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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the imposition of civil penalties for certain |
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violations with respect to political contributions and |
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expenditures made by certain persons who engage in lobbying |
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activities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 253.006, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 253.006. CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES BY |
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LOBBYISTS RESTRICTED. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of |
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law, a person required to register under Chapter 305, Government |
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Code, may not knowingly make or authorize a political contribution |
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or political expenditure that is a political contribution to |
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another candidate, officeholder, or political committee, or direct |
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campaign expenditure, from political contributions accepted by: |
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(1) the person as a candidate or officeholder; |
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(2) a specific-purpose committee for the purpose of |
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supporting the person as a candidate or assisting the person as an |
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officeholder; or |
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(3) a political committee that accepted a political |
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contribution from a source described by Subdivision (1) or (2) |
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during the two-year period immediately before the date the |
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political contribution or expenditure was made. |
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(b) A person who violates this section is subject to a civil |
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penalty in an amount not to exceed twice the amount of the political |
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contribution or political expenditure made or authorized in |
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violation of this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 253.007, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A person who violates this section is subject to a civil |
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penalty in an amount not to exceed twice the amount of all political |
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contributions or political expenditures described by Subsection |
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(b) made or authorized by the person in the two years preceding the |
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date on which the activities in violation of this section occurred. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter |
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253, Election code, apply only to a violation that occurs on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. A violation that occurs |
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before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in |
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effect on the date the violation occurred, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |