Mississippi SB 2890: Registered lobbyists; require disclosure of representation of foreign adversary client.

Bill Text

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To: Accountability,
Efficiency, Transparency
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2025

By: Senator(s) McLendon

SENATE BILL NO. 2890

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 5-8-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
DEFINE THE TERMS "FOREIGN ADVERSARY" AND "FOREIGN PRINCIPAL" 2
WITHIN THE LOBBYING LAW REFORM ACT OF 1994; TO AMEND SECTION 3
5-8-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE REGISTERED LOBBYISTS 4
TO INCLUDE IN ANNUAL REGISTRATION STATEMENTS WHETHER THE LOBBYIST 5
CLIENT IS A FOREIGN PRINCIPAL OF A FOREIGN ADVERSARY; TO PROVIDE 6
DEFINITIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. Section 5-8-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 9
amended as follows: 10
5-8-3. The following words and phrases shall have the 11
meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly indicates 12
otherwise: 13
(a) (i) "Anything of value" means: 14
1. A pecuniary item, including money, or a 15
bank bill or note; 16
2. A promissory note, bill of exchange, 17
order, draft, warrant, check or bond given for the payment of 18
money; 19

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3. A contract, agreement, promise or other 20
obligation for an advance, conveyance, forgiveness of 21
indebtedness, deposit, distribution, loan, payment, gift, pledge 22
or transfer of money; 23
4. A stock, bond, note or other investment 24
interest in an entity; 25
5. A receipt given for the payment of money 26
or other property; 27
6. A right in action; 28
7. A gift, tangible good, chattel or an 29
interest in a gift, tangible good or chattel; 30
8. A loan or forgiveness of indebtedness; 31
9. A work of art, antique or collectible; 32
10. An automobile or other means of personal 33
transportation; 34
11. Real property or an interest in real 35
property, including title to realty, a fee simple or partial 36
interest, present or future, contingent or vested within realty, a 37
leasehold interest, or other beneficial interest in realty; 38
12. An honorarium or compensation for 39
services; 40
13. A rebate or discount in the price of 41
anything of value, unless the rebate or discount is made in the 42
ordinary course of business to a member of the public without 43
regard to that person's status as an executive, legislative or 44

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public official or public employee, or the sale or trade of 45
something for reasonable compensation that would ordinarily not be 46
available to a member of the public; 47
14. A promise or offer of employment; 48
15. Any other thing of value that is 49
pecuniary or compensatory in value to a person, except as 50
otherwise provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph; or 51
16. A payment that directly benefits an 52
executive, legislative or public official or public employee or a 53
member of that person's immediate family. 54
(ii) "Anything of value" does not mean: 55
1. Informational material such as books, 56
reports, pamphlets, calendars or periodicals informing an 57
executive, legislative or public official or public employee of 58
her or his official duties; 59
2. A certificate, plaque or other 60
commemorative item which has little pecuniary value; 61
3. Food and beverages for immediate 62
consumption provided by a lobbyist up to a value of Ten Dollars 63
($10.00) in the aggregate during any calendar year; 64
4. Campaign contributions reported in 65
accordance with Section 23-15-801 et seq., Mississippi Code of 66
1972. 67
(b) "Commission" means the Mississippi Ethics 68
Commission, when used in the context of Section 5-8-19. 69

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(c) "Compensation" means: 70
(i) An advance, conveyance, forgiveness of 71
indebtedness, deposit, distribution, loan, payment, gift, pledge 72
or transfer of money or anything of value, including reimbursement 73
of travel, food or lodging costs; or 74
(ii) A contract, agreement, promise or other 75
obligation for an advance, conveyance, forgiveness of 76
indebtedness, deposit, distribution, loan, payment, gift, pledge 77
or transfer of money or anything of value, including reimbursement 78
of travel, food or lodging costs, for services rendered or to be 79
rendered. 80
(d) "Executive action" means the proposal, drafting, 81
development, consideration, amendment, adoption, approval, 82
promulgation, issuance, modification, rejection or postponement by 83
a state or local governmental entity of a rule, regulation, order, 84
decision, determination or other quasi-legislative action or 85
proceeding. 86
(e) "Executive agency" means: 87
(i) An agency, board, commission, governing 88
authority or other body in the executive branch of state or local 89
government; or 90
(ii) An independent body of state or local 91
government that is not a part of the legislative or judicial 92
branch, but which shall include