BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1785

By: Capriglione

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the potential influence on the legislative process by individuals representing foreign governments and the difficulty of determining whether an individual has properly registered as a foreign agent as required by federal law. H.B. 1785 seeks to address these concerns by making such information about those individuals more transparent and easily accessible.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1785 amends the Government Code to require a lobbyist registration form to include a statement of whether the registrant is or is required to be registered as a foreign agent under the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.