Abstract: Requires a lobbyist who lobbies for a foreign adversary to disclose additional information concerning the foreign adversary.
‍
Present federal law provides for the Foreign Agents Registration Act (22 U.S.C. §611-621) which requires the registration of agents of adverse nations and foreign terror organizations with the U.S. Attorney General.
‍
Present law provides for the definitions of "board", "expenditure", "legislation", "lobbying", "lobbyist", "person", "public servant", and "principal duty" as used in present law provisions relative to legislative lobbying.
‍
Proposed law adds the definition of "foreign adversary" and provides that "foreign adversary"means an individual, corporation, or government identified as a foreign adversary in present federal law (15 CFR 7.4(a)) and identified in the database maintained by the U.S. Dept. of the Treasury, office of foreign assets control. Further provides that "foreign adversary" means a corporation or any entity organized under the laws of a foreign government identified as a foreign adversary as provided in proposed law or having its principal place of business in the country of such a foreign adversary.
‍
Proposed law otherwise retains present law.
‍
Present law provides for the process and procedure for the registration of lobbyists, who engage in legislative, executive branch, and local lobbying in La., with the Board of Ethics.
‍
Proposed law retains present law and further provides that a person who registers as a lobbyist pursuant to present law and who lobbies on behalf of a foreign adversary shall also file a disclosure with the Board of Ethics pursuant to proposed law.
‍
Present law requires the Board of Ethics to establish and maintain access to a searchable electronic database available to the public via the Internet.
‍
Proposed law retains present law and further requires that the database contain reports, registration, and other information required to be filed pursuant to proposed law.
‍
Proposed law provides that any person who lobbies on behalf of a foreign adversary shall, before engaging in lobbying activity in La. on behalf of a foreign adversary, file certain specified information with the Board of Ethics, including, at a minimum:
‍
(1) The name, permanent residential address, and office address of the person.
‍
(2) The name of the foreign adversary represented by the person.
‍
(3) The name and address of each owner of the foreign adversary represented by the person, regardless of the owner's ownership stake in the foreign adversary.
‍
(4) A description of the business activity of the foreign adversary represented by the person.
‍
(5) An identification of the matters on which the person expected to conduct lobbying on behalf of the foreign adversary.
‍
Proposed law provides that any person who willfully violates a provision of proposed law shall be assessed a fine of not more than $50,000 per offense.
‍
Proposed law provides that the Board of Ethics shall provide information about foreign adversaries registered with the board through a web portal maintained on the board's website. Provides that the board may send to and receive data from government officials in other states in order to increase the transparency and registration compliance of agents of foreign adversaries that operate in multiple states. Further provides that the board may at any time make, prescribe, amend, and rescind such rules, regulations, and forms as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of proposed law.
‍
Proposed law requires a person who has filed a disclosure with the board pursuant to proposed law to file a supplemental disclosure with the board if there are any changes from the original disclosure.
‍
Effective December 1, 2025.