The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Texas Prohibits Local Governments from Using Public Funds to Hire Lobbyists
Last action · July 14, 2025: FiledSponsor: Mike Olcott
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Proposed
s in Texas are prohibited from using public funds to hire registered lobbyists or to pay dues to nonprofit state associations that employ registered lobbyists, effective September 1, 2025. Taxpayers and residents are authorized to seek and recover attorney's fees against political subdivisions that violate these prohibitions. Exceptions are provided for elected officers, uncompensated staff communicating with legislators, and specific legislative services offered by nonprofit associations.
Local governments and county commissioners courts face new restrictions on how public tax revenues can be allocated toward association memberships and government relations contracts. Taxpayers gain direct legal standing to sue in court to halt prohibited expenditures and recover legal costs.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Political subdivisions
Political subdivisions are barred from using public funds to hire registered lobbyists or pay dues to associations that contract with lobbyists.
Taxpayers
Taxpayers gain explicit legal standing to seek injunctions and recover attorney's fees against local governments violating lobbyist spending restrictions.
Nonprofit state associations
Nonprofit associations representing political subdivisions risk losing dues revenue if they employ individuals required to register as lobbyists under Chapter 305.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can local government employees still talk to state legislators under this bill?
What recourse do local taxpayers have if a city or county violates these rules?
Are nonprofit associations that represent local governments entirely banned from offering legislative services?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.
Procedural history
1 action- Jul 14, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools