Bill > HB0887

This bill introduces the "Tennessee Foreign Adversary and Chinese Military Company Disclosure and Accountability Act," which requires lobbyists representing foreign adversaries or Chinese military companies to complete detailed affidavits disclosing their lobbying activities. The bill defines key terms like "foreign adversary" (countries on a specific Department of Commerce list) and "Chinese military company" (those blacklisted by the Department of Defense), and mandates that lobbyists certify they are voluntarily lobbying for such entities while acknowledging the potential geopolitical implications. Specifically, lobbyists must declare they understand the broader strategic goals of entities like the Chinese Communist Party, including its alleged aim to challenge U.S. global leadership. Lobbyists who fail to make these required disclosures can be fined up to $50,000 per violation, with a maximum of 20 violations per year, and each day of non-compliance is considered a separate violation. The act is designed to increase transparency about foreign influence in Tennessee's political landscape and will take effect on July 1, 2025, providing advance notice to affected parties about the new disclosure requirements.

Government Affairs

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0887&ga=114