88R1568 JG-D
 
  By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 217
 
 
 
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 14, 2025.