86R17042 JG-D
By: Hall S.B. No. 29
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to expenditures for lobbying activities made by certain
entities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 556.0055, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 556.0055. RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING EXPENDITURES. (a)
A political subdivision or external service provider [private
entity that receives state funds] may not [use the funds to] pay:
(1) lobbying expenses incurred by the political
subdivision or external service provider [recipient of the funds];
(2) a person or entity that is required to register
with the Texas Ethics Commission under Chapter 305;
(3) any partner, employee, employer, relative,
contractor, consultant, or related entity of a person or entity
described by Subdivision (2); or
(4) a person or entity that has been hired to represent
associations or other entities for the purpose of affecting the
outcome of legislation, agency rules, ordinances, or other
government policies.
(a-1) A private entity that receives state funds may not use
the state funds to pay any expenses described by Subsection (a).
(b) A political subdivision or [private] entity that
violates Subsection (a) or (a-1) is not eligible to receive
additional state funds.
(c) In this section, "external service provider" means an
entity that receives funds from a political subdivision or public
entity for the purpose of representing the political subdivision or
public entity before a legislative body.
SECTION 2. Section 556.0055, Government Code, as amended by
this Act, applies to an expenditure made on or after the effective
date of this Act. An expenditure made before the effective date of
this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.