89R4307 CJD-D     By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 347       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to lobbying by former members of the legislature; creating   a criminal offense.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 572.062 to read as follows:          Sec. 572.062.  FORMER LEGISLATOR: LOBBYING RESTRICTED;   CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) In this section:                (1)  "Administrative action," "communicates directly   with," "legislation," "member of the executive branch," and "member   of the legislative branch" have the meanings assigned by Section   305.002.                (2)  "Legislative cycle" means the two-year period   beginning on the first day of a regular legislative session and   ending on the day before the first day of the succeeding regular   legislative session.          (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a former member of   the legislature may not engage in activities that require   registration under Chapter 305 before the end of the legislative   cycle following the legislative cycle in which the former member   last served as a member of the legislature.          (c)  Subsection (b) does not apply to a former member of the   legislature who does not receive compensation other than   reimbursement for actual expenses for communicating directly with a   member of the legislative branch or a member of the executive branch   to influence legislation or an administrative action.          (d)  A former member of the legislature commits an offense if   the former member violates this section. An offense under this   section is a Class B misdemeanor.          SECTION 2.  Section 572.062, Government Code, as added by   this Act, applies only to a member of the legislature who ceases to   be a member of the legislature after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect January 12, 2027.