Each year, Virginia law requires lobbyists to provide an accounting of legislation and executive actions they sought to influence. The Virginia Ethics Council instructs lobbyists to detail their activities "with as much specificity as possible."

There is no rule that lobbyists must list specific bills they sought to advance or defeat. Fewer than one in five clients do provide bill numbers. As a result, the annual disclosures provide the public with partial insights into the lobbying efforts of business, labor and single-interest groups.