a. the publication or dissemination, in the ordinary course of business, of news items, advertising which does not constitute communication with the general public, editorials or other comments by a newspaper, book publisher, regularly published periodical, or radio or television station, including an owner, editor or employee thereof;

b. acts of an officer or employee of the Government of this State or any of its political subdivisions, or of the Government of the United States or of any state or territory thereof or any of their political subdivisions, in carrying out the duties of their public office or employment, except as provided in section 10 of P.L.2009, c.308 (C. 18A:3B-55);

c. acts of bona fide religious groups acting solely for the purpose of protecting the public right to practice the doctrines of such religious groups;

d. acts of a duly organized national, State or local committee of a political party;

e. acts of a person in testifying before a legislative committee or commission, at a public hearing duly called by the Governor on legislative proposals or on legislation passed and pending his approval, or before any officer or body empowered by law to issue, promulgate or adopt administrative rules and regulations in behalf of a nonprofit organization incorporated as such in this State who receives no compensation therefor beyond the reimbursement of necessary and actual expenses, and who makes no other communication with a member of the Legislature, legislative staff, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Governor’s staff, or an officer or staff member of the Executive Branch in connection with the subject of his testimony;

f. acts of a person in communicating with or providing benefits to a member of the Legislature, legislative staff, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Governor’s staff, or an officer or staff member of the Executive Branch if such communication or provision of benefits is undertaken by him as a personal expression and not incident to his employment, even if it is upon a matter relevant to the interests of a person by whom or which he is employed, and if he receives no additional compensation or reward, in money or otherwise, for or as a result of such communication or provision of benefits;

g. with regard to influencing governmental processes as defined in subsections t. and u. of section 3 of P.L.1971, c.183 (C. 52:13C-20) any communications, matters or acts of an attorney falling within the attorney-client privilege while engaging in the practice of law to the extent that confidentiality is required in order for the attorney to exercise his ethical duties as a lawyer; and

h. with regard to influencing governmental processes as defined in subsections t. and u. of section 3 of P.L.1971, c.183 (C. 52:13C-20) any communications, matters or acts involving collective negotiations, or the interpretation or violation of collective negotiation agreements, of a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment.

L.1971, c.183, s.10; amended 1991, c.243, s.6; 2004, c.20, s.3; 2004, c.27, s.18; 2009, c.66, s.42; 2009, c.308 s.47.