89R4307 CJD-D
By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 347
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to lobbying by former members of the legislature; creating
a criminal offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 572.062 to read as follows:
Sec. 572.062. FORMER LEGISLATOR: LOBBYING RESTRICTED;
CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) In this section:
(1) "Administrative action," "communicates directly
with," "legislation," "member of the executive branch," and "member
of the legislative branch" have the meanings assigned by Section
305.002.
(2) "Legislative cycle" means the two-year period
beginning on the first day of a regular legislative session and
ending on the day before the first day of the succeeding regular
legislative session.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a former member of
the legislature may not engage in activities that require
registration under Chapter 305 before the end of the legislative
cycle following the legislative cycle in which the former member
last served as a member of the legislature.
(c) Subsection (b) does not apply to a former member of the
legislature who does not receive compensation other than
reimbursement for actual expenses for communicating directly with a
member of the legislative branch or a member of the executive branch
to influence legislation or an administrative action.
(d) A former member of the legislature commits an offense if
the former member violates this section. An offense under this
section is a Class B misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. Section 572.062, Government Code, as added by
this Act, applies only to a member of the legislature who ceases to
be a member of the legislature after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 12, 2027.