HB 119 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the registration as a lobbyist of persons who engage in certain lobbying activities on behalf of a foreign adversary and to prohibitions on the receipt of compensation related to those lobbying activities; providing a civil penalty.

HB 119 requires lobbyists who communicate directly with Texas lawmakers to influence legislation on behalf of a "foreign adversary" (as defined by state law) to register with the state. It specifically prohibits receiving compensation for such lobbying activities from foreign adversaries or their designated representatives. The bill establishes civil penalties for violations, including fines for unauthorized lobbying or compensation. This law directly affects lobbyists working for foreign governments or entities designated as national security threats by U.S. authorities.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 14, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 5 edits · Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
This bill establishes new lobbying registration and compensation restrictions for individuals working on behalf of foreign adversaries. It requires lobbyists to register if they spend more than $200 per quarter on lobbying activities related to foreign adversaries and prohibits them from receiving compensation from foreign adversaries or their related entities. The bill also defines key terms like 'foreign adversary' and 'foreign adversary client' to clarify who is subject to these restrictions.
Scope change
The bill expands lobbying registration requirements to specifically cover activities on behalf of foreign adversaries, creating a new category of regulated lobbying activity.
REQUIREMENT

New registration requirement for lobbyists engaging in activities on behalf of foreign adversaries, triggered by expenditures exceeding $200 per calendar quarter.

DEFINITION

New definitions for 'foreign adversary,' 'foreign adversary client,' and 'foreign adversary political party' to clarify who is subject to the restrictions.

ENFORCEMENT

New civil penalty provisions allowing the attorney general to seek injunctive relief and impose penalties up to $10,000 per violation plus recovery of any illicit compensation.

TIMELINE

The law takes effect on September 1, 2025, with retroactive application only to conduct occurring on or after that date.

SCOPE

Added a new category of lobbying activity (communicating on behalf of foreign adversaries) to the existing registration requirements.

Floor votes · House Apr 29, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
68
Key actions
20
Committee
15
Amendments
4
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Jun 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
Jun 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
Jun 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate adopts conference committee report
upper
Jun 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
House adopts conference committee report
lower
May 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
House requests conference committee-reported
upper
May 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
House requests conference committee
lower
May 30, 2025
Introduced
House refuses to concur in Senate amendments
lower
May 29, 2025
Introduced
Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
lower
May 29, 2025
Introduced
Senate Amendments distributed
lower
May 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate passage as amended reported
lower
May 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
May 1, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
May 1, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
6 primary · 18 co-sponsors

Sponsors