By: Hughes, et al. S.B. No. 2514     (Hefner)           A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to establishing the hostile foreign adversaries unit at   the Department of Public Safety and training, prohibitions, and   reporting requirements designed to combat foreign influence and   foreign adversary operations; creating a criminal offense.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter S to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER S. HOSTILE FOREIGN ADVERSARIES UNIT          Sec. 411.551.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:                (1)  "Foreign adversary operation" means actions by   adversarial foreign governments that threaten the safety and   security of this state.                (2)  "Unit" means the department's hostile foreign   adversaries unit established under this subchapter.          Sec. 411.552.  HOSTILE FOREIGN ADVERSARIES UNIT. The   hostile foreign adversaries unit is established in the department   to support the department's duty to prevent the harassment and   coercion of this state's residents from foreign adversary   operations, strengthen state agencies against foreign adversary   operations, and protect this state's critical infrastructure   against threats foreign adversary operations pose.          Sec. 411.553.  UNIT EMPLOYEES.  The director may appoint   unit employees as necessary to perform unit functions.          Sec. 411.554.  BIENNIAL REPORT. (a) Not later than December   1 of each even-numbered year, the unit shall submit to the governor   and the legislature a written report that assesses the threat   foreign adversary operations posed to this state, including to this   state's residents and governmental units, during the preceding two   years. The report must include:                 (1)  an assessment of the incidence of foreign   adversary operations conducted in this state, including operations   intended to influence political sentiment or public discourse; and                (2)  strategies that have proven effective to combat   the operations described by Subdivision (1).          (b)  On request by the unit, a state agency or a local law   enforcement agency shall provide to the unit information relating   to any foreign adversary operation that the agency has researched   or investigated or otherwise holds relevant information on.          Sec. 411.555.  ADDITIONAL DUTIES. (a) The unit shall   collaborate with local governments and federal agencies to operate   the Texas Fusion Center.          (b)  The unit shall refer for prosecution to the appropriate   prosecuting attorney cases in which individuals or organizations   have engaged in or assisted in foreign adversary operations in this   state.           Sec. 411.556.  SECURE STORAGE OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION. (a)   The unit shall provide for the secure storage of sensitive   information obtained or produced as part of the report developed   under Section 411.554.          (b)  Information determined as sensitive under Subsection   (a) is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552.          Sec. 411.557.  INFORMATION SHARING. With the approval of   the director, the unit may share information determined sensitive   under Section 411.556(a) with another federal, state, or local law   enforcement agency. The disclosure of information under this   section is not a voluntary disclosure under Section 552.007.          Sec. 411.558.  RULES. The commission may adopt rules to   implement this subchapter.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 572.070 to read as follows:          Sec. 572.070.  PROHIBITIONS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS   RELATED TO FOREIGN INFLUENCE; CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) In this   section, "foreign adversary" means a country:                (1)  identified by the United States Director of   National Intelligence as a country that poses a risk to the national   security of the United States in at least one of the three most   recent Annual Threat Assessments of the U.S. Intelligence Community   issued pursuant to Section 108B, National Security Act of 1947 (50   U.S.C. Section 3043b); or                (2)  designated by the governor after consultation with   the public safety director of the Department of Public Safety.          (b)  An employee or volunteer of a state agency or a   political subdivision of this state may not:                (1)  accept transportation to or lodging in a country   that is a foreign adversary and that is paid for by the foreign   adversary because of the employee's or volunteer's position with   the state or political subdivision; or                (2)  accept a gift or item of value from a person   representing a foreign adversary for any purpose, including to pay   for travel expenses or as reimbursement for the costs of attending a   conference or other event in a country that is a foreign adversary   or that is hosted on behalf of a foreign adversary or a principal of   a foreign adversary.          (c)  An employee or volunteer of a state agency or a   political subdivision of this state shall report to the commission,   in the form and manner the commission requires, each interaction,   communication, or meeting the employee or volunteer has with a   person acting on behalf of a foreign adversary not later than the   30th day after the date of the interaction, communication, or   meeting. The commission shall make available a report under this   subsection to the attorney general and the Texas Department of   Public Safety on request.          (d)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly   violates this section. An offense under this subsection is a state   jail felony.          SECTION 3.  Section 2054.519, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:          (f)  In addition to the requirements for certification under   Subsection (b), a cybersecurity training program must include   education on:                 (1)  the threat of foreign adversaries and other   hostile foreign actors, including the United Front Work Department   of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and other   coordinated foreign influence operations;                (2)  known efforts by foreign adversaries to target and   influence subnational governments, including efforts made by the   United Front Work Department;                (3)  identifying and recognizing suspected foreign   influence operations;                (4)  informational resources promulgated by federal,   state, and nongovernmental organizations on United Front Work   Department activities in this state and adjacent states; and                (5)  reporting to the Texas Ethics Commission as   required by Section 572.070 and to law enforcement agencies   suspected foreign influence operations and other interactions with   persons acting on behalf of a foreign adversary.          (g)  In Subsection (f), "foreign adversary" has the meaning   assigned by Section 572.070.          SECTION 4.  Section 572.070(c), Government Code, as added by   this Act, applies to an interaction, communication, or meeting with   a person acting on behalf of a foreign adversary that occurs on or   after March 1, 2025. A person required to report an interaction,   communication, or meeting under that section that occurred before   the effective date of this Act shall make the report not later than   the 30th day after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 5.  (a)  Not later than December 1, 2025, the   Department of Information Resources shall adopt rules implementing   the certification requirements of Section 2054.519(f), Government   Code, as added by this Act.          (b)  Section 2054.519(f), Government Code, as added by this   Act, applies only to the certification of a cybersecurity training   program under that section that occurs on or after May 1, 2026.  The   certification of a cybersecurity training program under that   section that occurs before May 1, 2026, is governed by the law in   effect on the date of the certification, and the former law is   continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.