89R16987 CJD-D
By: Birdwell S.B. No. 2781
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the imposition of civil penalties for certain
violations with respect to political contributions and
expenditures made by certain persons who engage in lobbying
activities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 253.006, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 253.006. CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES BY
LOBBYISTS RESTRICTED. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, a person required to register under Chapter 305, Government
Code, may not knowingly make or authorize a political contribution
or political expenditure that is a political contribution to
another candidate, officeholder, or political committee, or direct
campaign expenditure, from political contributions accepted by:
(1) the person as a candidate or officeholder;
(2) a specific-purpose committee for the purpose of
supporting the person as a candidate or assisting the person as an
officeholder; or
(3) a political committee that accepted a political
contribution from a source described by Subdivision (1) or (2)
during the two-year period immediately before the date the
political contribution or expenditure was made.
(b) A person who violates this section is subject to a civil
penalty in an amount not to exceed twice the amount of the political
contribution or political expenditure made or authorized in
violation of this section.
SECTION 2. Section 253.007, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) A person who violates this section is subject to a civil
penalty in an amount not to exceed twice the amount of all political
contributions or political expenditures described by Subsection
(b) made or authorized by the person in the two years preceding the
date on which the activities in violation of this section occurred.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter
253, Election code, apply only to a violation that occurs on or
after the effective date of this Act. A violation that occurs
before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
effect on the date the violation occurred, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.