Relating to the imposition of civil penalties for certain violations with respect to political contributions and expenditures made by certain persons who engage in lobbying activities, the official text

S.B. No. 2781

AN ACT

relating to the imposition of civil penalties for certain

violations with respect to political contributions and

expenditures made by certain persons who engage in lobbying

activities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 253.006, Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 253.006. CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES BY

LOBBYISTS RESTRICTED. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of

law, a person required to register under Chapter 305, Government

Code, may not knowingly make or authorize a political contribution

or political expenditure that is a political contribution to

another candidate, officeholder, or political committee, or direct

campaign expenditure, from political contributions accepted by:

(1) the person as a candidate or officeholder;

(2) a specific-purpose committee for the purpose of

supporting the person as a candidate or assisting the person as an

officeholder; or

(3) a political committee that accepted a political

contribution from a source described by Subdivision (1) or (2)

during the two-year period immediately before the date the

political contribution or expenditure was made.

(b) A person who violates this section is subject to a civil

penalty in an amount not to exceed twice the amount of the political

contribution or political expenditure made or authorized in

violation of this section.

SECTION 2. Section 253.007, Election Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) A person who violates this section is subject to a civil

penalty in an amount not to exceed twice the amount of all political

contributions or political expenditures described by Subsection

(b) made or authorized by the person in the two years preceding the

date on which the activities in violation of this section occurred.

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter

253, Election Code, apply only to a violation that occurs on or

after the effective date of this Act. A violation that occurs

before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in

effect on the date the violation occurred, and the former law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2781 passed the Senate on

May 8, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2781 passed the House on

May 28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 108, Nays 27, two

present not voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

______________________________

Governor