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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to lobbying by former members of the legislature; creating |
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a criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 572.062 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 572.062. FORMER LEGISLATOR: LOBBYING RESTRICTED; |
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CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Administrative action," "communicates directly |
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with," "legislation," "member of the executive branch," and "member |
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of the legislative branch" have the meanings assigned by Section |
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305.002. |
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(2) "Legislative cycle" means the two-year period |
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beginning on the first day of a regular legislative session and |
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ending on the day before the first day of the succeeding regular |
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legislative session. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a former member of |
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the legislature may not engage in activities that require |
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registration under Chapter 305 before the end of the legislative |
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cycle following the legislative cycle in which the former member |
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last served as a member of the legislature. |
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(c) Subsection (b) does not apply to a former member of the |
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legislature who does not receive compensation other than |
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reimbursement for actual expenses for communicating directly with a |
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member of the legislative branch or a member of the executive branch |
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to influence legislation or an administrative action. |
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(d) A former member of the legislature commits an offense if |
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the former member violates this section. An offense under this |
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section is a Class B misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 2. Section 572.062, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to a member of the legislature who ceases to |
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be a member of the legislature after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 12, 2027. |