Bill Caption

Relating to lobbying activities and the registration of lobbyists.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

This legislation amends the Government Code to establish that a person is not required to register as a lobbyist with the Texas Ethics Commission:

• Does not require a person to register if the person spends not more than 26 hours, or another amount of time determined by the commission, for which the person is compensated or reimbursed during the calendar quarter engaging in activity, including preparatory activity as defined by the commission, to communicate directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action.
• If a person spends more than eight hours in a single day engaging in activity to communicate directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action, the person is considered to have engaged in the activity for only eight hours during that day.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This legislation would prevent anyone who petitions their government longer than 26 hours every quarter, and receives reimbursement of any sort, from having to register as a lobbyist. But because this is largely procedural in nature and does not abridge our liberty principles, we remain neutral.