86R17042 JG-D
 
  By: Hall S.B. No. 29
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to expenditures for lobbying activities made by certain
  entities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 556.0055, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 556.0055.  RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING EXPENDITURES. (a)
  A political subdivision or external service provider [private
  entity that receives state funds] may not [use the funds to] pay:
               (1)  lobbying expenses incurred by the political
  subdivision or external service provider [recipient of the funds];
               (2)  a person or entity that is required to register
  with the Texas Ethics Commission under Chapter 305;
               (3)  any partner, employee, employer, relative,
  contractor, consultant, or related entity of a person or entity
  described by Subdivision (2); or
               (4)  a person or entity that has been hired to represent
  associations or other entities for the purpose of affecting the
  outcome of legislation, agency rules, ordinances, or other
  government policies.
         (a-1)  A private entity that receives state funds may not use
  the state funds to pay any expenses described by Subsection (a).
         (b)  A political subdivision or [private] entity that
  violates Subsection (a) or (a-1) is not eligible to receive
  additional state funds.
         (c)  In this section, "external service provider" means an
  entity that receives funds from a political subdivision or public
  entity for the purpose of representing the political subdivision or
  public entity before a legislative body.
         SECTION 2.  Section 556.0055, Government Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies to an expenditure made on or after the effective
  date of this Act. An expenditure made before the effective date of
  this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the
  effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.