SB2781

Signed by Governor
Authored by Brian Birdwell (R)
View at Source

Caption: Relating to the imposition of civil penalties for certain violations with respect to political contributions and expenditures made by certain persons who engage in lobbying activities.
Initially Referred to Senate State Affairs Committee, chaired by a Republican
Last Referred to House State Affairs Committee, chaired by a Republican
SB 2781 imposes civil penalties on individuals registered as lobbyists who make or authorize political contributions from funds received through political committees or campaign accounts. Violators are subject to a penalty of up to twice the amount of the unlawful contribution. The bill strengthens lobbying restrictions to prevent campaign funds from being used in ways that circumvent contribution limits.

Co-authors: Eckhardt (D)
Sponsors: Shaheen (R)

Mar 14, 2025


(S) Birdwell signed onto the bill as Author
(S) Received by the Secretary of the Senate
(S) Filed
 

Apr 3, 2025


(S) Read first time
(S) Referred to the Senate State Affairs, chaired by a Republican
 

Apr 28, 2025


(S) Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
(S) Considered in public hearing
(S) Left pending in committee
 

Apr 30, 2025


(S) Considered in public hearing
(S) Vote taken in committee
 

May 5, 2025


(S) Reported favorably w/o amendments
(S) Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
(S) Committee report printed and distributed
 

May 7, 2025


(S) Placed on intent calendar
 

May 8, 2025


(S) Eckhardt signed onto the bill as Coauthor
(S) Co-author authorized
(S) Rules suspended-Regular order of business
(S) Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment

20250508_SB2781_E: Yea 31 (R 20, D 11) - Nay 0 (R 0, D 0)

Yea - A. Hinojosa; Alvarado; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Blanco; Campbell; Cook; Creighton; Eckhardt; Flores; Gutierrez; Hagenbuch; Hall; Hancock; Huffman; Hughes; J. Hinojosa; Johnson; King; Kolkhorst; Menendez; Middleton; Miles; Nichols; Parker; Paxton; Perry; Schwertner; Sparks; West; Zaffirini

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:


(S) Vote recorded in Journal
(S) Three day rule suspended
(S) Record vote
(S) Read 3rd time
(S) Passed

20250508_SB2781_3R: Yea 31 (R 20, D 11) - Nay 0 (R 0, D 0)

Yea - A. Hinojosa; Alvarado; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Blanco; Campbell; Cook; Creighton; Eckhardt; Flores; Gutierrez; Hagenbuch; Hall; Hancock; Huffman; Hughes; J. Hinojosa; Johnson; King; Kolkhorst; Menendez; Middleton; Miles; Nichols; Parker; Paxton; Perry; Schwertner; Sparks; West; Zaffirini

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:


(S) Record vote
(S) Reported engrossed
 

May 9, 2025


(H) Received from the Senate
 

May 12, 2025


(H) Read first time
(H) Referred to the House State Affairs, chaired by a Republican
 

May 20, 2025


(H) Considered in formal meeting
(H) Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
 

May 22, 2025


(H) Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
(H) Committee report distributed
(H) Committee report sent to Calendars
 

May 23, 2025


(H) Considered in Calendars
 

May 25, 2025


(H) Placed on General State Calendar
 

May 27, 2025


(H) Read 2nd time
(H) Passed to 3rd reading
(H) Record vote

RV#3807: Yea 117 (R 84, D 33) - Nay 24 (R 0, D 24)
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Yea - Alders; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Buckley; Bumgarner; Button; Cain; Campos; Capriglione; Cook; Cortez; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gamez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hickland; Holt; Hopper; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Johnson; Jones, V.; Kerwin; King; Kitzman; LaHood; Lalani; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Leo Wilson; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; Lujan; Martinez; Martinez Fischer; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Meza; Money; Morales, E.; Morgan; Munoz; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Ordaz; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Phelan; Pierson; Plesa; Raymond; Richardson; Rodriguez Ramos; Romero; Schatzline; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Tepper; Thompson; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Zwiener

Nay - Allen; Bowers; Bryant; Bucy; Cole; Collier; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, J.; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Hernandez; Hinojosa; Jones, J.; Manuel; Moody; Morales, C.; Morales Shaw; Reynolds; Rose; Rosenthal; Simmons; Talarico; Turner; Wu

Absent - Dutton; Garcia Hernandez; Little; Luther; Virdell

Present, Not Voting - Burrows

Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.

Venton Jones: "When Record No. 3807 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:


 

May 28, 2025


(H) Read 3rd time
(H) Passed
(H) Record vote

RV#3905: Yea 108 (R 73, D 35) - Nay 27 (R 9, D 18)
View Source

Yea - Alders; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bonnen; Bowers; Buckley; Bucy; Button; Cain; Capriglione; Cole; Cortez; Cunningham; Darby; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gamez; Garcia, L.; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Guillen; Harless; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hernandez; Hickland; Holt; Hopper; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Johnson; King; Kitzman; LaHood; Lalani; Lambert; Leach; Leo Wilson; Little; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Louderback; Lozano; Lujan; Martinez; Martinez Fischer; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Money; Moody; Morales, E.; Morales Shaw; Morgan; Munoz; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Ordaz; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Perez, V.; Phelan; Pierson; Plesa; Raymond; Rodriguez Ramos; Romero; Schofield; Shaheen; Shofner; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Tepper; Thompson; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Virdell; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener

Nay - Bhojani; Bryant; Bumgarner; Campos; Canales; Collier; Cook; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Garcia, J.; Gonzalez, J.; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Lowe; Luther; Manuel; Meza; Morales, C.; Reynolds; Richardson; Rose; Rosenthal; Schatzline; Schoolcraft; Simmons; Tinderholt; Toth

Absent - Allen; Craddick; Curry; Dutton; Garcia Hernandez

Present, Not Voting - Burrows; Landgraf

Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.

Ben Bumgarner: "When Record No. 3905 was taken, I was shown voting no. I intended to vote yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Cassandra Garcia Hernandez: "When Record No. 3905 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

David Cook: "When Record No. 3905 was taken, I was shown voting no. I intended to vote yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Josey Garcia: "When Record No. 3905 was taken, I was shown voting no. I intended to vote yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Liz Campos: "When Record No. 3905 was taken, I was shown voting no. I intended to vote yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Pat Curry: "When Record No. 3905 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Tom Craddick: "When Record No. 3905 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Vikki Goodwin: "When Record No. 3905 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:


(S) House passage reported
(S) Reported enrolled
 

May 30, 2025


(S) Signed in the Senate
 

Jun 1, 2025


(H) Signed in the House
(E) Sent to the Governor
 


(S) Shaheen signed onto the bill as Sponsor

Lobbying Against/For/On This Bill

Against

(Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Daphne Hoffacker for self
(Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Steven Deline for self
 

On

(Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as James Tinley for Texas Ethics Commission



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