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Committee adopts substitute requiring state-level registration for lobbyists working for federal-designated foreign adversaries
Summary
A substitute version of HB 511 (modeled on the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act) was approved by committee; it requires state-level registration for persons lobbying on behalf of countries designated as foreign adversaries by federal law and creates a searchable registry administered by the State Ethics Board.
The House Committee on Governmental Affairs voted to report a substitute for House Bill 511 that would require people who lobby Louisiana government or municipalities on behalf of foreign adversary countries to register with the State Ethics Board.
Scope and intent: The sponsor, Representative Owen, said the measure parallels federal requirements and seeks transparency when lobbyists represent one of the federal government’s listed foreign adversaries (the substitute references the federal list, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela). Under the substitute, anyone who 'lobbies' on behalf of a covered foreign-adversary client at the state, executive or local level would have to register and file disclosures with the State Ethics Board; the board would maintain a searchable public database.
Why it matters: Supporters said the state should know when entities with ties to foreign adversaries are conducting organized influence activities inside Louisiana; the substitute was presented as narrow—focused on registered lobbyists rather than all contractors or subcontractors after stakeholder concerns prompted narrowing. Supporters noted federal FARA prosecutions and investigations as evidence of broader risks.
Concerns and administration: The State Ethics Board appeared to caution about administrative impacts; its director said building and maintaining a searchable registration system would require funding and IT resources and that the board had submitted a fiscal note (the board estimated roughly $100,000 for an initial searchable system). Committee staff and sponsor acknowledged the cost and the board’s request for clarifying language and suggested technical drafting changes before the floor.
Committee action: The committee adopted the substitute (amendment set 24-79) narrowing scope to persons who lobby and added technical cross-references to local lobbying statutes. The motion to report the substitute passed on a roll call (10 yeas, 5 nays) and HB 511 was reported favorably as substituted.
Next steps: The bill moves to the House floor for further consideration; committee members asked the sponsor and the State Ethics Board to work on technical cross-references and implementation funding language ahead of floor action.
