A new bill authored by State Rep. Dean in the Texas House seeks to regulate lobbying efforts on behalf of foreign adversaries to enhance transparency and accountability, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Elections and Taxation category, introduced as HB 119 during the 89(1) legislative session on Thursday, July 17, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to requiring voter approval for certain local tax rate increases adopted pursuant to a disaster declaration’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates that individuals engaging in lobbying activities on behalf of a foreign adversary, foreign adversary client, or foreign adversary political party must register with the commission if they directly communicate with members of the legislative or executive branches to influence legislation or administrative actions. It prohibits lobbyists from receiving compensation from such entities and allows the attorney general to pursue injunctive relief and civil penalties, up to $10,000 per violation and the compensation received in violation of this regulation. Reasonable expenses related to enforcement actions can also be recovered. The act will come into effect Sept. 1, 2025, and applies only to conduct or compensation occurring on or after this date.
Jay Dean, the chair of the House Committee on Insurance, proposed another two bills during the 89(1) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on Energy Resources.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(1) | HB 118 | 07/17/2025 | Relating to the use of certain federal funds received by the state to provide property tax refunds to Texas homestead owners |
| 89(1) | HB 116 | 07/17/2025 | Relating to the repeal of or limitations on certain state and local taxes, including school district maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes, the enactment of state and local value added taxes, related school finance reform, and directing the comptroller to identify alternatives to local ad valorem taxes; imposing taxes |
| 89(R) | HB 5659 | 03/28/2025 | Relating to the procedural requirements applicable to interbasin transfers of water involving the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District |
| 89(R) | HB 5410 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to responsibility in tort for the treatment of fluid oil and gas waste for beneficial use |
| 89(R) | HB 5331 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the enforceability of certain state agency and local government contract language regarding required security incident notifications |
| 89(R) | HB 5198 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to a study of title insurance rates in Texas and other states |
| 89(R) | HB 5181 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the minimum revenue calculation subject to the Texas Franchise Tax |
| 89(R) | HB 5173 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to annual statistical reports for fixing title insurance premium rates |
| 89(R) | HB 4609 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to participation in, administration of, contributions to, and benefits under the Texas Municipal Retirement System |
| 89(R) | HB 4570 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to an appraisal process for disputed losses under personal automobile or residential property insurance policies |
| 89(R) | HB 4569 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to an appraisal procedure for disputed losses under personal automobile insurance policies |
| 89(R) | HB 4433 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the requirements for obtaining an interbasin water transfer permit |
| 89(R) | HB 4432 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the qualifications of members of the board of directors of the Texas Mutual Insurance Company |
| 89(R) | HB 4408 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to required reporting of information on the ownership and control of certain health care entities; providing a civil penalty; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 4373 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the authority of a special district to exercise certain powers and duties following municipal disannexation of certain areas |
| 89(R) | HB 139 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to employer health benefit plans that do not include state-mandated health benefits |
| 89(R) | HB 138 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the Health Impact, Cost, and Coverage Analysis Program; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 4009 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to employer health benefit plans that do not include state-mandated health benefits |
| 89(R) | HB 3619 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to the rights and liabilities of the owner of the surface estate of the tract of land on which a well to be plugged or replugged by the Railroad Commission of Texas is located |
| 89(R) | HB 3306 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to the applicability of certain laws affecting indemnification agreements to certain contracts or agreements pertaining to electric utility infrastructure |
| 89(R) | HB 3213 | 02/24/2025 | Relating to excavation for the installation of buried fiber-optic cable |
| 89(R) | HB 3212 | 02/24/2025 | Relating to providing for a reduction of the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes for the first tax year in which the owner qualifies the property for a residence homestead exemption based on the amount by which the limitation on increases in the appraised value of a residence homestead reduced the appraised value of the owner’s former residence homestead for the last tax year in which the owner qualified the former residence homestead for a residence homestead exemption |
| 89(R) | HB 3211 | 02/24/2025 | Relating to vision care benefits, including participation of optometrists and therapeutic optometrists in vision care or managed care plans |
| 89(R) | HB 3207 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the offense of intoxication assault; increasing a criminal penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 2959 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the designation of a portion of Farm-to-Market Road 2275 in Gregg County as the Bill Stoudt Parkway |
| 89(R) | HB 2686 | 02/11/2025 | Relating to the registration of frac tanks; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 2529 | 02/06/2025 | Relating to the annual state salary supplement for certain county judges |
| 89(R) | HB 2522 | 02/06/2025 | Relating to fingerprinting requirements for the issuance of dealer general distinguishing numbers to certain persons |
| 89(R) | HB 2304 | 01/31/2025 | Relating to third-party review of property development documents and inspections of improvements related to those documents, including home backup power installations |
| 89(R) | HB 2131 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to the unauthorized entry, occupancy, sale, rental, lease, advertisement for sale, rental, or lease, or conveyance of real property, including the removal of certain unauthorized occupants of a dwelling; creating criminal offenses; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 2130 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to the payment of certain employer contributions for retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who resume service |
| 89(R) | HB 1940 | 01/17/2025 | Relating to the clarification of the authority of an appraisal office to approve and implement a plan providing for the reappraisal of property in the appraisal district less frequently than annually |
| 89(R) | HB 1925 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain peace officers |
| 89(R) | HB 1922 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to the accrual of a cause of action for purposes of certain laws governing certain construction liability claims |
