Amend CSSB 1349 (senate committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Chapter 76, Penal Code, is amended by adding Section 76.047 to read as follows:
Sec. 76.047. FOREIGN STATE MISINFORMATION OPERATIONS. (a) In this section, "agent of a foreign government or foreign terrorist organization" has the meaning assigned by Section 76.045.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person, acting as an agent of a foreign government or foreign terrorist organization and with the intent to influence public opinion, suppress dissent, or intimidate a person engaged in protected conduct, knowingly:
(1) disseminates materially false or misleading information to the public through digital, print, or broadcast media, or by organizing or promoting public demonstrations; or
(2) facilitates, coordinates, or finances the dissemination of such information.
(c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the person reasonably believed the information to be true and took steps to verify its accuracy.
(d) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree, except that the offense is a felony of the second degree if the conduct targets:
(1) a public official;
(2) an election or electoral process; or
(3) a person based on race, ethnicity, religion, or immigration status.