $100 or more?
Yes
| Gift 1 | |
|---|---|
| Name of Recipient: Melissa Rothstein | Date of Gift: 05/20/24 |
| Role of Recipient: State Employee | Title or Position: Chief of External Affairs, Office of the Public Defender |
| Nature of Gift: Meal & Beverage | Value of Gift: 428.44 |
| Did you or other regulated lobbyists or business entities contribute to this gift? No | |
| Comments: food and beverage expenses for speaking engagement | |
| Gift 2 | |
|---|---|
| Name of Recipient: Christian Gant | Date of Gift: 05/20/24 |
| Role of Recipient: State Employee | Title or Position: Assistant Attorney General, Strategic Initiatives, Office of Equity, Policy and Engagement, Office of the Attorney General |
| Nature of Gift: Other | Value of Gift: 448.44 |
| Description: Food & beverage, travel | |
| Did you or other regulated lobbyists or business entities contribute to this gift? No | |
| Comments: food and beverage, travel expenses for speaking engagement | |
| Gift 3 | |
|---|---|
| Name of Recipient: Chasity Simpson | Date of Gift: 05/20/24 |
| Role of Recipient: State Employee | Title or Position: District Public Defender, District 2 (Lower Shore) |
| Nature of Gift: Meal & Beverage | Value of Gift: 428.44 |
| Did you or other regulated lobbyists or business entities contribute to this gift? No | |
| Comments: Food & beverage expenses for speaking engagement | |
| Gift 4 | |
|---|---|
| Name of Recipient: Dyan Owens | Date of Gift: 05/20/24 |
| Role of Recipient: State Employee | Title or Position: District Court Supervisor, Montgomery County |
| Nature of Gift: Meal & Beverage | Value of Gift: 428.44 |
| Did you or other regulated lobbyists or business entities contribute to this gift? No | |
| Comments: Food & beverage for speaking engagement | |
| Gift 5 | |
|---|---|
| Name of Recipient: Tom Robins | Date of Gift: 05/20/24 |
| Role of Recipient: State Employee | Title or Position: District Court Supervisor, Washington County |
| Nature of Gift: Other | Value of Gift: 872.99 |
| Description: Food & beverage, travel | |
| Did you or other regulated lobbyists or business entities contribute to this gift? No | |
| Comments: Food & beverage, travel for speaking engagement | |
| Gift 6 | |
|---|---|
| Name of Recipient: Mary-Denise Davis | Date of Gift: 05/20/24 |
| Role of Recipient: State Employee | Title or Position: Chief of Central Booking and Intake for Baltimore County, Office of the Public Defender |
| Nature of Gift: Meal & Beverage | Value of Gift: 428.44 |
| Did you or other regulated lobbyists or business entities contribute to this gift? No | |
| Comments: Food & beverage for speaking engagement | |
Total Expenditures during Reporting Period:
$27,038.67
Affirmation Provision
Submission of this activity report is required to be made under oath or affirmation. The oath or affirmation shall be confirmed by electronic signature, which is made expressly under penalties for perjury, to the same extent as an oath or affirmation made before an individual authorized to administer oaths.
I have read the disclaimer above and hereby swear and affirm that the information contained in this report is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Electronic Signature: Lisa K. Smith
Date Signed: 12/01/2024