The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Texas HB 96 restricts political subdivisions from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay dues to lobbying associations
Last action · August 18, 2025: Referred to State AffairsSponsor: Shelby Slawson
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What This Bill Proposed
Texas s are prohibited from spending public funds to hire registered lobbyists or pay dues to nonprofit state associations that employ registered lobbyists, effective on the 91st day after the legislative session ends. Taxpayers and residents are granted the right to seek and recover attorney's fees against political subdivisions that violate these restrictions. The measure also restricts counties from paying dues to associations that attempt to influence legislation or political campaigns.
Local governments and county associations face strict financial limitations on state-level advocacy, while local taxpayers gain legal standing to sue and recover attorney's fees if public funds are spent on prohibited lobbying activities.
- State regulation of local government lobbying has been a recurring legislative debate in Texas, addressing whether public tax dollars should fund third-party advocates. context
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 spending public funds on registered lobbyists and certain association dues, and face potential taxpayer lawsuits for violations.
taxpayers and residents
Taxpayers and residents gain legal standing to seek injunctions against unauthorized lobbying expenditures and recover attorney's fees.
nonprofit state associations
Nonprofit state associations representing political subdivisions risk losing membership fee revenues if they employ registered lobbyists or engage in political advocacy.
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 city or county employees still testify before legislative committees under this bill?
What rights do taxpayers have if a local government violates these lobbying restrictions?
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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Taxpayer Right of Action
The bill shifts enforcement of lobbying restrictions from administrative bodies directly to local taxpayers via injunctive relief and attorney's fee recovery.
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
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