Sec. 305.005. REGISTRATION. (a) Each person required to register under this chapter shall file a written registration with the commission and shall submit a registration fee.

(b) A registration filed under this chapter expires at midnight, December 31, of each year unless the registrant submits a registration renewal form to the commission on a form prescribed by the commission and submits the registration renewal fee. The registrant may file the registration renewal form and the fee anytime in December of the year in which the registration expires.

(c) The registration fee and registration renewal fee are:

(1) $150 for a registrant employed by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6), Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

(2) $75 for any person required to register solely because the person is required to register under Section 305.0041; or

(3) $750 for any other registrant.

(d) Repealed by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 8.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

(e) A person required to register under this chapter who has not registered or whose registration has expired shall file the registration form and submit the registration fee not later than the fifth day after the date on which the person or the person's employee makes the first direct communication with a member of the legislative or executive branch that requires the person's registration.

(f) The registration must be written and verified and must contain:

(1) the registrant's full name and address;

(2) the registrant's normal business, business phone number, and business address;

(3) the full name and address of each person:

(A) who reimburses, retains, or employs the registrant to communicate directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action; and

(B) on whose behalf the registrant has communicated directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action;

(4) the subject matter of the legislation or of the administrative action that is the subject of the registrant's direct communication with a member of the legislative or executive branch and, if applicable, the docket number or other administrative designation of the administrative action;

(5) for each person employed or retained by the registrant for the purpose of assisting in direct communication with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action:

(A) the full name, business address, and occupation of the person; and

(B) the subject matter of the legislation or of the administrative action to which the person's activities reportable under this section were related and, if applicable, the docket number or other administrative designation of the administrative action; and

(6) the amount of compensation or reimbursement paid by each person who reimburses, retains, or employs the registrant for the purpose of communicating directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch or on whose behalf the registrant communicates directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch.

(g) Compensation or reimbursement required to be reported under Subsection (f)(6) shall be reported in the following categories unless reported as an exact amount:

(1) $0 if no compensation or reimbursement is received;

(2) less than $10,000;

(3) at least $10,000 but less than $25,000;

(4) at least $25,000 but less than $50,000;

(5) at least $50,000 but less than $100,000;

(6) at least $100,000 but less than $150,000;

(7) at least $150,000 but less than $200,000;

(8) at least $200,000 but less than $250,000;

(9) at least $250,000 but less than $300,000;

(10) at least $300,000 but less than $350,000;

(11) at least $350,000 but less than $400,000;

(12) at least $400,000 but less than $450,000;

(13) at least $450,000 but less than $500,000; and

(14) $500,000 or more.

(g-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, compensation or reimbursement required to be reported under Subsection (f)(6) shall be reported as an exact amount if the compensation or reimbursement received exceeds $500,000.

(h) If a registrant's activities are done on behalf of the members of a group or organization, including a business, trade, or consumer interest association but excluding a corporation, the registration form must include:

(1) a statement of the number of members in the group;

(2) the name of each person in the group or organization who determines the policy of the group or organization relating to influencing legislative or administrative action;

(3) a full description of the methods by which the registrant develops and makes decisions about positions on policy; and

(4) a list of those persons making a grant or contribution, in addition to or instead of dues or fees, that exceeds $250 per year.

(i) If a registrant's activities are done on behalf of a corporation the shares of which are not publicly traded, the registration form must include:

(1) the number of shareholders in the corporation;

(2) the name and address of each officer or member of the board of directors; and

(3) the name of each person owning 10 percent or more shares of the corporation.

(j) If the person described by Subsection (f)(3) is a business entity engaged in the representation of clients for the purpose of influencing legislation or administrative action, the registrant shall give the information required by that subdivision for each client on whose behalf the registrant communicated directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch.

(k) If there is a change in the information required to be reported by a registrant under this section, other than Subsection (h) or (i), and that changed information is not timely reported on a report due under Section 305.007, the registrant shall file an amended registration reflecting the change with the commission not later than the date on which an amended registration is due under Section 305.0065 or the next report is due under Section 305.007, as applicable.

(l) The registration form must include a statement of whether the registrant is or is required to be registered as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. Section 611 et seq.).

(m) The registration form must include the full name and address of each person who compensates or reimburses the registrant or person acting as an agent for the registrant for services, including political consulting services, rendered by the registrant from:

(1) a political contribution as defined by Title 15, Election Code;

(2) interest received from a political contribution as defined by Title 15, Election Code; or

(3) an asset purchased with a political contribution as defined by Title 15, Election Code.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 479, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 432, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 304, Sec. 2.05, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 996, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1134, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 8.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 249, Sec. 4.04, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 899 (S.B. 1863), Sec. 1.01, eff. December 1, 2005.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 725 (H.B. 2489), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1174 (H.B. 3445), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 836 (H.B. 3409), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 4 (S.B. 1), Sec. 25.01, eff. September 28, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 147 (H.B. 1422), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 132 (H.B. 1785), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.