The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Texas Prohibits School Districts and Employees from Using Public Funds for Lobbying
Last action · August 18, 2025: Referred to State AffairsSponsor: Hillary Hickland
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What This Bill Proposed
Texas House Bill 173 prohibits school districts from spending public funds to hire registered lobbyists or pay dues to nonprofit organizations that hire lobbyists. The measure also bars district employees from using public funds or resources to directly lobby legislators or their staff, and grants local taxpayers the right to seek and recover attorney's fees.
Local taxpayers gain explicit legal standing to sue school districts to halt unauthorized lobbying expenditures and recover court costs upon prevailing.
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.
school districts
School districts are prohibited from expending public funds on registered lobbyists or dues to certain municipal associations.
school district employees
Employees are barred from using public funds or district resources to directly communicate with legislators to influence legislation.
taxpayers or residents of the school district
Taxpayers gain legal standing to seek injunctive relief against prohibited lobbying expenditures and recover attorney's fees if successful.
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 a school district employee talk to a legislator using personal time and resources?
What remedies are available to a taxpayer if a school district violates these lobbying restrictions?
Are school districts allowed to pay dues to statewide municipal or school associations under this bill?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
3 actions- Aug 18, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to State Affairs
- Aug 18, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time
- Aug 15, 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
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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