It is unlawful for an elected state official, public officer or employee who works for a regulatory office or a candidate who seeks election to a regulatory office or anyone authorized by a candidate to solicit funds on his behalf to knowingly solicit a contribution from an entity or its officers or employees or a person that is directly regulated by the office. For purposes of this section, an entity or person is directly regulated by an office when the entity’s or person’s charges for services offered to the public are set or directly subject to approval by the regulatory office or when a license to do business in the state is determined by the regulatory office.