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
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Bryan Hughes
RRepublican
P
Ellen Troxclair
RRepublican
P
Giovanni Capriglione
RRepublican
P
Greg Bonnen
RRepublican
P
Stan Gerdes
RRepublican
P
Will Metcalf
RRepublican
Co
Angelia Orr
RRepublican
Co
Ben Bumgarner
RRepublican
Co
Caroline Harris Davila
RRepublican
Co
Carrie Isaac
RRepublican
Co
Cody Harris
RRepublican
Co
Cole Hefner
RRepublican
Co
Hillary Hickland
RRepublican
Co
Janie Lopez
RRepublican
Co
Janis Holt
RRepublican
Co
Jeff Barry
RRepublican
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