Texas Prohibits Local Governments from Using Public Funds to Hire Lobbyists or Pay Lobbying Associations

Original title: Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.

Last action · August 20, 2025: Referred to State AffairsSponsors: Mike Olcott and 72 others

Companion · SB 13same policy, Senate version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

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What This Bill Proposed

Texas prohibits s from spending public funds to hire registered lobbyists or pay dues to nonprofit associations that employ registered lobbyists, effective on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session. The restriction includes specific exemptions for law enforcement associations, official legislative testimony, and non-lobbying communications by local officials and employees. Taxpayers are granted the right to seek and recover attorney's fees against political subdivisions that violate these prohibitions.

Why it matters

Local governments and county commissioners courts face new restrictions on how they spend public money on dues and representation, altering their relationships with state-level municipal and county associations. Taxpayers gain legal standing to sue local entities for unauthorized lobbying expenditures, with the potential to recover legal costs if successful.

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.

Directly affected

Political subdivisions

Political subdivisions are barred from using public funds to hire registered lobbyists or pay dues to certain nonprofit lobbying associations, and face taxpayer lawsuits for violations.

Directly affected

Taxpayers and residents of political subdivisions

Taxpayers and residents gain the legal right to seek injunctive relief against political subdivisions for prohibited lobbying expenditures and can recover attorney's fees if they prevail.

Directly affected

Nonprofit associations that primarily represent political subdivisions

Nonprofit associations representing political subdivisions may lose membership dues from local governments if they employ registered lobbyists.

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 or testify at the Capitol?

Yes. Officers and employees of a are not prohibited from providing information to members of the legislature, appearing before legislative committees, or advocating for or against legislation if their actions do not require them to register as lobbyists.

What rights do local taxpayers have under this bill?

Taxpayers or residents of a are entitled to seek to stop prohibited lobbying activities and payments. If they win their action, they can recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs from the political subdivision.

Are all local government associations affected by the membership dues ban?

No. Associations or organizations that solely represent elected sheriffs or individual law enforcement officers are exempt from the restriction.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

3 actions

Aug 20, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to State Affairs
Aug 20, 2025HouseIntroduced
Read first time
Aug 18, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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