AN ACT to require source disclosURe for online grassroots lobbying.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 3 of Chapter 120C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 120C‑306.  Required disclosures; electronic solicitation of others.

(a)        A lobbyist or lobbyist principal that directly or indirectly through a third party engages in the solicitation of others under G.S. 120C‑100(36)b. shall comply with all of the following if the solicitation of others is designed to generate an email from a member of the public to a legislator:

(1)        The first line of the body of the generated email shall disclose the name of the lobbyist principal.

(2)        The second line of the body of the generated email shall disclose the name of the third party, if any, that has been employed by the lobbyist or the lobbyist principal to engage in the solicitation of others.

(b)        Any solicitation of others to which subsection (a) of this section applies shall, prominently and prior to any generated email being sent, notify the member of the public who is being solicited that a generated email will be sent on that person's behalf to a legislator and that as a result, personal information may be disclosed to the legislator.

(c)        As used in this section, the phrase designed to generate an email from a member of the public means an electronic document such as an online petition that invites, encourages, or offers the opportunity for members of the public to sign or otherwise indicate support for the contents of the document and that then creates and sends a generated email to a legislator that is attributed to the member of the public.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2021.