PA Ethics Commission Fines Four Entities for Lobbying Disclosure Violations

Final Adjudications Issued

HSS Investors LLC, Scholastic, Inc., Spin, and Garcia Clinical Laboratory, Inc. ****

April 23, 2026
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The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission has issued a final adjudication in the following matters under The Lobbying Disclosure Law

HARRISBURG, PA –

Order No. 175-SL

HSS Investors LLC
Registered Principal

New Cumberland, PA

ORDER SUMMARY:

1.         Respondent HSS Investors LLC (“Respondent”), in its capacity as a principal registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State (“Department of State”) under principal registration number “P67908,” failed to timely file a quarterly expense report with the Department of State for the third quarter of 2025 as required by Section 13A05 of Pennsylvania’s lobbying disclosure law (“Lobbying Disclosure Law”), 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A05.

3.         Pursuant to Section 13A09(c) of the Lobbying Disclosure Law, 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A09(c), and the Consent Agreement of the parties, this Commission hereby levies one administrative penalty against Respondent in the total amount of 5,900.00 for its delinquent third quarter 2025 expense report.

4.         Respondent is ordered to pay an administrative penalty in the total amount of 5,900.00 by utilizing the Commission’s electronic payment system or by forwarding to this Commission a certified check or money order in the amount of 5,900.00 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30 th) day after the mailing date of this Order.

5.         Noncompliance with Paragraph 4 of this Order will result in the Commission initiating appropriate enforcement action(s).

Order No. 176-SL

Scholastic, Inc.
Registered Principal

New York, NY

ORDER SUMMARY:

1.         Scholastic, Inc. in its capacity as a principal registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State (“Department of State”) under principal registration number “P70813,” violated Section 13A05 of Pennsylvania’s lobbying disclosure law (“Lobbying Disclosure Law”), 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A05, when it failed to timely file with the Department of State either a quarterly expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold for the third quarter of 2025.

2.         The violations of the Lobbying Disclosure Law outlined in paragraph 1 immediately above are deemed to be negligent in nature.

3.         Pursuant to Section 13A09(c) of the Lobbying Disclosure Law, 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A09(c), this Commission hereby levies one administrative penalty against Scholastic, Inc. in the total amount of $31,100.00, calculated as follows: $50 per day for the first ten days its third quarter 2025 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus  $100.00 per day for the next ten days its third quarter 2025 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $200 per day for the remaining 148 days its third quarter 2025 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent (10 days x $50.00 + 10 days x $100.00 + 148 x $200.00 = $31,100.00).

4.         Scholastic, Inc. is ordered to pay the aforesaid administrative penalty in the total amount of $31,100.00, by no later than the thirtieth (30 th) day after the mailing date of this Order, by utilizing the Commission’s electronic payment system or by forwarding to this Commission a certified check or money order in the amount of $31,100.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.

5.         Noncompliance with Paragraph 4 of this Order will result in the Commission initiating appropriate enforcement action(s).

Order No. 177-SL

Spin
Registered Principal

San Franciso, CA

ORDER SUMMARY:

1.         Spin in its capacity as a principal registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State (“Department of State”) under principal registration number “P59786,” violated Section 13A05 of Pennsylvania’s lobbying disclosure law (“Lobbying Disclosure Law”), 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A05, when it failed to timely file with the Department of State either a quarterly expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold for the third quarter of 2025.

2.         The violations of the Lobbying Disclosure Law outlined in paragraph 1 immediately above are deemed to be negligent in nature.

3.         Pursuant to Section 13A09(c) of the Lobbying Disclosure Law, 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A09(c), this Commission hereby levies one administrative penalty against Spin in the total amount of $31,100.00, calculated as follows: $50 per day for the first ten days its third quarter 2025 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus  $100.00 per day for the next ten days its third quarter 2025 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $200 per day for the remaining 148 days its third quarter 2025 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent (10 days x $50.00 + 10 days x $100.00 + 148 x $200.00 = $31,100.00).

4.         Spin is ordered to pay the aforesaid administrative penalty in the total amount of $31,100.00, by no later than the thirtieth (30 th) day after the mailing date of this Order, by utilizing the Commission’s electronic payment system or by forwarding to this Commission a certified check or money order in the amount of $31,100.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.

5.         Noncompliance with Paragraph 4 of this Order will result in the Commission initiating appropriate enforcement action(s).

Order No. 178-SL

Garcia Clinical Laboratory, Inc.
Registered Principal

Jackson, MI

ORDER SUMMARY:

1.         Garcia Clinical Laboratory, Inc. in its capacity as a principal registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State (“Department of State”) under principal registration number “P70714,” violated Section 13A05 of Pennsylvania’s lobbying disclosure law (“Lobbying Disclosure Law”), 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A05, when it failed to timely file with the Department of State either a quarterly expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold for the third quarter of 2025.

2.         The violations of the Lobbying Disclosure Law outlined in paragraph 1 immediately above are deemed to be negligent in nature.

3.         Pursuant to Section 13A09(c) of the Lobbying Disclosure Law, 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A09(c), this Commission hereby levies one administrative penalty against Garcia Clinical Laboratory, Inc. in the total amount of $16,500.00, calculated as follows: $50 per day for the first ten days its third quarter 2025 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus  $100.00 per day for the next ten days its third quarter 2025 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $200 per day for the remaining 75 days its third quarter 2025 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent (10 days x $50.00 + 10 days x $100.00 + 75 x $200.00 = $16,500.00).

4.         Garcia Clinical Laboratory, Inc. is ordered to pay the aforesaid administrative penalty in the total amount of $16,500.00, by no later than the thirtieth (30 th) day after the mailing date of this Order, by utilizing the Commission’s electronic payment system or by forwarding to this Commission a certified check or money order in the amount of $16,500.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.

5.         Noncompliance with Paragraph 4 of this Order will result in the Commission initiating appropriate enforcement action(s).

You may access the full text version of the above rulings by clicking on the link or by copying and pasting them into your browser:

175-SL : 175-SL, HSS Investors LLC

176-SL: 176-SL, Scholastic, Inc.

177-SL: 177-SL, Spin

178-SL: 178-SL, Garcia Clinical Laboratory, Inc.

State Ethics Commission Media Contacts

Mary W. Fox

Executive Director RA-ETMedia@pa.gov State Ethics Commission Media